Costa Rican Corridor
Tropical Conservation Newsbureau

June 1995

If so inclined, a monkey could travel from Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast 40 miles inland to the top of the continental divide without ever leaving the treetops. The journey cuts through nine ecological life zones -- from beach and mangrove to rainforest. A coalition of local groups is working to protect this rare "biological corridor," which connects wildlife refuges, indigenous reserves, national parks and private land. It may be the only place in the tropics where an intact forested transect running from sea level to more than 12,500 feet can still be preserved.

Biologists say that these greenways are important for wildlife, like birds and butterflies, that make "altitudinal migrations. "The corridor, which is already dangerously narrow in some places, is pressured by rapidly growing communities and Costa Rica's two biggest industries: bananas and tourism.

Lawyer Rosa Bustillo heads the corridor coalition that serves as project coordinator; each participating group makes its own decisions. "It's a completely grassroots effort," she says. "We're here only to provide support, guidance and legal and technical assistance."

Contacts: Rosa Bustillo, Av. 8, Calle 11-13, #1154, San Jose, Costa Rica, 506/221-2900. In the U.S., Randy Curtis, The Nature Conservancy, 703/841-4864; William McLarney, ANAI, 704/524-8369.

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Costa Rican Corridor Tropical Conservation Newsbureau

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Costa Rican Corridor
Tropical Conservation Newsbureau