64 Costa Rican Nature Conservation Organizations

ACICAFOC	«At ACICAFOC we facilitate processes that allow access, use and responsible management of natural resources and thus contribute to the socio-productive development of indigenous peoples and local communities.» ( source: https://www.acicafoc.org/ )	Natural resources
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary	«Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is dedicated to the protection and conservation of Costa Rica’s wildlife. To accomplish this, we provide wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education and implement wildlife research.» ( source: https://alturaswildlifesanctuary.org/about/our-mission )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Amigos de felinos	«Our production is based on the generation of opportunities for communities bordering protected areas and biological corridors, where humans and wildlife look for coexistence in order to improve wildlife management.» ( source: http://amigosdefelinos.com/english/ )	Felines ; Wildlife conservation – Human-animal conflict
Asociación ANAI	«a non-profit ​association dedicated to helping people put into practice community and landscape-level initiatives that integrate nature conservation and the well-being of the people who conserve and sustainably use nature.» ( source: https://www.anaicostarica.org/ )	Landscape conservation
Asociación Amigos de la Naturaleza del Pacífico Central y Sur	«We work in the conservation field implementing and supporting programs to preserve and restore nature. We aim to work with local communities to empower them and raise awareness on the most pressing issues, organize local management comittees, explore community-based sustainable development alternatives, and conserve flora, fauna, habitats and ecological processes of the Path of the Tapir and its associated natural areas.» ( source: https://www.asanacr.org/ )	Wildlife conservation – Tapirs
Asociación Camino Verde	«The Camino Verde Association is in the preliminary process of the Integral Development Project of the Cabécar Duchí Indigenous Reserve, in Alta Talamanca. The objectives of the project are defined by 3 thematic axes: Biodiversity, Sustainable Processes and Cultural Revaluation» ( source: https://www.givingway.com/campaign/c7699 )	Biodiversity
Asociación Costa Rica Por Siempre	«Enhancing partnerships and resource management for biodiversity conservation and human well-being.» ( source: https://costaricaporsiempre.org/en/quienes-somos/ )	Biodiversity
Asociación Preservacionista de Flora y Fauna	«La Asociación Preservacionista de Flora y Fauna nació de un grupo de ciudadanos costarricenses preocupados por la problemática ambiental que enfrentaba Costa Rica por los años 70s. El 21 de mayo de 1985 se constituye legalmente como Asociación.» ( source: https://www.apreflofas.or.cr/#acerca-de-nosotros )	Flora ; Fauna
Asociación San Migueleña de Conservación y Desarrollo	«The main objective of the San Migueleña Association for Conservation and Development (ASACODE) is to seek the conservation of nature in San Miguel, without neglecting social and economic aspects» ( source: http://corredortalamanca.org/member_organizations_en.php?idioma=2 )	Nature Conservation
Asociación Talamanqueña de Ecoturismo y Conservación	«Explore Puerto Viejo and surrounding areas while contributing to sustainable economic development and the expansion of social and educational opportunities for local residents. Learn about the environmental degradation in Talamanca and explore ideas for living in environmentally responsible ways, the ‘pura vida’ = pure life.» ( source: https://ateccr.org/ )	Eco tourism
Asociación de Desarrollo y Conservación de Carbón Dos	«The main objective … is to facilitate actions or processes that seek the sustainable development of the Coal Two community. It develops forest conservation, environmental education and organic agriculture …» ( source: https://www.corredortalamanca.org/organizaciones_miembro.php?idioma=1 )	Sustainable development ; Nature Conservation ; Forests
Asociación de Organizaciones del Corredor Biológico Talamanca Caribe	«The principal objective … is the protection of the Biological Corridor, as a geographical area, which seeks to ensure the connection between the protected areas, indigenous territories, and promote the genetic exchange of wild species of flora and fauna.» ( source: https://corredortalamanca.org/index.php?idioma=2 )	Wildlife conservation
