Blog by María José Álvarez, student at the Tropical Ecology & Conservation Leadership Course When I started the Tropical Ecology and Conservation Leadership course, I was excited to learn and share knowledge with conservation experts. Thanks to the teachers, I learned about strategies to investigate how the distribution of species changes according to their ecosystem through on-site techniques such as the use of trap cameras and remotely as with the use of aerial drones. In addition, I learned invaluable lessons on how to disseminate science to many different groups...
News + Stories
Uncategorized / 19.03.2020
My adventure in Osa!
Blog by Eblim Pereyra I am going to tell you how my adventure for Osa began. When I saw an announcement that there was a course that would give me the opportunity to spend 8 weeks in the Osa Peninsula, I didn't hesitate and send the request, because let's face it, who wouldn't want to spend 8 weeks in Osa? A notification that I had been accepted in the course and now if the dream was real, I were going to spend 8 weeks in Osa. The biggest adventure I...
Aquatic Health, Marine Conservation / 05.03.2020
Let’s bet on the ocean: Golfo Dulce a Living Laboratory
Blog by: Jorge De la O, student at Leadership Field Course The tropical rainforest of the Osa Peninsula exhales mists of steam as the sun rises and this time was no exception. The condensation of water vapor could be observed on the plants early in the morning when we were heading to Golfo Dulce, a hilarious and spectacular place. The sea seems pure crystal and allows us to observe the secrets of the seabed formed by coral structures that have been built by nature over the centuries. Being able...
Blog by: Natalia Gómez Solano, student at the Tropical Ecology & Conservation Leadership Course "Only what is loved is protected and only what is known is loved" –Jacques Cousteau. We have spent six weeks at Osa Conservation, which has allowed us to get to know various ecosystems within the Osa Peninsula. Personally, I am in love with the Peninsula, it is an incredible place and always surprising, where small details constitute its immensity. In the course we have learned a variety of skills and acquired knowledge that supports our professional...
Uncategorized / 20.02.2020
Press Release: Osa Conservation Hosts Community Event to Celebrate Life of National Park Service Founder and Conservationist Álvaro Ugalde Víquez
PUERTO JIMENEZ, Costa Rica — Osa Conservation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula, welcomed over 250 guests to its Piro Biological Station to celebrate Álvaro Day on Saturday, February 15. Special guests included Minister of Environment and Energy Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Director of ACOSA Laura Rivera, the community of Rancho Quemado, local fishing groups, among others. The event commemorated the life of Álvaro Ugalde Víquez, a conservation pioneer who established Costa Rica’s National Park Service and served as a founding board member at Osa...
Land Conservation and Forest Restoration, Science and Research / 15.01.2020
My fascination with germination: keeping our rainforests growing.
Blog by: Tara Jeffery, Botanic Program Research Field Assistant. My main area of work is focusing on the production of trees for the arboretum and rewilding and restoration projects, which requires my team to venture into the forests to collect seeds from a range of tree species. To create a diverse collection of plants, it is important to use plants from different areas to fight against possible pest and disease problems. For this we have been across the Osa peninsula collecting ripe species. It can be difficult to predict...
Reflections by field course students. Compiled by Hilary Brumberg, field course manager. We recently kicked off our second annual Tropical Ecology & Conservation Leadership Field Course at Osa Conservation. During this 8 week intensive field course, we provide hands-on experience and training for the next generation of conservation leaders. The course brings together an impressive international group of young scientist from Costa Rica and abroad to experience our living laboratory, the Osa Verde BioStation, and to learn real-life skills for successful careers in conservation and research in a hands-on...
Blog by: María José Mata Quirós, Restoration and Rewilding Field Staff Ecological restoration is a relatively recent issue, which came to change the way we think about returning ecosystems altered by humans to the way we know as original or natural. It consists of taking a step beyond reforestation; it is about making a true evaluation of the characteristics to be established, and carry out finely planned projects. It is important to make sure that native species’ forests are generated, and to manage the efforts so that the pre-existing...
Sea Turtles / 11.12.2019
Turtle detective
Blog by: Diego Argueta, Sea Turtle Research Field Assistant I am not a morning person. Yet, I have dedicated 6 months to waking up before dawn. What gets me and the rest of our small team out of bed is perhaps one of the most magnificent creatures to live amongst us - the sea turtle. As soon as the dark winding trail through the forest opens up to Playa Piro and the rising sun, thoughts of exhaustion leave the mind. Soft sand replaces thick mud underfoot as billowing waves...
Science and Research / 05.12.2019
Creating a tree sanctuary
Blog By Marvin Lopez, Botanicss Asisstant. Little more than 10 years ago Conservation Osa started and I have been part of the changes that have happened since then. During all this time the organization has been growing little by little gaining experience as the different projects progressed. Today, we are taking new directions with new projects and one of these is the creation of an Arboretum. For this, new staff have arrived with great enthusiasm for the plants putting great effort and dedication to achieve this goal. Recently we received...