The Conservancy strengthens commitment to the Osa Campaign

President Oscar Arias

On December 4 2006, Steve McCormick met with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, Pete Seligman of Conservation International and Luis Diego Escalante of the Costa Rica USA Foundation to reaffirm their commitment to the Osa Campaign.

The Osa Peninisula in southwest Costa Rica is rich in biodiversity with over 13 major ecosystems. It is home to magnificent species such as the jaguar, puma, sea turtle, scarlet macaw, and over 375 species of birds, 4,000 species of plants and more than 700 species of trees.

The Osa Campaign was launched in 2004 to raise $32.5 million to:

• Protect the Osa’s biodiversity via private lands strategies and improving park management;
• create a biological corridor between Corcovado and Piedras Blancas National Parks;
• protect the marine and coastal habitats around the Osa; and
• build the capacity of local organizations and communities for conservation success.

“This is a vision that conservation is not protecting a place from people, but conserving it for people,” McCormick said.

The Campaign has already raised $19 million towards the goal. Additionally, 57 new park guards have been hired and trained, 3,040 acres of land has been purchased to consolidate Piedras Blancas National Park and institutional and community participation has been strengthened.

Representatives from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Wege Foundation, both generous supporters of the Campaign and share the Conservancy's desire to protect the Osa, were present at the event.

The Campaign is an excellent example of public-private partnership to further conservation.