Courtesy from MINAE/SINAC
Isla del Coco National Park was awarded the ‘Blue Park’ awards by the California Marine Conservation Institute, for its role as a global ocean refuge in the ‘Gold’ category. This award encourages marine protected areas that meet certain management and effectiveness standards.
The announcement was made official on Thursday by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation (FAICO). According to an institutional statement, the nomination was made in July this year.
The winners of the different categories are assessed by an international scientific committee based on an evaluation report with expert feedback.
Experts conclude that Isla del Coco National Park effectively protects its natural wealth and manages an area of high importance for global marine biodiversity. In addition, it recognizes the effort that is made to enforce regulations in this marine protected area,”
said the statement released Thursday by the Executive Branch.
The committee’s assessments took into account that the national park represents a unique and suitable site for long-term research on the evolution and monitoring of species.
From now on, the international scientific committee will conduct an assessment every five years to determine that the national park meets the standards that characterize it as a “Blue Park”.
On June 22nd, 1978, the island received the declaration that made it one of the main conservation areas of the country.
In December 2017, the 20th anniversary was also celebrated since the island was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
According to the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), this area is home to 235 species of plants, 400 species of insects, five species of reptiles, three species of sea turtles, 100 bird species, 50 arthropods, 57 crustaceans, 600 marine mollusks and 250 species of marine fish.