Asociación de Pequeños Productores de Talamanca	«Somos una organización de pequeños productores agro-ecológicos. Trabajamos para nuestros asociados y una mejor calidad de vida en las comunidades de Talamanca. A través de una producción eficiente, capacitación de asociados y comercialización, damos pasos para proteger el medio ambiente y conservar la riqueza natural, étnica y cultural de Talamanca y regiones aledañas.» ( source: https://www.appta.org/index.php/es/nuestro-trabajo/nosotros/mision )	Organic agriculture
Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas	«Hace 25 años que hacemos conservación activa en Áreas Silvestres Protegidas, playas y comunidades de Costa Rica promoviendo un voluntariado ambiental con consciencia social destinado a nacionales y extranjeros.» ( source: http://asvocr.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=272 )	Protected areas
Biosur Foundation	«The Foundation for the Study of the Biodiversity of the South Pacific of Costa Rica (BioSur), is a Costa Rican non-profit organization. … It is dedicated to maintaining and safeguarding the biodiversity of the last Tropical Rainforest of the Central American Pacific, home to 3% of the world’s biodiversity.» ( source: https://biosurcorcovado.org/en/home-eng/ )	Nature Conservation
Bushmaster Conservation Project	«It is an effort to protect and understand the most enigmatic reptile in the western hemisphere: the Bushmaster (genus Lachesis). The BCP is currently working on two species of Bushmasters and is the only in-situ study and conservation effort of its kind.» ( source: https://bushmasterproject.com/about.html )
Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation	«Founded in 1991, COTERC operates in both Canada and Costa Rica. In Canada, our Board of Directors are biologists, accountants, educators, environmentalists, zoo professionals, and media professionals — all committed and working actively to protect tropical rainforests.» ( source: http://www.coterc.com/ )	Rainforests
Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza	«Increase sustainable and inclusive human well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting education, research and outreach for the sustainable management of agriculture and conservation of natural resources.» ( source: https://www.catie.ac.cr/en/what-is-catie/our-mission-vision-strategy-and-values )	Food security ; Forests ; Agroforestry ; Climate change ; Livestock ; Gender ; Environmental economics
Centro Científico Tropical	«We are the Tropical Science Center, a pioneer organization that has 54 years of investigating and making proposals that facilitate the coexistence between human beings and the tropical forests.» ( source: https://cct.or.cr/contenido/home/ )	Tropical forests
Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales	«Cedarena fue fundada en 1989, como respuesta a una creciente preocupación por los problemas socio-ambientales y la necesidad de proponer alternativas y soluciones integrales a los nuevos modelos de desarrollo que se impulsaban en el país y en la región centroamericana.» ( source: https://www.cedarena.org/index.php/features/presentacion )	Mixed
Centro de Rescate Las Pumas	«Rescue, rehabilitate, release and guarantee the quality of life of the wildlife in Costa Rica, motivating the respect and love to these animals and also educating about their nature.» ( source: https://www.centrorescatelaspumas.org/nosotros?lang=en )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Cloudbridge Nature Reserve	«Since it’s beginning, Cloudbridge has been dedicated to the conservation and reforestation of the cloudforest. As we have grown, education and research have played a large part in what we do.» ( source: http://www.cloudbridge.org/ )	Nature Conservation ; Cloud forest
Conservation International Costa Rica	«Conservation International Costa Rica, through science, innovative policies and work with communities, empowers people to conserve the nature on which their well-being and livelihoods depend.» ( source: https://www.conservation.org/costa-rica/en )	Nature Conservation
Corcovado foundation	«We strive to protect Costa Rica’s natural heritage for future generations, through its sustainable development, by promoting education and community empowerment, the strengthening of protected wildlife areas and the promotion of tourism.» ( source: https://corcovadofoundation.org/ )	Nature Conservation
Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation	«In CRWF we work to ensure the prevalence of wildlife and its habitat through interdisciplinary and community-based stable conservation initiatives that promote coexistence and improve decision-making.» ( source: http://costaricawildlife.org/ )	Wildlife conservation
Costas Verdes	«Our purpose is to bring together those who love nature and harness the movement of restoring and bringing the wildlife to degraded beaches in Costa Rica. This is why in 2009 we decided to create our first nursery and plant our first trees.» ( source: http://www.costasverdes.org/ )	Coastal zone environments
El Centro de Rescate de Especies Marinas Amenazadas	«We are a marine conservation and research organization working to protect ocean resources and promote sustainable fisheries policies in Costa Rica and Central America.» ( source: https://www.cremacr.org/en/about-us/ )	Marine species
Experiencia Naturaleza Pacuare	«Our goal is to preserve the ecosystem in a sustainable way, to support the biodiversity in our country and to protect the sea turtles, some of which are highly endangered.» ( source: https://www.naturalezadepacuare.com/sobre-nosotros-wer-sind-wir-about-us )	Sea turtles
FUNDECODES	«… we seek the balance of the conservation of Biodiversity in perpetuity, through the management of funds, alliances with private companies, civil society and the Government» ( source: https://fundecodes.org/en/conozcanos/ )	Biodiversity
FUNDECOR	«FUNDECOR is a pioneer of sustainable development and responsible management of natural resources in Costa Rica and, with its innovative and committed quest vocation, it seeks to maintain Costa Rica´s leading role in environmental issues at an international level.» ( source: https://www.fundecor.org/home )	Ecosystem services
Fundacion MarViva	«MarViva, creada en 2002, contribuye a la Planificación Espacial Marina, al fomento de dinámicas de mercados responsables para productos y servicios marinos y al fortalecimiento de capacidades institucionales y locales para optimizar la gestión sostenible del mar.» ( source: https://marviva.net/nuestra-filosofia/ )	Marine products and services
IUCN, Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean	« implements and executes projects alongside Members and allies mostly from countries in the region, either in specific local communities and indigenous peoples or in work areas that include more than one country or even terrestrial, coastal or marine zones.» ( source: https://www.iucn.org/regions/mexico-central-america-and-caribbean/about-us )	Nature Conservation
Incentivan comunidades a conservar felinos silvestres	«… se realizará un concurso en el que participarán las asociaciones de desarrollo de las comunidades en las que se presentan conflictos de interacción con los felinos porque están muy cerca de parques nacionales o corredores biológicos.» ( source: https://vinv.ucr.ac.cr/es/noticias/incentivan-comunidades-conservar-felinos-silvestres )	Felines ; Wildlife conservation – Human-animal conflict
International Animal Rescue	«Our vision is a world where humans and animals coexist in sustainable ecosystems. Our mission is to build awareness and implement effective systems such that habitats and animals are protected.» ( source: https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/about-us# )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
International Animal Rescue Costa Rica	«International Animal Rescue (IAR) Costa Rica, previously known as Refuge for Wildlife, was established 20 years ago to help protect the wildlife of Costa Rica.» ( source: https://www.iarcostarica.org/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Jaguar Rescue Center	«The Jaguar Rescue Center is a temporary or permanent home for ill, injured and orphaned animals. With a focus on monkeys, sloths, other mammals, birds and reptiles, the JRC provides veterinary services, round-the-clock care and comfort to animals that would otherwise be unable to survive in the rainforest or the waters of the Caribbean.» ( source: https://www.jaguarrescue.foundation/en-us/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Kids Saving the Rainforest	«Founded by two 9 year old girls in 1999 for the purpose of educating people around the world about the ecological importance of the rainforest, to set-up programs to preserve and protect the rainforest and its wildlife.» ( source: https://www.kidssavingtherainforest.org/about-us-739648.html )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
La Marina Wildlife Rescue Center	«is a privately funded Animal Rescue Center in Costa Rica. Animal victims of repossession, loss of habitat and accidents… from all corners of the country are brought in by local officials. » ( source: https://www.zoocostarica.com/welcome1.html )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
La Red Latinoamericana de Bosques Modelo	«La Red Latinoamericana de Bosques Modelo (RLABM), es una alianza voluntaria entre Bosques Modelo respaldados por representaciones gubernamentales de cada país miembro, la cual está adscrita a la Secretaría de la Red Internacional de Bosques Modelo (SRIBM).» ( source: http://www.bosquesmodelo.net/ )	Forests
Latin American Sea Turtles	«… with 11 members and a directive board of 5, working together to make a change in sea turtle conservation. … Our field teams are integrated by local assistants with unparalleled experience in sea turtle research and conservation, people with vast experience working with volunteers and environmental enthusiasts developing creative strategies to avoid the extinction of these species. » ( source: http://latinamericanseaturtles.com/about-last.php )	Sea turtles
Macaw Recovery Network	«To recover endangered neotropical parrot populations through leading a network that develops and implements best practices in conservation.» ( source: https://macawrecoverynetwork.org/the-network/ )	wildlife conservation – Macaws
Monteverde Conservation League	«The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (or “BEN” after the Spanish “Bosque Eterno de los Niños”) is owned and operated by the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL), a Costa Rican non-profit conservation organization whose mission is “to conserve, preserve, and rehabilitate tropical ecosystems and their biodiversity.”» ( source: https://acmcr.org/content/about-us/history/ )	Forests
NATUWA Wildlife Sanctuary	«NATUWA Wildlife Sanctuary provides refuge and protection to the wild animals that have been victimized by human actions, such as hunting, removal from their environments, and deforestation.» ( source: https://www.natuwa.com/wildlife-sanctuary-costa-rica/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Nosara Civic Association	«Since its inception in 1975, the Nosara Civic Association has been at the heart of the Nosara community: promoting planning, civic activism, and conservation.» ( source: https://www.nosaracivicassociation.com/about-nosara-civic-association/ )	Nature Conservation
Organization for Tropical Studies	«… is a nonprofit consortium of about fifty universities, colleges, and research institutions worldwide. Founded in 1963, OTS’ mission is to provide leadership in education, research, and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) has operations in three countries and research stations and education programs in Costa Rica and South Africa.» ( source: https://tropicalstudies.org/ )
Osa Conservation	«Osa Conservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the globally significant biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.» ( source: https://osaconservation.org/ )	Nature Conservation
Osa wildlife sanctuary	«Osa Wildlife Sanctuary (Fundacion Santuario Silvestre de Osa), located on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, is a local enterprise wholly committed to providing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for orphaned, injured and displaced animals indigenous to the southern zone of Costa Rica.» ( source: https://osawildlife.org/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Pacuare Reserve	«Pacuare Reserve is the protected home of over 270 species of wildlife (over 200 species of birds). Pacuare beach is one of the most important leatherback turtle nesting beaches in the world.​ ​Pacuare’s coastline is hugged by dense jungle forest.» ( source: https://www.pacuarereserve.org/c-r )	Nature Conservation ; Sea turtles
Refugio Animal Costa Rica	«Recibimos un alto número de rescates al día, sin embargo todos son atendidos y tratados por el médico veterinario, siempre con el NORTE de la pronta liberación del animal al medio ambiente. » ( source: https://www.refugioanimalcr.com/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center	«Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (former Zooave) is a non-profit foundation dedicated to conserving Costa Rica’s wildlife. The animal sanctuary and wildlife conservation center is the oldest of its kind with 30 years of experience in rehabilitating wildlife, breeding endangered species, preserving habitat, and providing lifetime care. » ( source: https://www.rescatewildlife.org/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Reserva Agroecológica El Toledo	«Since opening our doors, Reserva El Toledo has worked tirelessly in protecting our waters through forestation working hand in hand with nature.» ( source: https://www.reservaeltoledo.com/home-copy )	Water security ; Forests
Reserva playa Tortuga	« RPT aims to contribute to the fields of biological research and science-based conservation management as well as fomenting a culture of environmental conservation in the areas influenced by the National Wetlands of the Terraba-Sierpe basin.» ( source: https://reservaplayatortuga.org/ )	Coastal zone environments
