The Corcovado Foundation

About:

Since 1991 the Corcovado Foundation has been working to promote conservation of the Osa Peninsula’s natural resources by promoting environmental education, sustainable tourism, and by supporting Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment.

The Foundation is a leading participant in the planning and implementation of sustainable development practices, in the organization of community-based projects, and in the request for and management of funding (Alvaro Ugalde, father of the National Park System and ex-director of Osa Conservation Area).

History:

The Foundation is a non-profit organization, originally created to prevent excessive logging of the Osa Peninsula.  In 1991, there were many, many logging operations and the Peninsula was in danger of being over-exploited, both by logging companies and hunters.

The Foundation became very active in 1996, helping to void the many logging permits that were active and to begin to protect the rest of the Osa Peninsula that was not part of the Corcovado National Park.

Accomplishments:

Over the last 5 years, the Corcovado Foundation has grown, and now not only does it help to employ rangers for the various government protected areas in Osa, but it also works to help hotels become environmentally friendly, implement recycling programs, and educate the Osa Peninsula’s youth.  

The poaching problem has been dramatically minimized.  Animal populations are increasing and the local community is more educated and now helps to guard the Peninsula’s natural resources.  In 2006, the poaching of sea turtles (Olive Ridley) was reduced by 84%, increasing the survival rate of the turtles from 16% to 80%.

A new Corcovado Park ranger station in Los Planes and a recycling center in Sierpe have been built.  Additionally, many of the Osa Peninsula’s employees have been educated as to “best management practices for sustainable tourism”.

The Foundation is also involved in environmental education and encourages community-wide involvement.  They have worked to monitor and help increase the Olive Ridley turtle populations in the Drake Bay area as well as re-forestation efforts.  Their efforts are far-reaching and include the Piedras Blancas National Park, Golfo Dulce Forestry Reserve, Caño Island Biological Reserve and the Golfito National Wildlife Refuge.

Today:

The Foundation is still a very small organization and is always in need of funding. 

All Donations go directly to the foundation.  You can directly donate to a particular project if you wish.  Donations to the Corcovado Foundation are tax-deductible in Costa Rica, and if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation in the US, you can do it through the Costa Rican Conservation Fund, which is a non- profit organization dedicated to supporting and improving conservation efforts in the Osa Peninsula.

Contact:

Corcovado Foundation
www(dot)corcovadofoundation(dot)org
Phone in CR: Tel. 506–2297–3013, Fax. 506- 2241 - 2906

See Also:

• Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula

• Corcovado National Park

• Corcovado Travel Blogs