Corcovado National Park Rescue Project!

Managing Life in a COVID-19 World

As we consider the COVID-19 global pandemic, it is clear that we are all navigating uncharted waters. Our “new lives” distance us from our friends and extended families, disrupting every aspect of our regular schedules and a sense of personal freedom. We have had vacations, business trips, and meetings canceled. Sadly, almost every one of us will lose some income, possibly our jobs or even our businesses. We simply don’t know how this all plays out.

So, as we strive to keep our loved ones safe and hold on to some sense of normalcy in our lives, we all need to spread as much kindness as we possibly can.

I have faith that the measures taken by the Costa Rican, U.S. and Canadian governments, as well as others the world over, help flatten the curve by slowing the spread of the virus, thus reducing at least some of the strain on the world’s health systems. It may even buy us some critical time needed to develop a vaccine.

But like a devastating storm or earthquake, the aftermath of these measures will see entire towns and extended communities crushed by job and income loss. I can already see in the faces of small business owners in Drake Bay the agony of having to choose between taking whatever income they made this high season to reimburse people that had to cancel their trips, or using that money to keep their employees in their jobs to support their families. It is a scenario playing out in thousands of communities across the planet where people depend on tourism and other industries to survive.

In an effort to try to stay closer, motivated, and sane, the Corcovado Foundation will refocus our efforts to use our platforms and networks to support those who need us the most. Our objectives will shift to collecting goods and cleaning supplies for the most vulnerable population at the moment — the elderly people of Drake Bay.

We have served this community for over 20 years. With tourism being the main source of income in the areas around Drake Bay, the elderly will be among the first and hardest-hit victims of the COVID. We will, therefore, direct our talents, energy, and time to collect money and goods, then deliver food baskets and supplies to help lessen at least some of the health risks and economic damage facing the elderly.

But we expect the economy will be restored eventually and our people and people around the world will create new ways to do things. New paradigms. New perspectives.

There may even be a reassessment of priorities and values. Maybe we don’t need to fly 1000 miles for a meeting, or perhaps we’ll think twice about vacationing on one of those floating Petri dishes called cruises. Maybe we no longer shake hands. Other cultures have figured out other ways to greet each other.

But what we need to do right now is to make sure COVID-19 doesn’t bring out the worst in us as human beings. We need to believe in each other, to be tolerant, and empathetic given we don’t know what other people are going through.

And above all, we need to be kind, thinking about how we can help each other by using our gifts for the common good. There is a bright side in everything so let’s find it. For me, it’s having my children in our home for a while longer. Empty nesters everywhere are getting this opportunity to use the one thing we have all been given by this virus — time in our homes with our families.  

Let’s think of small ways to help the economy to keep running. If you can, get more take out, use delivery services, or do curbside pick-up at your favorite restaurants and shops. And please, let’s not buy all the Purell, wipes, or toilet paper. Other people need to stay clean too!  

And though right now, the most important thing we must do is to stay away from each other, that doesn’t mean to disconnect. As we are all in this together, let’s use our devices to hold on to our relationships and keep them thriving.

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. Let’s prove it. Be positive. Keep the laughter going between us. If allowed in your community, meet up with each other and walk the neighborhoods and parks. Just stay 1.5 meters apart!

As always, we at the Corcovado Foundation are deeply appreciative of your support. There is a need now, so if you can, please help us provide some relief for the most vulnerable in the remote places of Costa Rica in this time of need. A $50 USD donation, or any amount made during the Little by Little Campaign to our Community Support Fund Program, will help us make bring some relief to those that need it the most.

Whatever the “new normal” is when we come out of this pandemic, we’ll remember that we got through it together because we chose to stand together in caring and kindness.

On February 26, during the Osa Chamber of Tourism meeting, the Corcovado Foundation launched a program to hire for Corcovado National Park.

The Corcovado Foundation that was born for this protected area, has undertaken the mission to carry out a campaign to raise awareness and raise funds to strengthen this park and support its authorities to finance their efforts and thereby ensure the conservation of this national park in the long term.

Corcovado is home to a third of the tree species and half of the threatened plants in Costa Rica, home of 50% of the species that live in Costa Rica and 2,5% of the biodiversity of the planet. Therefore, the Osa Peninsula is one of the favorite tourism destinations in the country. In 2019, the park received 62,000 tourists in 2019, who require the hiring of hotels, restaurants, boatmen, transporters and local guides. At least, about 18.6 million dollars a year are generated by tourists visiting the national park. The Corcovado National Park is the engine of the economy of the Osa Peninsula.

However, this park has only 10% of the budget it needs to operate. We know that the government does everything they can, but with 25% of the country’s territory under some sort of protected status, 163 protected areas and only 34 of them receiving tourism, it is a huge undertaking. The Corcovado National Park has an extension of 42,570 ha and currently, the personnel designated to patrol it are 24 officials. Each park ranger of Corcovado National Park must take care of 1774 hectares. Take a look at our interviews with these courageous men and women that fight every day to maintain the integrity of this park. Protecting this national park is not only the responsibility of the government, but it is also the responsibility of all of us who benefit from this gem.

Help us protect Corcovado National. You can join donate on GlobalGiving now or you can also join the Little by the little campaign where a small donation will be matched by 50% by GlobalGiving. Our goal for this first campaign is US$10,000. With your help, it will provide the initial funding to meet the most urgent Park Ranger needs for basic field equipment, including proper dry-fit uniforms, radios, and compasses. This equipment is critical so rangers can do their job properly and protect the unique ecosystems of this beautiful national park.

Links:

• Heroes of the forest