Sea Turtle Conservation & Environmental Education

Dear friends, donors, and partners,

As we come to the close of 2025, we would like to sincerely thank you for walking alongside Corcovado Foundation. Thanks to your support, this year we strengthened biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and sustainable livelihoods in Costa Rica’s South Pacific, always working hand in hand with local communities.

The year 2025 was marked by consistent fieldwork, strong partnerships, and shared learning. Below is a summary of the key achievements we accomplished together.

Environmental Education and Community Empowerment

• 126 environmental education activities with community groups, benefiting more than 250 children.
• Implementation of the Forging Wildlife Guardians program in 11 schools, reaching approximately 200 students.
• 3 learning field trips with participating children, fostering direct contact with nature and the development of early environmental awareness.
• Creation and care of 2 school gardens, integrating environmental education, healthy food practices, and teamwork.
• Awareness-raising on illegal wildlife possession, the Wildlife Conservation Law, responsible human–wildlife interactions, and waste management.
• Presentation of the theatrical play “Nico the Parakeet”, created and performed by children as a tool for education and conservation through art.
• 4 agroecological markets and 10 exchanges among producers, strengthening the local economy, collaborative work, and women’s leadership.

Conservation and Restoration

• Protection of sea turtles in Punta Mala and Palo Seco.
• 16 beach cleanups, removing 2,583 kg of waste, including 1,600 kg of plastic.
• Night monitoring, nest relocation, and hatchling releases.
• 500 trees planted (343 native and 157 fruit trees) with 27 families in five communities in the Drake area, contributing to ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

Sustainable Production and Livelihoods

• Implementation of the Regenerative Livestock Program with 9 small-scale producers in the Osa Peninsula.
• Development and updating of holistic grazing plans, stocking rate analysis, and individualized technical support.
• Functional Nutrition and Genetics Workshop, promoting livestock adapted to tropical conditions and the use of local inputs.
• Donation of materials, equipment, and supplies for the direct implementation of regenerative designs on farms.
• Progress in reducing agrochemical use and strengthening productive autonomy.

Each of these achievements reflects the power of collective action among communities, partners, and individuals committed to conservation.

Thank you for making this possible. We move forward with the conviction that protecting nature also means building a more just and sustainable future.

With gratitude,

Francisco Delgado

Executive Director

Corcovado Foundation

From August to November, our Sea Turtle Conservation Project continued strengthening protection efforts across several nesting beaches, combining hands-on conservation, community participation, and volunteer engagement.

In Punta Mala, teams carried out sixteen beach cleanups, removing a total of 2,583 kg of waste, including 1,600 kg of plastic. These efforts are essential to maintaining a safe environment for nesting turtles and preventing debris from affecting hatchlings.

At the Esterillos Oeste hatchery, volunteers supported two sessions of sand removal and redistribution from hatched nests, ensuring healthier conditions for future clutches. Additional monitoring activities in Esterillos allowed volunteers to participate in environmental assessments, nest checks, and the release of newly hatched turtles.

A collaborative cleanup with Reserva Playa Tortuga offered volunteers an educational opportunity to learn about their butterfly garden and turtle hatchery, while also helping remove sand from nests that had already hatched.

In Playa Hermosa, work at the hatchery intensified through continuous shifts from late October to mid-November. Volunteers cleared vegetation, replaced worn-out sacks, removed microplastics, and maintained the hatchery’s structure. Fifteen protective bamboo structures were built to safeguard nests, though later displaced by wildlife activity. The team also took part in nine PRONAMEC events, contributing to beach measurements and coastal monitoring.

Support was also extended to the Palo Seco project, where volunteers participated in nightly patrols, relocated ten nests for protection, and carried out two environmental education activities. Community involvement grew steadily, with local residents joining hatchery shifts—particularly the early morning hours—and four community members now actively participating in various roles.

These months reflect how consistent effort, teamwork, and a shared commitment to conservation can make a profound difference for sea turtles and the ecosystems they depend on.