No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaA Marine Conservation & Education Center opens in Costa Rica

A Marine Conservation & Education Center opens in Costa Rica

Last November The Tico Times first reported on the growing initiative to establish a marine protected area (MPA) surrounding the Osa Peninsula.

Since that time a young upstart marine conservation and education group called Innoceana has emerged as a new champion for the establishment of an MPA in the coastal waters from Parque Ballena to Cano Island and the Terraba Sierpe National Wetlands to Corcovado. 

In early December, the world renowned ocean conservationist Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue designated a new Hope Spot off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the waters surrounding the Osa Peninsula.

As a result, Yulian Cordero Sanchez, Carlos Mallo Molina and Laura Vanopdenbosch of Innoceana are now designated “Hope Spot Champions” for Mission Blue calls the “Biological Marine Corridor of Osa Hope Spot” and are working from their newly established Marine Conservation & Education Center (MCEC) in Ojochal on the Costa Ballena to facilitate the establishment of an MPA and advance ocean conservation and science in the region. 

The group’s founder and CEO, Spanish born Molina, approached Mission Blue in 2018 to petition the group to designate this immensely biodiverse ocean/coastal region a Hope Spot. His hope was that one day the Costa Rica government would act to formally establish a marine reserve in an area the likes of Jacques Cousteau and National Geographic helped identify as a global biodiversity ‘hot spot,’—one of the richest in the world. 

“Most people don’t understand the value here,” says Molina. The result he explains is coral destruction, ocean trash, and agrochemicals wreaking havoc on the delicate coastal ecosystems along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. 

While approximately 12 percent of the land area is conserved or protected less than six percent of the ocean is protected in any way. The Hope Spot designation is intended to bring attention to the value of thriving ocean ecosystems and the threats facecd from over-fishing, plastics trash, terrestrial erosion and agrochemical runoff.

As Molina sees it, conservation itself, funded by philanthropy alone is not economically sustainable. “We need to find a way to create a circular economy,” he says, “This is one of the ways to solve this.” 

Innoceana is not the first to take on the challenge of lobbying government officials and regional stakeholders to find support for an MPA.  The late Mario Boza who with Alvaro Ugalde created the National Park Systems in 1969 led a group of marine conservationists from 2016 through 2020. During this time the ad-hoc group submitted a well-justified plan to Congress in 2016 and secured the endorsement of then Minister of the Environment (MINAE), Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, in 2019.  

With the passing of the renowned Boza in October of last year, a group called “Frente para las Áreas Protegidas de Costa Rica” led by Jorge Serendero, CEO of For the Oceans Foundation has sought allies to support the establishment of an Osa Marine Reserve in Boza’s honor, adding his name to what was originally proposed to Congress in 2017, as the Alvaro Ugalde Marine Reserve. Molina and the Innoceana team share this aspiration and are bringing new energy and financial support to this growing and evolving initiative for an Osa Marine Reserve. 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Faces Nicaragua in Key World Cup Qualifier Match

Costa Rica takes on Nicaragua this Tuesday at the Estadio Nacional in a match that could shape their path in the 2026 World Cup...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...

Family Beach Day in Costa Rica Exploring Tidepools and Wildlife

My two sons couldn’t be more different. They look completely different. They act completely differently. They eat different foods. They have different interests. This...

Riu Guanacaste Hotel Reopens in Costa Rica After Renovation

The Riu Guanacaste hotel in Costa Rica has reopened after a complete renovation, welcoming guests back to its beachfront spot on Matapalo Beach. The...

Guatemala Accepts First Honduran Deportees from US

Guatemala has started accepting deportees from other countries as part of its deal with the United States, with the first group of Hondurans arriving...

Costa Rica Faces a Must-Win for a Place in 2026 World Cup

Costa Rica's national soccer team faces a defining stretch in their bid to reach the 2026 World Cup. With just two points from their...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica