February 13, 2017 Blogpost by Katie Goodwin, University of New Hampshire The semester is getting under way here in Costa Rica! It has been about a week and a half since we got here but I think we all agree that our campsite at Osa Conservation's biological station already feels like home. Really, we’ve only been here for a week, since the first few days of the program were spent in San José. We spent three nights after we arrived staying in a hotel near downtown San José. We woke up...
Uncategorized / 22.03.2017
Manuel, the sea turtle guardian.
Interview by Alejandra Rojas, Naturalist Guide and Avian Program Coordinator Holding either his camera and backpack, or plastic buckets filled with sand after releasing baby sea turtles, a young guy approaches the biological station from the trail where the rainforest meets the sea. It is Manuel Sánchez, Osa Conservation´s Sea Turtle Program coordinator. He was 5 years old when he saw a sea turtle for the first time. A fishing night with his father Miguel became an adventure when they discovered the tracks of a green sea turtle, which they followed to...
Uncategorized / 12.08.2016
Acuicultura
By: Clara Gomez ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- La acuicultura es también conocida como criaderos de peces y mariscos -- se refiere a la reproducción, cría y recolección de plantas y animales en todo tipo de ambientes acuáticos, como estanques, ríos, lagos y el océano. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aunque la comunidad global está apenas empezando a valorar la acuacultura como una potencial solución al dilema que presenta el mermamiento de los océanos, lo cierto es que no se trata de una nueva práctica. De hecho, a pesar de que los historiadores dicen que la cuna de la acuicultura...
Aquatic Health, Marine Conservation / 12.08.2016
Aquaculture: A Sustainable Solution to the Global Seafood Crisis?
By: Clara Gomez The world’s seafood stocks will have completely collapsed by the year 2050, scientists say. According to a study done by a group of economists and ecologists, the growth of the human population combined with unsustainable fishing practices and the devastating loss of biodiversity will lead to the collapse of fish populations in the next 35 years, if trends continue on their current path. [caption id="attachment_9221" align="alignleft" width="199"] Image from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/[/caption] If the idea of losing all of the world’s fish scares you as much as it scares me,...
We have the best staffers at our stations! They really go above and beyond to involve themselves in the environment and to inspire others to do the same. Osa Conseravation enables high schools, universities and school groups to learn, hands-on, in our field courses. Students get an amazing chance to actively learn important lessons with dedicated researchers in the paradise that is Costa Rica! Read below for the unique perspective of an OC Resarch Field Assistant leading these educational excursions. One of the greatest pleasures of working at Osa Conservation is being able...
Environmental Education, Science and Research, Volunteers and Visitors / 21.08.2015
A Night with Bats
Bats. These nocturnal creatures tend to get a bad rap. Associated for centuries with mythical creatures of the night, and used as Halloween decorations to add eeriness to a haunted house, the real life mammal often gets overlooked. OC aims to change that by collaborating with experts and educating the public on the crucial role bats play in restoration. [gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="8019"] Recently, Osa Conservation was honored with a visit from 2 remarkable scientists in the bat world: Cullen Geiselman, bat biologist and board member of Bat Conservation International & Gloriana Chaverri,...
Uncategorized / 21.08.2015
Una noche con los Murciélagos
Los murciélagos. Estas criaturas nocturnas suelen tener una mala reputación. Asociados por siglos con criaturas míticas de la noche, y utilizados como decoraciones de Halloween para hacer más escalofriante una casa embrujada, el mamífero de la vida real a menudo se pasa por alto. Mucha gente no saben o entienden el papel critical que los murciélagos tienen en la reforestación. Conservación Osa quiere cambiar esto por la colaboración con investigadores como Cullen Geiselman y Gloriana Chevarri. Recién, Conservación Osa fue honrada con la visita de 2 científicas notables en el mundo de murciélagos:...
Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Science and Research, Volunteers and Visitors / 14.08.2015
Environmental Festivals in the Osa
World Environment Day, 2nd Anniversary of the Luis Jorge Poveda Álvarez Arboretum and inauguration of the Centenary Forest. In early June, we had three important celebrations: World Environment Day, the 2nd anniversary of the Jorge Poveda Álvarez Arboretum and the inauguration of the Centenary Forest. World Environment Day was celebrated in early June, and had participation from diverse groups of people. We had students from various educational centers participate as well as people from organizations and businesses with various fields of focus, like mangroves in the case of Fundación Neotrópica, sea turtles in the case of LAST (Latin American...
Uncategorized / 14.08.2015
Festivales Ambientales en la Osa
Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente, 2do Aniversario del Arboretum Luis Jorge Poveda Álvarez e inauguración del Bosque del Centenario Este mes nos ha traído tres celebraciones importantes: el Día Mundial del Ambiente, celebrado el 7 de Junio en donde contamos con la participación de estudiantes de varios centros educativos, organizaciones y empresas que compartieron sus conocimientos en diferentes temas como manglares con la Fundación Neotrópica; tortugas marinas con LAST y plantaciones forestales sostenibles con LATC, así mismo contamos con la participación de agricultores y artesanos locales con la exhibición...
Submitted by Steven Waldron; Seattle, WA Twenty years ago, I backpacked and hiked along the wild beaches and coastal rainforests of the Osa peninsula and became acquainted with some of the fantastic wildlife that the region is well-known for. Near the Sirena station at Corcovado National Park, I became intimate with the loud squawks of Scarlet Macaws sailing overhead, the crash of surprised tapirs bolting through the forest, and the pre-dawn chorus of Howler monkeys. One of the sensory aspects I appreciate most about exploring this region is the...