Rangers of Cocos Island National Park strengthen their marine conservation management program thanks to an international workshop held in the Galapagos Islands<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n- This exchange of experiences in the Galapagos Islands was possible thanks to funds obtained from the sale of reusable bags at Auto Mercado.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
San Jos\u00e9, 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.<\/p>\n
This workshop was called \u00abRegional Workshop on Risk Analysis of Marine Bioinvasions\u00bb.<\/b>\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00abThis 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,\u00bb\u00a0 commented Alejandra Villalobos, Executive Director of FAICO.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cocosisland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/01.jpg\" "\\"01\\"")
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<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>An essential corridor for biodiversity<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
CMAR is critical for the connectivity of marine species, enabling the migration and gene flow of populations that are key to ocean health.<\/p>\n
\u201cSharing 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.\u00a0 We thank Auto Mercado for their vision and commitment, which made this valuable exchange of knowledge and skills possible,\u00bb added Rakan Zahawi, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation.<\/i><\/p>\n
Long-term commitment<\/b><\/p>\n
The collaboration between Auto Mercado and FAICO, consolidated over more than 20 years, demonstrates that environmental protection is a shared task.\u00a0 Through concrete actions such as this, the company reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and preservation of marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe want to generate opportunities for awareness and action for marine conservation.\u00a0 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,\u00bb said Ethel Maldonado, Sustainability Manager of Auto Mercado.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>
- \n
- This exchange of experiences in the Galapagos Islands was possible thanks to funds obtained from the sale of reusable bags at Auto Mercado.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
San Jos\u00e9, 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.<\/p>\n
This workshop was called \u00abRegional Workshop on Risk Analysis of Marine Bioinvasions\u00bb.<\/b>\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00abThis 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,\u00bb\u00a0 commented Alejandra Villalobos, Executive Director of FAICO.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>An essential corridor for biodiversity<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
CMAR is critical for the connectivity of marine species, enabling the migration and gene flow of populations that are key to ocean health.<\/p>\n
\u201cSharing 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.\u00a0 We thank Auto Mercado for their vision and commitment, which made this valuable exchange of knowledge and skills possible,\u00bb added Rakan Zahawi, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation.<\/i><\/p>\n
Long-term commitment<\/b><\/p>\n
The collaboration between Auto Mercado and FAICO, consolidated over more than 20 years, demonstrates that environmental protection is a shared task.\u00a0 Through concrete actions such as this, the company reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and preservation of marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe want to generate opportunities for awareness and action for marine conservation.\u00a0 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,\u00bb said Ethel Maldonado, Sustainability Manager of Auto Mercado.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>