SIBU Sanctuary	«Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary’s mission is to provide a permanent, spacious sanctuary and ongoing care for wildlife that, due to psychological or physical injury, it is not possible to release back into the wild.» ( source: https://sibusanctuary.org/about/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Sea Turtle Conservancy	«The Sea Turtle Conservancy, … , is the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group.» ( source: https://conserveturtles.org/sea-turtle-conservancy/ )	Sea turtles
Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación	«SINAC has instrumental legal authority, and exercises its functions as a management and institutional coordination, decentralized and participatory, integrating skills in forestry, wildlife, protected areas and the protection and conservation of the use of river basins and water systems in order to dictate policy, plan and implement processes aimed at achieving sustainability in the management of natural resources.» ( source: http://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/conozca/Pages/default.aspx )	Geographical areas
Sloth Sanctuary	«We are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and research of sloths and conserving their rainforest habitat.» ( source: https://www.slothsanctuary.com/misson )	Sloths
Stibrawpa	«we offer rural community based ecotourism to share our culture with our visitors, to improve the economy of our village and to protect the natural variety and beauty of our region.» ( source: https://enstibrawpayorkin.wordpress.com/ )	Eco tourism
Tambor Bay Turtles	«Tambor Bay Turtles (TBT) is a conservation sea turtle project which has the mission to reduce threats to the sea turtles still coming to the shores of the Playa Tambor area. Olive Ridley sea turtles still come to our beaches to lay their eggs, between 80 to 120 eggs each time.» ( source: https://tamborturtlerescue.wixsite.com/tamborbayturtles )	Sea turtles
The International Analog Forestry Network	«We work to restore the productivity of degraded lands and provide new sources of income and food for local populations. We collaborate with small farmers and indigenous communities in developing countries to maintain and restore their forests and improve their income and subsistence.» ( source: https://www.analogforestry.org/about-us/about-iafn/ )	Forests ; Agriculture ; Analog Forestry
The Toucan Rescue Ranch	«The Toucan Rescue Ranch’s (TRR) mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Costa Rican wildlife. TRR works with a model that focuses on conservation, education, and research to ensure a brighter tomorrow for native wildlife. » ( source: https://toucanrescueranch.org/ )	Wildlife conservation – Animal rescue
Tortugas de Pacuare	«Our main mission at Tortugas de Pacuare is to protect endangered sea turtles such as the Leatherback sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle and the Green sea turtle. With the support of the local community and of the the international volunteers, we aim at conserving the environment.» ( source: https://www.tortugasdepacuare.org/ )	Sea turtles
University for International Cooperation	«UCI is a worldwide recognized university that offers academic programs that promote regenerative and evolutionary development, in a complex, diverse and changing world, through innovative methodologies that promote multiculturalism.» ( source: https://uci.ac.cr/university-international-cooperation/ )	Regenarative development
Vida Autentica	«Vida Autentica is a … non profit organization dedicated to creating a model of sustainable agriculture that will ignite change all over the world. Our mission is to teach organic food production, economic development, and health education to communities in Costa Rica and the United States.» ( source: https://www.vidaautentica.org/about-us )	Organic agriculture ; Economic development ; Health education
Vista Hermosa Farm Project	« Vista Hermosa Farm is a working educational model for volunteers and visitors to learn and experience permaculture bio-intensive mini-farming and sustainable living.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​» ( source: https://vistahermosafarmproject.com/ )	Permaculture

.

.

.

About this table

A list of organizations based or operating in Costa Rica, that are somehow involved in nature conservation.

Disclaimer : The data is provided ‘as is’. I compiled it to the best of my abilities. The list is not complete and errors may occur. If you find any errors or know of possible additions, then please do let me know.

The list is compiled based on web resources, reports and other sources.

I started this list on the theflipflop.life blog.