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

 
 
 

For Conservation International-Costa Rica, conservation is about having a balance of protection and sustainable use of nature. This is our path to ensure livelihoods are improved, communities are more resilient, and our ocean, forests and biodiversity are healthier.

Ana Gloria Guzmán Mora
Executive Director, CI Costa Rica

 
 

For over 35 years, Conservation International-Costa Rica has leveraged the power of science, innovative policy and community partnerships to conserve nature for the benefit of all Costa Ricans.

We are scaling-up ocean conservation by working with partners, government agencies and local communities to strengthen marine conservation and ensure the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources. Our efforts support the conservation of key marine and coastal ecosystems at both national and regional levels.

Conservation International-Costa Rica supports the conservation of migratory marine megafauna and the effective management of marine protected areas within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape. We also promote participatory and science-based marine spatial planning processes to balance conservation and sustainable development.

We work with small-scale fisheries to improve their practices and reduce overfishing by implementing a social, environmental and economic approach to sustainability, balancing ocean protection with improved livelihoods. Additionally, we have developed an aquaculture improvement model in partnership with coastal communities to promote best practices and long-term sustainability.

We advocate for the restoration, sustainable use and protection of mangrove ecosystems — saltwater forests that shield against storm surges and help mitigate climate change. Our efforts have revitalized mangrove forests of Chira Island and across the Puntarenas Estuary and Níspero Wetlands, marking the largest mangrove restoration project in the country.

And through our "surf ecosystems" model, we are helping coastal communities implement sustainable tourism programs that uplift livelihoods and encourage protection of high-carbon, high-biodiversity natural areas.

 

Highlight project

© Conservation International/Daniela Calvo Barillas

Improving livelihoods and protecting marine ecosystems

Conservation International-Costa Rica is a leading member of the IKI: TRANSFORMA-INNOVA program, which aims to support Costa Rica’s decarbonization by 2050 through contributions to the agricultural sector, the creation of sustainable blue value chains, and the conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems.

With a participatory, science-driven approach, we are developing marine spatial planning tools that will strengthen conservation efforts and the governance of key marine ecosystems. We are also driving the transition to blue value chains in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, fostering local economic growth while safeguarding marine biodiversity. Additionally, we support the restoration, effective management and conservation of mangrove ecosystems, which are crucial for climate change mitigation and help support resilient coastal communities.

The TRANSFORMA-INNOVA program is implemented in partnership with GIZ, CATIE, UNDP, CRUSA Foundation and FUNBAM, and in direct coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, National Conservation Areas System, Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute.

 

Where we work in Costa Rica

 

News from Costa Rica

Meet a scientist: the fisheries aficionado

© CI/photo by Edgardo Ochoa

Ana Gloria Guzmán-Mora is the executive director of Conservation International’s Costa Rica program, where she works with local communities and governments to help them meet their goals for protecting the planet.  

Conservation News spoke with Guzmán-Mora about her encounter with the biggest fish on the planet, the communities that give her hope for Earth’s future and the limitless rewards that come from taking risks. 

Question: What sparked your passion for ocean conservation?

Answer: Growing up in Costa Rica, I have been surrounded by nature my whole life. As a kid, I spent most of my time climbing trees and listening to birds in Costa Rica’s capital, San José. But some of my favorite childhood memories are my family’s summertime trips to the coast. I found the ocean to be this incredible and mysterious world, filled with life and energy. I loved it so much I wished I could breathe underwater.

When I started university, I decided to study biology to learn everything I could about nature — from botany to genetics. This range of knowledge has been incredibly valuable during my career in conservation because it has helped me understand how every part of an ecosystem is connected. But even as I explored different parts of nature, all roads led back to the ocean, so I went on to pursue my master’s degree in marine science.

Q: Do you have a favorite fish? 

A: Absolutely, and it happens to be the biggest fish in the ocean: the whale shark. The first time I saw this gentle giant, I was scuba diving off Cocos Island southwest of Costa Rica and I screamed in delight — despite being underwater with all my gear. They swim so peacefully, no effort, no resistance. For me, this is what freedom looks like. 

