Empower Environmental Leaders in Costa Rica

We are very happy!

After several years of planning, we've finally launched the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Osa and Golfo Dulce, in colaboration with the University of Costa Rica (UCR), one of the most important public universities in our country.

Why is this important? well, I bet you think that in a place with 4% of the world's biodiversity should exist a lot of places for investigation and learning. But that's not the case. Knowing that, we started this dream with the UCR, a couple of years ago, trying to develop a place not just for social and environmental scientists, but for anybody that want to create knowledge. And now, we have it, in the heart of the Osa Peninsula, at our Center!

Last february 6th we've re-inaugurated an old building that was remodeled to become a top-of-the-line laboratory. Our friends from the UCR were there, including their Rector, Mr. Henning Jensen; also people from local communities.

The presence of three women, local leaders and friends of us, was very important and has put a smile on our faces: Alice Cambronero, from Rancho Quemado community and member of COOPETURIC (a local rural tourism cooperative promoted by our Center) and Nirleidy Artavia & Jensy Cerdas, President and Secretary of ASOPEZ (a local fishermen association) our partners in the Blue Carbon Community Program (community mangrove conservation).

Alice commented: "I feel very grateful with the UCR and Fundación Neotrópica, they have been very supportive of the work of local entrepreneurs in Rancho Quemado, I am very happy for this achievement"

Nirlaidy said: "We are very happy for the opening of this new research center, which is unique in the area, we believe that it will bring scientific development for the communities and will let us build a stronger relationship with the scientific community; this is fundamental for us, as a community searching for a sustainable development and the conservation of our resources".

And our Executive Director, Bernardo Aguilar, said: "Honestly, the first time I saw the new laboratory I felt completely pleased, I feel that it will be very important not just to boost scientific opportunities, local capacities and community development, but also this will be a perfect place to tell the story, the story of Osa, and an opportunity for the international memory to include with bigger emphasis the brilliant conservation experience of Osa" 

Let's celebrate this achievement! Thanks to your support we can continue promoting this kind of great steps towards a more sustainable and happy place to live in. Together, we can empower others to do their part too!

Links:

• News from our website
• News from UCR