• FAICO presented the progress of the Cocos Island Geoportal at the country’s most important GIS event, highlighting the use of technology to strengthen marine conservation.

  • The foundation was recognized as a success story for its contribution to the geospatial management of the Cocos Marine Conservation Area, through innovative tools based on ArcGIS.

November, 2025. On October 30, Amigos de la Isla del Coco (FAICO) was highlighted as a national success story during the ESRI User Conference 2025, the main Geographic Information Systems (GIS) event in Costa Rica. The activity, organized by Geotecnologías, took place at the National Convention Center and brought together specialists, public institutions, private companies, and non-governmental organizations.

On this occasion, FAICO presented the paper “Effective Management of Marine Protected Areas: The Case of Cocos Island National Park,” led by Randy Chinchilla Ramos, GIS Specialist. The presentation showed how the tools of the ESRI ArcGIS platform have strengthened the management of geospatial information in the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC), allowing for improved operational planning, environmental monitoring, and strategic decision-making based on up-to-date data.

One of the most notable moments was the presentation of the Cocos Island Geoportal, a platform that integrates geoviewers, dashboards, story maps, and 3D models, demonstrating the enormous potential of spatial analysis for marine conservation and the sustainable management of protected areas.

FAICO’s participation in this event reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation applied to conservation and its role as a strategic ally of SINAC and the ACMC in protecting the country’s marine ecosystems.

FAICO is grateful for the valuable support of CARSI, Conservación Marina, MarViva, and Blue Action Fund, donors whose contribution has been fundamental for the development and strengthening of the Cocos Island Geoportal. Thanks to their commitment, it has been possible to consolidate a technological platform that drives decision-making, promotes transparency in knowledge management, and contributes to the protection of the natural heritage of the Cocos Marine Conservation Area.