Blogpost written by Lesley Mould, Intern Since vanilla is so popular, it was surprising to learn how challenging it is to grow it in the wild! Vanilla is one of the many rare and distinct plants that can be found in the Osa. The uniqueness of the vanilla plant is fascinating, and its potential to both reforest and spur regional development is heartening in a field that can often be cynical.  As an intern in Osa Conservation’s Washington, D.C. office with a strong interest in botany, I find the...

Blogpost written by Marina Garrido, Research Field Assistant A few days ago, part of the staff and some researchers went for a walk with Osa Conservation's botanist, Reinaldo Aguilar, from the biological station to the wildlife-friendly farm. All along the way, Reinaldo showed everyone different kinds of plants that grow in the Osa Peninsula, and shared his knowledge about the flora. We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed each plant we saw with all five senses. Since the staff is comprised of both Spanish and English speakers,...

Blogpost written by Eleanor Flatt, Biodiversity Research Field Assistant   In the Osa, “biodiversity” is an  understatement… In the human world, we select people to represent our countries, our towns, our villages, our communities; it is similar in the animal kingdom. A flagship species is an ambassador for a specific habitat and normally conservation of that species or the area they inhabit has benefits for other species. Here in the Osa Peninsula, we are home to a staggering 2.5% of the planets biodiversity, living on a mere 0.00000085% of the earth's...

Blogpost written by Alejandra Rojas, Naturalist Guide and Avian Program Coordinator        Photo 1:  The endemic & endangered Golfodulcean Poison-arrow Frog  and Black-cheeked Ant Tanager (Photo credit: Manuel Sanchez Mendoza)   What does a Golfodulcean Poison-arrow Frog and a Black-cheeked Ant-tanager have in common? Not only are they endemic to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, but they are also endangered - a term used to describe when there are so few individuals surviving that the species is at risk of no longer existing in the wild.  There are many reasons that...

Blogpost written by Alejandra Rojas, Naturalist Guide and Avian Program Coordinator Every year, thousands of birds around the world start a long journey that is fundamental to their survival: migration. Each species has its particularity: they fly in flocks or by their own, during the day or the night, they rest or they fly restless, large distances or short distances. Despite their different migration strategies, all of these birds have something in common: they face challenges to survive their "flyway" – a term used to describe the route...

Blogpost written by Alexander Cotnoir, Volunteer with Rios Saludables Program   Hello everybody! My name is Alexander Cotnoir, and before I share a snapshot of my work at Osa Conservation thus far along with some of the most exciting experiences I’ve had working with the Ríos Saludables Program, I’d like to introduce myself and share why I decided to join the Ríos Saludables Program as a volunteer over the course of the next few months.     I am currently a sophomore at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, pursuing a degree in biology...

March 13, 2017 Blogpost by Max Beal, Northland College   After packing our bags on the last night of midterms, we all woke up bright and early to catch the 7:00 AM colectivo to start our journey into Corcovado National Park, a little up the coast from Osa Conservation’s biological station. We met up with our guide Maikol on the colectivo and an hour and half later we all got off in the small community of Carate and started our 20 km hike along the beach to Sirena station that serves as...

Blogpost written by Alejandra Rojas, Naturalist Guide and Avian Program Coordinator As we prepare to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2017, we reflect on the conservation work that we are doing in the special region of the world called the Osa Peninsula. This especially includes the importance of sustainable natural resource management and effective strategic forest restoration for protecting the globally significant biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula in perpetuity. Looking back through the years, we see various historical environmental trends throughout the region and how they have shaped...

March 1, 2017 Blogpost by Max Beal, Northland College   After catching a ride in a cattle truck from Rincon, we unloaded our things and settled into our new home at Osa Conservation’s Lomas del Sierpe field station. The station sits just off the road high up on a hill surrounded by dense jungle. We spent the rest of the day furnishing our concrete platform with hammocks and bins, and enjoying the running water, electricity, and refrigeration. Instead of tents, we were able to fit ourselves into a couple of screened-in...