Costa Rica’s Southern Zone is under threat from illegal development. Osa Vive wants everyone to understand the scale of development proposed and already under way in this critical part of the country.
If left unchecked, these projects will transform the Southern Zone in ways that displace local people and irreparably degrade our precious environment. Most in the area do not want to see the overdevelopment, gentrification, and environmental degradation that happened in Guanacaste repeated here.
Osa Vive is committed to making sure that all developments scrupulously follow Costa Rica’s excellent environmental laws that protect forests, water, land, and communities. Sadly, many projects do NOT follow the law.
Osa Vive works to stop illegal destruction, keep the trees standing, and hold everyone legally accountable. We are tracking more than a dozen projects. Here are a few that concern us—and what we are doing about them.
Key Risks
- The Dominical Project
- Phase 12, Ojochal
- The Muni and Phase 11, Ojochal
- Tierra del Ciebo, San Buenas de Osa
- Balcones, Las Brisas, Ojochal
- Super-Yacht Marina, Uvita de Osa
Take-Home Message
These are only some of the projects Osa Vive is working on—and we learn of more all the time.
For example, at Ventanas Beach, a 465-acre property consisting mostly of forest, the owner has applied for development permits from SETENA. On Instagram, “tropicainvestments” says “The Ventanas Beach Development has unending development potential with everything you need to create a successful project, including water access and permits.” You can be sure Osa Vive is investigating this project thoroughly.
If you know of another project of concern, please reach out to us so we can investigate.
Osa Vive’s work is expensive, requiring lawyers and technical experts. But we know what we are doing. We are stopping illegal projects, holding violators accountable, and keeping the trees standing.
If you want to help safeguard this area, if you do not want another Guanacaste in the Southern Zone, the single most effective thing you can do is to support our work. Your donation to Osa Vive directly protects this precious area from destruction.
If you want advice on an environmental situation or want to let us know about a development that concerns you, Osa Vive is happy to hear from you! Public participation is absolutely key to our mission of stopping illegal development in the Southern Zone. Osa Vive cannot do it all, but we can amplify our efforts through education, hopefully inspiring the community to join our efforts.