Friends Of The Osa

CONSERVING THE BIODIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA'S OSA PENINSULA WHILE SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS FOR ITS COMMUNITIES.

CONSERVATION SCIENCE - CONSERVATION SCIENCE IS MADE UP OF SIX DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT SCIENCE AND RESEARCH OF TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS AND LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF THE OSA. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXTENSIVE MONITORING OF SEA TURTLES, ENDEMIC BIRDS, MONKEYS, REPTILES AND MAMMALS, AND PROVIDE A RESEARCH FACILITY FOR SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS TO STUDY THE OSA'S ECOSYSTEMS AND CONDUCT RESEARCH. RIDGE TO REEF RESTORATION & REGENERATIVE FARMING - THIS PROGRAM RESTORES LANDSCAPES ACROSS THE REGION, ENGAGING HUNDREDS OF LOCAL LANDOWNERS THROUGH EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TREE PLANTING INITIATIVES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON RARE, THREATENED AND NATIVE SPECIES, AND BUILDS CAPACITY THROUGHOUT COMMUNITIES VIA EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT WITH A GOAL OF BUILDING MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE.MANGROVE RESTORATION - THIS PROGRAM WORKS DIRECTLY WITH MULTIPLE LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO RESTORE THE TERRABA SIERPE NATIONAL WETLAND, COSTA RICA'S LARGEST PROTECTED MANGROVE SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM INCORPORATES WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING, SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND DIRECT RESTORATION.WILDLIFE MONITORING - THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT WILDLIFE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO MONITOR WILDLIFE INCLUDING ARBOREAL SPECIES, BIRDS, BATS, DUNG BEETLES, CATS, AND MORE.MOVEMENT ECOLOGY - THIS PROGRAM PUSHES THE SCIENTIFIC FRONTIER OF ANIMAL MOVEMENT ECOLOGY WITH THE GOAL OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING MOVEMENT PATTERNS FOR KEY SPECIES, INCLUDING NUMEROUS VULTURE SPECIES, JAGUARS, OCELOTS, AND THE BAIRD'S TAPIR. THE PROGRAM IS SCIENTIFICALLY DRIVEN WITH A CONSERVATION IMPACT.SEA TURTLE PROTECTION - THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE CONSERVATION OF THE REGION'S NESTING SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS. WORKING PRIMARILY ON LAND, THE PROGRAM BOLSTERS ITS HATCHING SUCCESS RATE WHILE EDUCATING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ON HOW TO COEXIST WITH WILDLIFE ON SEA TURTLE NESTING BEACHES.MARINE CONSERVATION - THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT THE BIOLOGICALLY CRITICAL SEASCAPE OF THE GOLFO DULCE AND SURROUNDING COASTAL WATERS. THROUGH RESEARCH, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE OCEAN SO MARINE WILDLIFE CAN THRIVE.

LAND STEWARDSHIP - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES IN THE PURCHASE OF INTACT RAINFOREST LAND THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD DESTROY THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES AN EXTENSIVE REFORESTATION EFFORT THAT WILL RESTORE THE LAND WITH NATIVE TREES, IDENTIFICATION AND CULTIVATION OF NATIVE TREE SPECIES, AND THE CREATION OF AN INTERACTIVE TRAIL SYSTEM. THIS PROGRAM ALSO STRIVES TO PROTECT THE AREA FROM CONTINUED AND GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CITIZEN SCIENCE - THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORT TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND ENGAGE THE OSA COMMUNITIES IN IMPROVING THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND EMPOWERMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRAINING AND ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEMS.RIDGE TO REEF YOUTH CLUB - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF THE NATION'S MOST RURAL AND IMPOVERISHED YOUTH WITH THE GOAL OF IMMERSING THEM IN NATURE. THROUGH HANDS-ON FIELD TRIPS IN A PLETHORA OF ECOSYSTEMS, STUDENTS ARE EDUCATED AND EMPOWERED TO PROTECT THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES.