News + Stories

Sea Turtles, Volunteers and Visitors / 12.04.2011

Sea Turtles have been around for over 100 million years, but all over the world their survival is being threatened. Volunteers are crucial to protect the sea turtles during their nesting season. Our program conserves and protects 10 miles of sea turtle nesting beach on the Osa Peninsula—a largely untouched, and amazingly beautiful tropical rainforest located in southwestern Costa Rica. This rewarding program allows you to monitor sea turtle movements, protect hatchlings and learn about sea turtle conservation—all on some of the most incredible beaches in the world, from Matapalo to Carate. Our sea turtle program relies on volunteer support to increase our presence on these beaches and help reduce poaching pressure. Spaces are available from July through December – please visit our sea turtle volunteer page to sign up, or send this info to people you think may be interested. Volunteering is a great way to experience this unique place while giving back through valuable conservation efforts.
Uncategorized / 12.04.2011

Con emoción anunciamos que la temporada 2011 de nuestro Programa de Tortugas Marinas ya está por iniciar. El año pasado expandimos nuestro programa para cubrir desde Matapalo hasta Carate, un total de 18 km para patrullas protegiendo las tortugas marinas que se encuentran en peligro de extinción. En años previos, nuestro programa  cubrió las playas Piro y Pejeperro, protegiendo alrededor de 8 km de playa. La participación de voluntarios es indispensable para que podamos cubrir los 18 km de playa que actualmente protegemos. Para tener mayor presencia en las playas desde Matapalo hasta Carate, lo cual disminuye la presión por “hueveros”, nosotros necesitamos de la ayuda de voluntarios. Tenemos espacios disponibles desde Julio hasta mediados de Diciembre, visite nuestra página web para aplicar a nuestro programa.
Uncategorized / 01.03.2011

La Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas ha declarado este año 2011 como Año Internacional de los Bosques,  con el objetivo de fomentar mayor conciencia de que los bosques son parte integral del desarrollo sostenible del planeta debido a los beneficios económicos, socioculturales y ambientales que proporcionan. Con este fin, se promoverá la acción internacional en pos de la ordenación sostenible, la conservación y el desarrollo de todo tipo de bosques, incluidos los árboles fuera de ellos. El programa de Educación Ambiental de Conservación Osa se ha unido a...

Environmental Education, Science and Research / 25.02.2011

Located in southwestern Costa Rica, the Osa is hailed by many as Costa Rica's "last frontier" as it remains a largely untouched, remote wilderness. The Osa's high level of biological diversity coupled with its unique combination of 13 distinct tropical ecosystems have made it a high global conservation priority. With a total area of only 300,000 acres, the Osa is home to 50% of species found in Costa Rica, including many endemic species. When one considers the small size of the Osa, there are few places left on...

Environmental Education, Volunteers and Visitors / 04.02.2011

By: Vickie Buisset Volunteering with the FOO Sea Turtle Research Program was a wonderful experience.  My observations and field notes taken while on the Osa Peninsula were used to complete the final independent study project of my Master of Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).  The topic of my independent study project was Global Threats of Sea Turtles.  I graduated from VCU in December of 2010 and feel very lucky to have had this volunteer/research opportunity on the beautiful Osa Peninsula.  The personnel at the FOO Sea Turtle...

Birds, Volunteers and Visitors / 23.12.2010

[caption id="attachment_1870" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Red-lored Parrots"][/caption] This year Friends of the Osa organized the first annual Costa Rica Osa Peninsula Christmas Bird Count, a more than century long Audubon Society tradition.  This year actually marks the 111th Audubon CBC and on December 17th 2010 Friends of the Osa along with Osa Peninsula lodges, the Osa Peninsula Birders Association, Osa bird experts and enthusiasts headed out at dawn and dusk to count as many birds that could be seen, heard or flushed out from under foot. All throughout the Americas citizen...

Uncategorized / 07.12.2010

Como muchos de ustedes deben saber, a principios del mes de Diciembre el Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo ordenó anular la concesión a la empresa Industrias Infinito, para desarrollar el proyecto minero Crucitas, en Cutris de San Carlos, Alajuela. Este proyecto, que contaba con el apoyo del expresidente Sr. Óscar Arias Sánchez, por medio de una declaratoria de interés público, habría causado daños ambientales irreparables a la zona del proyecto. Gracias a la incansable lucha de un sin número de personas, y de la oposición legal de las asociaciones ambientalistas APREFLOFAS...

Science and Research, Sea Turtles / 30.11.2010

Today SEE Turtles launched its effort to raise money for Friends of the Osa’s annual Sea Turtle Festival.  SEE Turtles is a project of the Ocean Foundation that promotes conservation tourism by acting as a resource for travelers to connect with volunteer programs or to donate to organizations protecting sea turtles and educating communities.  Through the matching fund launched today, you can donate to support FOO’s Sea Turtle Festival in 2011. [caption id="attachment_1857" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Children perform the life cycle of sea turtles at the Second Annual Osa Sea Turtle...

Birds / 26.11.2010

[caption id="attachment_1840" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Male White-crested Coquette"][/caption] Of all the hummingbird species, the coquette males that are most highly adorned with ornate feathers that are there to likely help in territorial defense and enhance species recognition.  The White-crested Coquette (Lophornis adorabilis) is the only coquette found here on the Osa Peninsula and is regionally endemic to south western Costa Rica and Western Panama. The male of this species, which is also sometimes called Adorable Coquette, is known for its white crest and long green cheek tufts and may be arguably...

Birds / 07.11.2010

[caption id="attachment_1814" align="alignleft" width="240"] Gray-headed Tanager at Playa Piro[/caption] So how do birds survive in a tropical rainforest when it rains a lot?  Let me be clearer; when it rains nearly every day for 2 weeks straight?  The rainy season here in Costa Rica lasts from May to November increasing in the amount of rainfall as the season progresses.  October and November are notorious for being the wettest months of the year. Well, the pattern seems to be holding up this year as expected.  Over the last few weeks the...