Dear Wildlife Conservation Community,
2023 has been off to a great start! We are so excited to continue sharing scientific results and see the community engaging and empowered to take actions that protect our environment. Our efforts to educate and inspire are gaining momentum, with more volunteers, wastewater system updates, and the introduction of our Sustainable Business Certification Program.
We are delighted to share with you how businesses and individuals alike are working with us for a more sustainable Nosara.
Program Updates
Water Quality
Check out our 2022 Water Quality Report with new DNA tracing results
We kicked-off 2023 with the addition of a NEW weekly testing site at Playa Pelada
We rely on volunteers to collect and analyze water samples, apply now if you'd like to help out!
More community members and businesses are upgrading to Bionest systems to treat their wastewater in Nosara! 33% of people who have inquired about the discount have had a system installed.
To help drive down costs of system upgrades, we are working to get more professionals in town who can do inspections and installations and looking for funding to test and implement nature-based systems.
Follow us on social media for weekly water quality updates posted every Thursday.
Biodiversity
Exciting observations are coming in from camera traps around town, these are highlighted in our new "Critter Cams" series on social media and posted on iNaturalist.
On April 27th, we presented footage from our camera trap program at a community event "Nosara's Biodiversity" with Dr. Vanessa Bezy hosted by the Harmony Hotel. Did you miss it? Check it out here.
We're calling on all citizen scientists to record their observations of wildlife on iNaturalist! Check out our iNaturalist page to see the latest observations of wildlife in the area.
Footage of an Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) from a camera trap located on Nosara Civic Association parklands.
Marinelife Program
We are waiting on the final parts to repair and re-install a marine buoy to monitor ocean temperature, wind, and currents in the marine protected area at the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge.
We're looking for volunteers to monitor sea turtle nesting at least 3 days a week in a small section of beach in Guiones or Pelada. Apply now if you'd like to help out.
NEW Sustainable Business Certification Program
We are excited to launch a Sustainable Business Certification program for the Nosara area. Learn more.
As part of our partnership with Century 21, we are now working on developing SustainableNosara.com where all of our sustainable tips and resources will be housed in addition to featuring Sustainable Businesses certified with us.
What’s in store for 2023?
Since our founding in 2018, the WCA has been bringing science and education to the Nosara community. To date, we've relied largely on volunteers, one full-time and one part-time staff member to keep our programs running. Our growth has caught up with us and we need your support!
Our goal is to raise $200,000 by June 30, allowing our organization to execute and grow WCA programming over the next 12-18 months. This funding will cover the necessary staffing and materials that will enable us to: monitor and test water quality; monitor land and marine life throughout Nosara; and encourage and assess the sustainability of business practices throughout our community. The funding will allow the continuation of public outreach highlighting the results of our monitoring programs. To do this, we use education, social media, and community meetings, promoting strategies the Nosara community can use to protect our wildlife, and the ocean and its inhabitants.
Tremendous program that will help to carry Nosara forward in the best way possible. Thank you.