Osa Peninsula & Golfo Dulce
In the southwest corner of Costa Rica, surrounded by Golfo Dulce to the east, Drake Bay to the north, and the wide-open Pacific Ocean to the west, lies the Osa Peninsula. Formerly an island, millions of years ago this immensely lush and biologically diverse land merged with the mainland of Costa Rica.
The Osa Peninsula’s three forest types represent the last remaining tropical forests on the pacific coast of Central America. The Osa Peninsula contains 55% of Costa Rica’s endangered tree species and is home to a remarkable number of wildlife species including 8000 insects, 126 mammals, 71 reptiles, and 46 amphibians, and there are many species yet to be discovered. The abundance and diversity of wildlife are unparalleled, making the Osa Peninsula one of the world’s most interesting and invaluable wilderness areas.
In simple terms, there are few places on Earth as rich in biodiversity. The Osa Peninsula is a world treasure.
The waters and beaches of Golfo Dulce are critical habitats for marine wildlife including endangered sea turtles and several kinds of dolphins. Golfo Dulce is a sanctuary for hammerhead sharks and marine snakes, and also serves as a humpback whale nursery where whales socialize, mate, and give birth. The calm waters of Golfo Dulce and the surrounding mangrove forests are home to caimans, crocodiles, tree frogs, iguanas, snakes, and various monkey species as well as sloths and coatis. A symphony to the senses, the Golfo Dulce looks, sounds, and feels magical.
Osa Peninsula & Golfo Dulce are Endangered
Corcovado National Park is the only public conservation area on the Osa Peninsula. Consisting of 42,000 hectares / 100,000 acres, specialists have determined this protected area is not large enough to sustain the keystone species who live there. Jaguar populations are rapidly decreasing and other wildlife species are critically endangered. The buffer zones surrounding Corcovado National Park are highly threatened as are the corridors that provide safe migration routes for wildlife.
Climate change is the biggest collective challenge our world faces. Rainforests absorb and store more carbon dioxide than all other types of forests, making rainforest protection one of the most effective solutions to climate change.
The acquisition and preservation of rainforest habitats are vital to the survival of the wildlife who live there. In addition to climate change, there are many threats to the wildlife and flora of the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce.
- Deforestation for palm oil crops, pineapple groves, and cattle grazing
- Agrochemical and pesticide runoff into the Golfo Dulce which kills coral reefs and marine wildlife
- Rapid forest destruction for human development
- Illegal gold mining
- Illegal wildlife poaching
Together with local and global partners, we are dedicated to bring education to rural communities and protect key ecosystems and their inhabitants of the Osa Peninsula and Golfo Dulce.