Recently, WCA has been represented by third parties on social media and in group chats in ways that may not accurately reflect our goals, values, scientific data, and involvement. As part of our commitment to transparency, the following is meant to clarify:
The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983 under the legal framework of Costa Rican wildlife preservation laws, with the primary objective of protecting sea turtles and their reproductive habitat at Playa Ostional and Playa Nosara. In 1985, the limits of the Refuge were extended to include Playa Pelada and Playa Guiones.
Since 2016, WCA —formerly TortuGuiones— has actively participated in the collection of scientific data, community engagement, and educational programming in our mission to protect sea turtles and wildlife at the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (RNVSO). Our organization was originally founded to monitor sea turtles in Pelada and Guiones. We have since expanded our programs to include the monitoring of wildlife, water quality, and marine ecosystems across the entire refuge and its buffer zone (Ostional, Nosara, Pelada, and Guiones).
At WCA, we respect and support compliance with national environmental laws as a foundation for preserving ecological balance. All WCA scientific research is conducted and reported under permits issued by SINAC. However, the enforcement of regulations is the responsibility of the appropriate authorities and falls outside the scope of our organization's work.
We believe publicly accessible data is essential to the conservation of the Refuge and empowers the community to address the challenges posed by the region’s accelerated growth.
Through our data library (wcanosara.org/data-library) and various other means, we share scientific information on sea turtles, wildlife, and water quality. To maintain transparency, we also provide annual reports and financial audits on our website (wcanosara.org/reports-financials).
We encourage the community to consult our website or reach out to us directly (info@wcanosara.org) to ensure the accuracy of information and its proper interpretation.
At WCA, we envision a community where wildlife, human health, culture, and economic activities coexist in balance, ensuring that future generations inherit a refuge as good as, or even better than, the one we know today. We are grateful for the continued support of our partners and community in our mission.
Click here for summarized data up to December 2024.
Wildlife Conservation Association,
Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. March 2025.
Comments