Southern Costa Rica Conservation and Riparian Corridor Initiatives
Awesome Rides on Zip Lines and Canopy eco tours near Puerto Jimenez, close to Corcovado National Park in Southern Costa Rica.
Travel To The Osa Peninsula to learn more about Osa’s Pristine Ecology and biodiversity, travel to Southern Costa Rica for your Costa Rica Christmas family vacation and make our vacation rental homes
Tree Climbing and swing with Andy and Terry in the trees at Matapalo near surf beach.
Waterfall Rappelling and Canopy Adventures for your entire family.Secluded Eco Tours near Lapa’s Nest Tree House are limited to 10-12,
Swim with Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphins Eco Tours on Cabinas Jimenez Boat tours over to wildlife refuge, reserve, meet Poppy, Osa’s most famous Spider Monkeys. Sea and Gulf kayaking in the Pacific Ocean, in Osa’s rivers, and kayak in mangrove for a real adventure.
Wildlife Photography retreats, painting retreat and workshops, osa biodiversity,osa peninsula, tropical birds, save sea turtles in carate,sea turtle conservation programs, volunteering, scientific research, tropicalstudy, dolphins, humpback whales, fundraising, student and tropical reforestation.
If you are interested in conservation on The Osa Peninsula and want to stay in the rainforest near Puerto Jimenez while you are on vacation. We recommend staying at Lapas Vacation Home Rentals
Project Goals
To provide a definitive and carefully integrated multidisciplinary study of the riparian and coastal marine zones of the Osa Peninsula that would:
1) to establish riparian corridor reserves from the mountains to sea for native animals, such as the jaguar and fresh-water
fish species, to traverse in relative safety to assist with their genetic viability
2) to safeguard the biodiversity of the peninsula
3) to protect the rivers from destruction via excessive mining for minerals and building materials
4) to arrest the excessive sedimentation of the coastal marine waters and the destruction of mangrove habitat and coralreefs
5) assist various fish species to regenerate their populations
6) to aid the ailing fishing sector of the economy
7) to protect property values of peninsula residents
Project Study Area
Primary target area: the Osa Peninsula bordering the Golfo Dulce. New studies would target the Tigre and Agujas River watersheds and adjoining coastal marine environments. The project would attempt to coordinate any ongoing studies within the primary target areas with the project studies.
Project Management
To ensure that the various studies are properly coordinated and integrated and accomplished in a timely fashion, a local part to full-time overseer or Project Manager would be appointed and perform at least the following tasks:
1) maintain contact through the process with all of the study teams and assist with the proper presentation and
dispersement of study findings to the appropriate academic institutions and publications.
2) chair regular meetings where the study teams would present progress reports, keep the teams focused and to
encourage open discussion to allow for the multidisciplinary process to evolve as needed
3) coordinate previous ongoing studies with the project studies
4) draft regular progress reports to the donor team
Project Study Teams
To increase the acceptance and recognition of the validity of the studies, grants would be offered first to Costa Rican scientists directly or via the various major universities. If there is a lack of qualified or available Costa Rican scientists, outside scientists would be hired.
To encourage the acceptance of the establishment riparian corridor reserves with the local population, the study teams will be encouraged to use upper level local grade school and high school students to assist with data collection. Any employment opportunities and purchasing of study materials, when possible, should be purchased locally to assist the local economy.
Project Studies
1) River Hydrology Study headed by a Hydrologist to determine the present conditions of the targeted rivers.
2) Riparian Zone Ecological Study headed by a Limnologist (preferably a Landscape Limnologist). The study would focus on the Tigre and Agujas riparian zones.
3) Biodiversity Study headed by a Biologist and Botanist team that focuses on the animal corridor creation/restoration.
4) Coastal Marine Ecological Study headed by a Marine Biologist or Ecologist that would focus on the effects of river sedimentation and increased temperatures on mangrove and coral reef ecosystems and fish populations dependant on those habitats.
Short List of Recommended Scientists and Universities
- Gerardo Umaña gumana@biologia.ucr.ac.cr - main limnologist from UCR. He has done work on the rivers of the Peninsula several years ago.
- Helena Molina hmolina@rsmas.miami.edu - also from UCR, she has been doing some work in the Térraba-Sierpe area.
- Wills Flowers rflowers7@earthlink.net - from Florida University and has been working with macro invertebrates in the rivers of the Peninsula.
- Aida Bustamante abustamante@yaguara.org - biologist studying jaguars and the establishment of animal corridors on the Osa Peninsula.
