The Osa Peninsula located in part of both Golfito and Osa counties and is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. This megadiversity has led the region to receive immense attention from biologists, primatologists, as well as botanical collectors. However, the economic pressures of the region as well as the limited access to education and job opportunities has led many residents to regard the trees from an instrumentalist perspective. This has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on the ecosystem of the region. The main threats to the forest result from the complicated economic situation of the region and the lack of continuous and quality environmental education.
Fundación Saimiri is based in the south of Costa Rica, in a small village called Guadalupe de la Palma in the Osa Peninsula. Guadalupe de la Palma is situated 4 kilometres from the National Parc of Corcovado, and has a population of about 300 inhabitants. The Fundación Saimiri project: “Transforming pastures and secondary young forests in Biodiverse Forests” aims not only at planting trees in depleted habitats but as well as promoting the conservation of endangered trees in the Osa Peninsula through environmental education.
Fundacion Saimiri will provide an experiential and theoretical understanding of the low-land rainforest to residents of the Osa Peninsula by teaching individuals to identify the endangered trees as well as collaborate with farm owners to plant trees in their depleted young forests. This will enable the existing generations to think in a different way about their natural resources and provide protection of the trees in future generations.