Rangers of Cocos Island National Park strengthen their marine conservation management program thanks to an international workshop held in the Galapagos Islands
- This exchange of experiences in the Galapagos Islands was possible thanks to funds obtained from the sale of reusable bags at Auto Mercado.
San José, Costa Rica. The park rangers of Cocos Island National Park have more tools for the protection and conservation of ecosystems and marine biodiversity after their participation in an international workshop organized by the Charles Darwin Foundation at its Research Station in the Galapagos Islands. This was a key experience for strengthening the environmental management of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor.
This workshop was called «Regional Workshop on Risk Analysis of Marine Bioinvasions». This exchange of experiences was possible thanks to the funds raised by Auto Mercado, because of its partnership with Friends of Cocos Island (FAICO), an organization that maintains a framework cooperation agreement with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF).
At the end of 2023, Auto Mercado launched three reusable bags, designed to raise awareness of the importance of marine conservation in Costa Rica and the Eastern Tropical Pacific, a highly connected region. For each bag sold, 250 colones were allocated to the efforts of FAICO and the CDF, thus allowing the first training workshop for park rangers and conservationists to be held last March.
«This exchange of knowledge is vital for the conservation and protection of our marine areas. The experience of the Galapagos Islands in the management of biological invasions will provide us with tools to apply more effective strategies in the Cocos Island National Park and thus strengthen and complement our long-term conservation actions, enhancing the environmental sustainability effort and successful models in the execution of public-private partnerships with local and regional impact,» commented Alejandra Villalobos, Executive Director of FAICO.
An essential corridor for biodiversity
Cocos Island and the Galapagos Islands are part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR), a biodiversity sanctuary that unites Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama. This is the first partnership of its kind, which transcends borders, connecting conservation initiatives across the region.
CMAR is critical for the connectivity of marine species, enabling the migration and gene flow of populations that are key to ocean health.
“Sharing science-based best practices with our neighbours is critical, especially in a region as interconnected as the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Capacity building in conservation at the regional level benefits the entire marine corridor. We thank Auto Mercado for their vision and commitment, which made this valuable exchange of knowledge and skills possible,» added Rakan Zahawi, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Long-term commitment
The collaboration between Auto Mercado and FAICO, consolidated over more than 20 years, demonstrates that environmental protection is a shared task. Through concrete actions such as this, the company reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and preservation of marine ecosystems.
«We want to generate opportunities for awareness and action for marine conservation. As consumers, we can continue to contribute through the purchase of reusable bags and preferring the fresh fish from responsible fishing that we offer in our shelves. We cordially invite everyone to participate on the dates where we will have the immersive experience in our supermarkets to get to know Cocos Island,» said Ethel Maldonado, Sustainability Manager of Auto Mercado.
These actions also reinforce the commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 14 on Life Below Water, promoting the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources, and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals, fostering collaboration between the private sector and conservation organizations to achieve sustainable impacts.
«With our feet on the ground and our hearts in the sea is the motto that sums up our role in the first line of defence of our ocean. This is a huge challenge, but also a privilege. With each new tool and knowledge gained, we can make a real difference in protecting these fragile ecosystems. This workshop represents more than training. It is an opportunity to strengthen the network of guardians of the sea, crossing borders and joining forces in favour of marine biodiversity. Knowing that we are not facing this challenge alone and also that we have committed partners gives us hope and drives us to move forward,» concluded Lucas Campos, Cocos Island National Park Manager.
In addition to representatives of the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC) and FAICO, officials from the Galapagos National Park Directorate and of the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency also participated in the workshop.
