A natural jewel
The Great Talamanca is the highest mountain range in Costa Rica. Numerous rivers flow from it, which are the source of life for over 10,000 indigenous inhabitants of the mountains. Its highlands are inhabited by national parks and the territories of the Bribri and Cabécar. These rivers find their way into the Caribbean Sea, crossing wetlands, lush tropical rainforests, lagoons and mangroves, until they finally supply nutrients to Costa Rica’s main coral reefs on the coast of Baja Talamanca. This rich region in the south of the Caribbean pulsates with lush nature and a unique cultural diversity. This strip of land, 45 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide, is the link that connects the biodiversity of Alta Talamanca with Baja Talamanca and the countries of Panama and Costa Rica. Framed to the north by the Caribbean Sea and to the south by the Sixaola River (the border between Costa Rica and Panama), the region is home to a mega-diverse flora and fauna, including dolphins, manatees, jaguars, peccaries, tapirs, sloths, three species of monkeys and flocks of green macaws. The beaches with coastal rainforests, whose trees are up to 300 years old, serve as nesting sites for sea turtles, and the reefs are home to a variety of coral species. The Cahuita National Park and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve are among the protected areas that , together with indigenous territories and private reserves, preserve one of the most forested areas in the country. In addition, the rainforests of the entire Caribbean side are characterized by trees up to 50 meters high, lianas, epiphytes, palms of all sizes and magnificent heliconia flowers. Year-round flowering plants and evergreen, lush forests characterize the region.
A meeting place for cultures
The charming communities in the southern Caribbean are celebrated as bastions of ecology and progressive ideals in Costa Rica. This vibrant place is home to a diverse population. First, the descendants of African slaves who migrated from Jamaica more than 150 years ago and have inhabited the coast ever since, maintaining their connection to nature, the sea and the use of medicinal plants to this day. In the interior live the indigenous Bribri and Cabécar, whose culture is thousands of years old and who regard nature as sacred.
In addition, numerous European and South American travelers have integrated into the community over the last three decades, interweaving their lives with the fabric of the region.
The southern Caribbean is historically known for its ecological values, for resisting the construction of marinas and oil exploration, for giving birth to Costa Rica’s first organic farmers’ market, and for hosting several alternative schools that have been in operation for more than a decade. Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo in particular have become a haven for eco-conscious families, natural health practitioners, permaculture enthusiasts and anyone who wants to live in harmony with nature and lead a healthier, happier life. It is also a beautiful place to raise children.
What has happened in recent years?
The last decade has brought changes in the energy of this treasured haven. The uncontrolled expansion of Puerto Viejo, now a well-known tourist destination, has brought new challenges. The government has revoked the nature reserve status along the scenic coastline from Cocles to Manzanillo, opening the way for construction and development projects. Beaches that were surrounded by lush, protected coastal rainforest and coral reefs became land that is now open for sale and change of use. The Gandoca-Manzanillo National Park Wildlife Reserve, once connected to the Kekoldi Indian Reserve by a Biological Corridor, has been fragmented by the Margarita and Paraíso roads. These wounds have deepened, especially after the pandemic in 2020, when people from all over Costa Rica and the world once again sought refuge in this natural paradise, often unaware that unbridled development threatens to destroy its beauty.
The guardians emerge
To summarize our history: 30 years ago, the visionary founders of our collective began acquiring land for the purpose of conservation. This dedicated group of environmentalists proudly called themselves “Guardianes del Bosque” (Guardians of the Forest). This community of alarmed neighbors responded to the large-scale deforestation that began after the collapse of cocoa plantations due to the monilia fungus and the fragile market. They sought NGOs and international funding to help them buy land and protect the last remaining primary forests, which had become the last treasures and thus also prey for the loggers. Tropica Verde from Germany responded to this call for help and became the Guardianes’ main supporter. They acquired Finca Curré, a property adjacent to Finca Ninfa, and formed an alliance with Thierry and his family from Finca Ninfa and the neighboring Guardianes del Bosque. Thus began this story of protecting and caring for the forest. This collaboration led to the creation of the Community Conservation Agreement, which to this day protects an area of more than 200 hectares. This declaration is an agreement to jointly adopt environmentally friendly practices and move forward as a community, with mutual support from landowners in the southern Caribbean. New plots have already been added – and we continue to grow.
Today, we have further consolidated our environmental and social efforts by officially becoming an association in 2023. This step has strengthened our ability to uphold the flag of the Community Conservation Declaration and attract new signatories. We initiate environmental education to combat biological illiteracy in the region, encourage citizen science through research and the use of technology, and advocate for good environmental practices among landowners.
Community conservation
We offer voluntary signatories of the Declaration advice on developing ecological restoration plans, productive agroecological and agroforestry systems for food security, and developing opportunities for responsible and fair ecotourism on their lands.
Based on science, research and data collection, we want to justify the biological importance of the region. We want to explore and share with the community how to preserve the forest and develop permaculture designs for housing, land and resource management that conserve these fragile ecosystems. We want the multi-ethnic community that has taken care of this part of Costa Rica to develop a good and prosperous life in harmony with nature, which is the main source of all wealth. We want to be able to enjoy these natural treasures, as will our children and grandchildren.
Support the initiatives of the Asociación Guardianes del Bosque by supporting Tropica Verde and visiting our Instagram account Guardianes.del.Bosque.CR to find out about our activities and valuable information on the environment!
Report by José Pablo Fernandez Q.
President of the Asociación Guardianes del Bosque
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