OSA Conservation is Connecting Habitats to Create Climate Resilience for People and Nature in Costa Rica

Stretching across Costa Rica’s southern Pacific lies the AmistOsa region, one of Central America’s richest landscapes in biodiversity. Osa Conservation is at the forefront of efforts to protect this critical ecosystem through the Ridge-to-Reef initiative, which focuses on building climate resilience and preserving the region’s unmatched biodiversity. With habitats ranging from cloud forests and tropical lowland rainforests to the largest Pacific mangrove system and the Cocos-Galapagos swimway, the AmistOsa corridor is a biodiversity hotspot. It hosts over 6,540 species, including 400 bird species, 140 mammals, and countless endemic species that rely on this habitat for survival.

To protect this vital corridor, Osa Conservation is leading a multi-faceted conservation model. Central to their efforts is the development of the Central American Biodiversity and Climate Lab, a hub for monitoring biodiversity and climate change. The Lab consists of two key campuses: one in the lowland rainforest at the Osa Conservation Campus and a planned highland campus bordering the Amistad International Peace Park. This dual-campus strategy will create a continuous corridor from sea level to the mountaintops, providing species the connectivity they need to thrive as the climate shifts.

Photo credits: Andrew Whitworth & Ian Rock

The organization’s Ridge-to-Reef initiative combines scientific research, cutting-edge conservation technology, and community engagement to build a scalable model for conservation across the tropics. Through partnerships with over 370 local landowners, Osa Conservation has restored over 200 hectares of mangrove forest, planted over one million native trees, and built 28 arboreal bridges to ensure the safe movement of wildlife.

Community engagement is at the heart of Osa’s work. The organization leads a Youth Nature Club that reaches over 2,000 of Costa Rica’s most economically vulnerable children annually and benefits an additional 5,000 community members. Their Restoration Network empowers local farmers, youth, and volunteers to participate in citizen science and sustainable land management practices. The organization has trained volunteer rangers and expanded conservation fellowships to build the next generation of leaders in biodiversity preservation.

With a five-year plan to secure and restore new conservation land and launch the highland campus, Osa Conservation is turning the AmistOsa corridor into Central America’s flagship Climate Adaptation Lifeboat. Their efforts serve as a global model for biodiversity resilience and climate adaptation, proving that people and nature can thrive together in the face of climate change.

In keeping with our commitment to environmental stewardship, New England Biolabs is proud to support Osa Conservation and their Ridge to Reef initiative—advancing climate resilience and biodiversity in one of Central America's most vital ecosystems.