16 Sep Conservation of threatened trees of the AmistOsa region
Conserving the rare and endemic trees of the AmistOsa region in Costa Rica
Partner: Osa Conservation
Years: 2022-2025, phase 2
This project aims to increase Osa Conservation (OC) robust research and monitoring program for threatened trees species, expand the only native and threatened tree species propagation program in the region and reduce threats affecting globally threatened trees by raising awareness of civil society, using innovative technology to detect illegal logging, and strengthening law enforcement and prosecution at a local level.
Osa Conservation’s tree conservation work over the past two years confirmed that rare and threatened trees in southern Costa Rica are understudied and under protected. Especially in the face of climate change, land-use change and natural resource extraction, there is an urgent need to better understand, locate and protect these species in Osa peninsula and into the AmistOsa highlands. Osa Conservation (OC) will build on a previous grant to lead the way in catalyzing action to protect botanic diversity in its last strongholds. OC will increase its conservation impact by growing their research program for threatened trees. Beyond survey, monitoring, and propagation, OC will protect genetic diversity through seed banking of target species. They will also expand the impact of its arboretum as the epicenter of tree conservation in Costa Rica by empowering early-career researchers through an annual training course, as well as a Think Tank Symposium. They will reduce threats affecting globally threatened trees in Costa Rica by raising awareness of civil society, using innovative technology to detect illegal logging, and strengthening local law enforcement prosecution.