Caminos de Osa: March Milestones

In March, Caminos de Osa entrepreneurs further developed details of their businesses as they related to the products and services provided. The topics covered in the workshop included Financial Education, Credit Management, and Project Management. Also in March, the Caminos de Osa Association held its first work session that brought together members from all five communities. Later in the month, the Association applied for seed capital to fund the implementation of the artistic component in the Caminos project. And lastly, all three Caminos de Osa trails will be finalized by April 20^th with help from Juan Jose Jimenez in the Costa Rican National Forest Service (SINAC).

For more information, please contact Daniel Villafranca by phone at (506) 4034-2133, or email at dvillafranca@grupo-rba.com

University of Costa Rica and the Neotropica Foundation Inaugurate Research Laboratory in the Osa

On February 6^th, 2015 the Interdisciplinary Laboratory Osa-Golfo Dulce was inaugurated after an agreement between the University of Costa Rica and the Neotropica Foundation. This new research center, equipped with work and rest spaces, a kitchen, dining hall, a scientific laboratory, and a multi-purpose lecture hall, is located in El Campos, Agua Buena in Rincon de Osa, and will serve the needs of researchers, teachers, and students from diverse disciplines.

For more information, read here and here (articles in Spanish).

The Value of Biological Collections

Throughout the past 25 years in Costa Rica, and for much of Central America, the National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) has served and continues to serve as the cornerstone of biological collections, information, and inspiration for many. INBio ranks among the top in the country in the collection and preservation of Neotropical taxa, and soon for political, economic, and even cultural reasons its 3.5 million-specimen inventory of plants, fungi, invertebrates, mosses, and others will be transferred to the Costa Rican National Museum. Given the project’s biological and national significance and symbolism, it is vitally important for both Costa Ricans and many others to learn about and appreciate this resource’s role in supporting the sustainable development of Costa Rica while protecting, studying, discussing, and cataloging its invaluable natural resources.

Read more here (article in Spanish).