- Eduardo Gómez trianodor@yahoo.com and Juan Fernández from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia are conducting studies of macroinvertebrates and plankton at approximately 50 stations on nearly all of the main rivers surrounding the Golfo Dulce.
- Dr. Farid Tabash Blanco atabash@una.ac.cr at the UNA department of Biological Studies: subdivision- Marine and Freshwater Biological Studies (Estudias Biológicas Marinas y Dulceacuícolas). He has been studying the offshore area from Matapalo to the Reserva Ballena.
- M.Sc. Sonia Arguedes Quiros sargued@una.ac.cr telephone: (506) 2277-3487 - recently participated in an Osa Peninsula biodiversity presentation to the local communities
- Universidad Nacional (UNA) Department of Exact and Natural Sciences (Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales) www.exactasynaturales.una.ac.cr administration headed by Dean (Decano) M.Sc. Alberto Segura Gutiérrez asegura@una.ac.cr telephone: (506) 2277-3917; Vice Dean (Vicedecano) M.Sc. Felipe Reyes Solares, freyes@una.ac.cr telephone: (506) 2277-3314; Administrative Director (Directora Administrativa) Lic. Georgina Méndez Rojas gemendez@una.ac.cr telephone: 2277-3315
- Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR)
- Universidad Estatal a Distancia
Glossary
Riparian Zone Ecology: the study of the environmental interrelationship of waterways and their adjacent lands.
Riparian Zones: include stream banks and associated areas adjacent to a flowing waterway. Vegetated riparian areas function as stream buffer zones. There are many benefits of stream bank setbacks, including the protection from erosion. In addition, vegetative setbacks act as biofilters for water pollutants (toxic chemicals, nutrients, and sediment) from runoff entering streams. They also function to provide shade to prevent stream warming, and provide food, cover, and habitat structure for wildlife.
The linear corridors provided by stream bank setbacks enhance wildlife biodiversity, movement and migration for sensitive species. Protection of existing natural riparian corridors is critical to the long-term health of streams and downstream receiving waters such as gulfs with mangroves, coral reefs and important fishing hatcheries, and is also instrumental in preserving aesthetic and economic well-being to a community.
Riparian zones dissipate stream energy. The meandering curves of a river, combined with vegetation and root systems, dissipate stream energy, result in less soil erosion. Sediment is trapped, reducing the turbidity of the water and eventual sedimentation of coastal waters.
Flooding, erosion, sedimentation of surface waters, increased storm water runoff, loss of wetlands and riparian areas, increased pollution, and wildlife habitat losses are some of the problems that occur if riparian corridors are not protected. If a riparian area is cleared of its trees and shrubs to the water's edge, water quality degradation will occur and the biodiversity of the area will be adversely affected.
Healthy riparian zones provide wildlife habitat, increase biodiversity and provide wildlife corridors that enable aquatic, riparian and other species to move along river systems to access isolated biological communities. They provide forage and cover protection for wildlife. They also extend seasonal and perennial flows of water.
From a social-economic aspect, riparian zones contribute to nearby property values and, depending on the size of the waterway, ensure the availability of riparian sports including fishing, swimming and boating.
Landscape limnology (a sub-category of Aquatic Ecology and a sub-category of Limnology): the study of fresh waters, specifically natural and constructed lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers,
• disciplines Limnology studies include the biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, and hydrology of freshwater ecosystems.”
Landscape limnology focuses on how waterways and wetlands interact with the freshwater, terrestrial, and human landscapes to determine the effects of pattern on ecosystem processes across temporal and spatial scales. The terrestrial component represents spatial hierarchies of landscape features that influence what materials, whether solutes or organisms, are transported to aquatic systems; aquatic connections represent how these materials are transported; and human activities reflect features that influence both what and how these materials are transported as well as their quantity and temporal dynamic. Limnology is the study of inland water bodies inclusive of rivers, lakes, and wetlands; landscape limnology seeks to integrate all of these ecosystem types.” Limnology is closely related to Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecology.
Marine Ecology is the branch of ecological science concerned with organisms that live in or near the ocean, their behaviors, and their interactions with the environment. The scope of studies in marine ecology can range greatly, from examining unicellular microorganisms to researching global effects of pollution and human activity. Scientists might observe a specific population of organisms, identifying their behaviors and relationships, or investigate entire marine habitats to see how different living and nonliving factors contribute to the overall ecosystem.
Gene Warneke - Osa Peninsula Environmental Eco Tourism Blog writer Gene Warneke
-Associate & Environmental Editor, "Neotropica, The Costa Rican Magazine for Living in the New Tropics"at www.neotropica.info
Great opportunity to enjoy the rainforest at our Lapas Vacation Home Rentals Style Accomodations.
