Costa Rica

Protecting nature — and the services it provides — for the benefit of local communities

For more than 30 years, Conservation International-Costa Rica has leveraged science, innovative policy work and community partnerships to protect nature, for the benefit of all Costa Ricans.

We are helping scale ocean protection by working directly with partners in business, government and local communities, providing guidance on the conservation of key marine and coastal ecosystems. By 2030, we aim to increase the total area of coastal protections in Costa Rica by at least 10 percent.

We work with small-scale fisheries to improve fishing practices and reduce overfishing, helping local communities balance protection and production in the ocean areas they need to thrive.

Along the country's Pacific coast, we are advocating for the restoration and protection of mangrove forests — saltwater-loving trees that protect against storm surges and help mitigate the effects of climate change. This work has helped revitalize mangrove forests across the Estero de Puntarenas National Wetland — the largest mangrove restoration project in Costa Rica.

Highlight project

Supporting women through mangrove conservation

With assistance from the Swarovski Foundation, Conservation International-Costa Rica is supporting women as they build sustainable businesses based around the restoration and protection of mangroves on Chira Island. In the past, mangroves full of ripe product were quickly cut down. Once threatened by overharvesting, mangrove trees are now sustainably cultivated, enabling local women entrepreneurs to thrive. These women grow and process products such as chilies, hibiscus and honey, gaining valuable entrepreneurial skills along the way.

To date, the project has helped restore degraded mangrove areas while supporting women as they build sustainable livelihoods.

Where we work in Costa Rica

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