Friends of Nature of the Central and Southern Pacific Coast - Costa Rica

The mission of ASANA is to secure the long-term conservation of the Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor and the Savegre Watershed by empowering local communities and residents to take action. In particular, we support the development of local community organizations, cooperation among government and non-governmental organizations, and environmental education. We serve as a local coordinator of research activities, and we act as advocate when required to address high-priority needs.

The Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor straddles and connects some of the most biodiverse territory in all of Costa Rica. Surprisingly, however, relatively little is known about the species that inhabit the Corridor. This is what we do know: The Path of the Tapir is a terrestrial, coastal-marine protected area designed specifically to provide connectivity between the Osa Peninsula (including the jewel of Costa Rica – Corcovado National Park – and the Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands) in the south to marine and terrestrial national parks and forest reserves farther to the north (including the Ballena National Marine Park, Playa Rey and Manuel Antonio National Park, the Los Santos Forest Reserve, and Los Quetzales National Park in the Talamanca Mountain Range). It is home to an ever increasing number of species and area of healthy habitat. The Savegre River has the reputation of being the cleanest river in Central America. Whether true or not, the Savegre watershed represents the most pristine area of the Path of the Tapir. Unfortunately, this watershed is also the most highly threatened portion of the Corridor. For decades now, the Costa Rican Government has been planning to build two dams on the Savegre River and flood extensive natural areas.