I’m also extremely interested in how humans interact with fish. During my master’s program, I spent a year working with fishing communities throughout Costa Rica to help them manage their fisheries sustainably, without depleting the ocean. While research was my primary focus, I also attended many local government meetings with the fishers. I became their advocate, communicating the fishing communities’ goals for science, policy and conservation. Of course, I still love to study fish and other marine life, but this work helped me realize how important conservation is to humanity’s well-being. 

Q: What does your day-to-day look like now? 

A: Every day is different. Before the pandemic, I frequently visited our conservation sites across Costa Rica and worked with communities to help them protect and restore the nature they depend on — from mangroves in Chira Island off the country’s Pacific Coast, to fisheries in the provinces of Paquera and Tambor in the Nicoya Peninsula in the west. Our projects are all about getting local people engaged in conservation by identifying their priorities and ensuring that projects are built with their vision and needs in mind. Our projects link conservation initiatives, such as mangrove restoration, with opportunities to develop sustainable livelihoods. One of the key elements in every project is supporting local people, who are our main allies for conservation.

Fishing communities are vulnerable to environmental and economic shifts, and often lack the health infrastructure to protect against disease spread and infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Conservation International pivoted from some of our regular activities. I’ve spent most of my time coordinating our efforts to provide support, food and protective gear for the communities that we work with in Costa Rica. We also put together a joint campaign with the National Fisheries Authority to incentivize Costa Ricans to purchase fish and marine products from local communities and made a quick assessment to connect the local fishers with markets and retailers closer to their communities.   

Q: Can you tell me about your time with some of these communities? 

A: Most of the communities that I work with have a deep connection to the environment, which means they’re seeing firsthand how quickly ecosystems are changing. 

For example, in Chira Island, the older fishers told us that it used to be normal for them to see a variety of marine life — such as sharks and sea turtles — during every fishing trip. However, pollution, agricultural expansion, the degradation of wetlands and climate change have deteriorated the region’s marine ecosystems — and their coasts are now mostly devoid of life, with fish stocks rapidly dwindling.

But they are not giving up — most of the communities are determined to protect and restore nature so that they have something to leave behind for the next generation. These people are the most crucial part of our conservation projects, and their passion drives me to do better.  For example, we are working with five local communities in the Gulf of Nicoya in western Costa Rica to improve the management of coastal fisheries. By collaborating and practicing sustainable fishing techniques, these communities have become essential to building partnerships with local and national retailers. This is helping them reach broader markets and fetch higher prices for their fish. 

Q: You are Conservation International’s youngest female country director. What advice would you give to women who are embarking on careers in conservation?

A: Be fearless. Fisheries science is a male-dominated field. Women are told or often feel like it’s not the right place for them, but that is a huge misconception. I took a leap — and it paid off.  If you feel a passion for something, just go for it, even if you are scared or uncertain. When I took chances throughout my career, I didn’t realize they were leading me to my dream job in ocean conservation. It’s about taking risks. Believe in yourself and be open to learning from a variety of people along the way — from mentors to local communities. It will make you a better conservationist and person. Every time I hesitate to take a risk, I remember my legacy. I come from strong women who fought their generations’ stereotypes. They gave me these chances — and I don’t plan on letting opportunities pass.


Kiley Price is a staff writer and news editor at Conservation International. Want to read more stories like this? Sign up for email updates here. Donate to Conservation International here.

Cover image: Ana Gloria Guzmán-Mora diving in Cocos Island, Costa Rica (© Edgardo Ochoa/Conservation International)


Further reading:

 

Learn more

Hear directly from Conservation International employees on the ground in Costa Rica, in Spanish.

 

References

  1. Bermúdez-Rojas, T. & Obando, V. (2021). Biodiversidad en cifras: avances en el conocimiento de especies en Costa Rica. Biocenosis, 32(1), 51-58. DOI: 10.22458/rb.v32i2.3899
  2. Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC). (2023). Áreas Silvestres Protegidas [Mapa]. https://www.sinac.go.cr/ES/asp/Paginas/default.aspx
  3. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2024). Table 8a: Total, threatened, and EX & EW endemic species in each country [Fact sheet]. https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/summary-statistics#Summary%20Tables