Travel To The Osa Peninsula to learn more about Osa’s Pristine Ecology and biodiversity, travel to Southern Costa Rica for your Costa Rica Christmas family vacation and make our vacation rental homes
Tree Climbing and swing with Andy and Terry in the trees at Matapalo near surf beach.
Waterfall Rappelling and Canopy Adventures for your entire family.Secluded Eco Tours near Lapa’s Nest Tree House are limited to 10-12,
Swim with Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphins Eco Tours on Cabinas Jimenez Boat tours over to wildlife refuge, reserve, meet Poppy, Osa’s most famous Spider Monkeys. Sea and Gulf kayaking in the Pacific Ocean, in Osa’s rivers, and kayak in mangrove for a real adventure.
Wildlife Photography retreats, painting retreat and workshops, osa biodiversity,osa peninsula, tropical birds, save sea turtles in carate,sea turtle conservation programs, volunteering, scientific research, tropicalstudy, dolphins, humpback whales, fundraising, student and tropical reforestation.
If you are interested in conservation on The Osa Peninsula and want to stay in the rainforest near Puerto Jimenez while you are on vacation. We recommend staying at Lapas Vacation Home Rentals
Osa Peninsula Rivers, from the Mountains to the Sea, - A Multidisciplinary Study Project
Project Goals
To provide a definitive and carefully integrated multidisciplinary study of the riparian and coastal marine zones of the Osa Peninsula that would:
1) to establish riparian corridor reserves from the mountains to sea for native animals, such as the jaguar and fresh-water
fish species, to traverse in relative safety to assist with their genetic viability
2) to safeguard the biodiversity of the peninsula
3) to protect the rivers from destruction via excessive mining for minerals and building materials
4) to arrest the excessive sedimentation of the coastal marine waters and the destruction of mangrove habitat and coralreefs
5) assist various fish species to regenerate their populations
6) to aid the ailing fishing sector of the economy
7) to protect property values of peninsula residents
Project Study Area
Primary target area: the Osa Peninsula bordering the Golfo Dulce. New studies would target the Tigre and Agujas River watersheds and adjoining coastal marine environments. The project would attempt to coordinate any ongoing studies within the primary target areas with the project studies.
Project Management
To ensure that the various studies are properly coordinated and integrated and accomplished in a timely fashion, a local part to full-time overseer or Project Manager would be appointed and perform at least the following tasks:
1) maintain contact through the process with all of the study teams and assist with the proper presentation and
dispersement of study findings to the appropriate academic institutions and publications.
2) chair regular meetings where the study teams would present progress reports, keep the teams focused and to
encourage open discussion to allow for the multidisciplinary process to evolve as needed
3) coordinate previous ongoing studies with the project studies
4) draft regular progress reports to the donor team
Project Study Teams
To increase the acceptance and recognition of the validity of the studies, grants would be offered first to Costa Rican scientists directly or via the various major universities. If there is a lack of qualified or available Costa Rican scientists, outside scientists would be hired.
To encourage the acceptance of the establishment riparian corridor reserves with the local population, the study teams will be encouraged to use upper level local grade school and high school students to assist with data collection. Any employment opportunities and purchasing of study materials, when possible, should be purchased locally to assist the local economy.
Project Studies
1) River Hydrology Study headed by a Hydrologist to determine the present conditions of the targeted rivers.
2) Riparian Zone Ecological Study headed by a Limnologist (preferably a Landscape Limnologist). The study would focus on the Tigre and Agujas riparian zones.
3) Biodiversity Study headed by a Biologist and Botanist team that focuses on the animal corridor creation/restoration.
4) Coastal Marine Ecological Study headed by a Marine Biologist or Ecologist that would focus on the effects of river sedimentation and increased temperatures on mangrove and coral reef ecosystems and fish populations dependant on those habitats.
Short List of Recommended Scientists and Universities
- Gerardo Umaña gumana@biologia.ucr.ac.cr - main limnologist from UCR. He has done work on the rivers of the Peninsula several years ago.
- Helena Molina hmolina@rsmas.miami.edu - also from UCR, she has been doing some work in the Térraba-Sierpe area.
- Wills Flowers rflowers7@earthlink.net - from Florida University and has been working with macro invertebrates in the rivers of the Peninsula.
- Aida Bustamante abustamante@yaguara.org - biologist studying jaguars and the establishment of animal corridors on the Osa Peninsula.
- Eduardo Gómez trianodor@yahoo.com and Juan Fernández from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia are conducting studies of macroinvertebrates and plankton at approximately 50 stations on nearly all of the main rivers surrounding the Golfo Dulce.
- Dr. Farid Tabash Blanco atabash@una.ac.cr at the UNA department of Biological Studies: subdivision- Marine and Freshwater Biological Studies (Estudias Biológicas Marinas y Dulceacuícolas). He has been studying the offshore area from Matapalo to the Reserva Ballena.
- M.Sc. Sonia Arguedes Quiros sargued@una.ac.cr telephone: (506) 2277-3487 - recently participated in an Osa Peninsula biodiversity presentation to the local communities
- Universidad Nacional (UNA) Department of Exact and Natural Sciences (Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales) www.exactasynaturales.una.ac.cr administration headed by Dean (Decano) M.Sc. Alberto Segura Gutiérrez asegura@una.ac.cr telephone: (506) 2277-3917; Vice Dean (Vicedecano) M.Sc. Felipe Reyes Solares, freyes@una.ac.cr telephone: (506) 2277-3314; Administrative Director (Directora Administrativa) Lic. Georgina Méndez Rojas gemendez@una.ac.cr telephone: 2277-3315
- Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR)
- Universidad Estatal a Distancia
Glossary
Riparian Zone Ecology: the study of the environmental interrelationship of waterways and their adjacent lands.
Riparian Zones: include stream banks and associated areas adjacent to a flowing waterway. Vegetated riparian areas function as stream buffer zones. There are many benefits of stream bank setbacks, including the protection from erosion. In addition, vegetative setbacks act as biofilters for water pollutants (toxic chemicals, nutrients, and sediment) from runoff entering streams. They also function to provide shade to prevent stream warming, and provide food, cover, and habitat structure for wildlife.
The linear corridors provided by stream bank setbacks enhance wildlife biodiversity, movement and migration for sensitive species. Protection of existing natural riparian corridors is critical to the long-term health of streams and downstream receiving waters such as gulfs with mangroves, coral reefs and important fishing hatcheries, and is also instrumental in preserving aesthetic and economic well-being to a community.
Riparian zones dissipate stream energy. The meandering curves of a river, combined with vegetation and root systems, dissipate stream energy, result in less soil erosion. Sediment is trapped, reducing the turbidity of the water and eventual sedimentation of coastal waters.
Flooding, erosion, sedimentation of surface waters, increased storm water runoff, loss of wetlands and riparian areas, increased pollution, and wildlife habitat losses are some of the problems that occur if riparian corridors are not protected. If a riparian area is cleared of its trees and shrubs to the water's edge, water quality degradation will occur and the biodiversity of the area will be adversely affected.
Healthy riparian zones provide wildlife habitat, increase biodiversity and provide wildlife corridors that enable aquatic, riparian and other species to move along river systems to access isolated biological communities. They provide forage and cover protection for wildlife. They also extend seasonal and perennial flows of water.
From a social-economic aspect, riparian zones contribute to nearby property values and, depending on the size of the waterway, ensure the availability of riparian sports including fishing, swimming and boating.
Landscape limnology (a sub-category of Aquatic Ecology and a sub-category of Limnology): the study of fresh waters, specifically natural and constructed lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers,
• disciplines Limnology studies include the biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, and hydrology of freshwater ecosystems.”
Landscape limnology focuses on how waterways and wetlands interact with the freshwater, terrestrial, and human landscapes to determine the effects of pattern on ecosystem processes across temporal and spatial scales. The terrestrial component represents spatial hierarchies of landscape features that influence what materials, whether solutes or organisms, are transported to aquatic systems; aquatic connections represent how these materials are transported; and human activities reflect features that influence both what and how these materials are transported as well as their quantity and temporal dynamic. Limnology is the study of inland water bodies inclusive of rivers, lakes, and wetlands; landscape limnology seeks to integrate all of these ecosystem types.” Limnology is closely related to Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecology.
Marine Ecology is the branch of ecological science concerned with organisms that live in or near the ocean, their behaviors, and their interactions with the environment. The scope of studies in marine ecology can range greatly, from examining unicellular microorganisms to researching global effects of pollution and human activity. Scientists might observe a specific population of organisms, identifying their behaviors and relationships, or investigate entire marine habitats to see how different living and nonliving factors contribute to the overall ecosystem.
Gene Warneke - Osa Peninsula Environmental Eco Tourism Blog writer Gene Warneke
-Associate & Environmental Editor, "Neotropica, The Costa Rican Magazine for Living in the New Tropics"at www.neotropica.info
Great opportunity to enjoy the rainforest at our Lapas Vacation Home Rentals Style Accomodations.
