Faico
Coco Island celebrates its 20th anniversary on December 6th, since it was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
It’s located 532 km from Cabo Blanco, Puntarenas, and its 24-square-kilometer and 12-nautical miles land and marine ecosystem represents a sanctuary of life for more than 2,600 species of flora and fauna, some of them unique in the planet.
Due to its size, isolation and conservation status, Isla del Coco has the National Park category and it’s one of the most privileged natural sites worldwide.
Coco Island is one of the most important pristine sites in the world and high endemism for Costa Rica, so the 20th anniversary of its designation as a natural heritage site should make all Costa Ricans proud,”
said Marco Vinicio Araya, director of the Cocos Marine Conservation Area.
Furthermore, due to its unique biological diversity, it is classified as an ideal natural laboratory for conducting research on the evolution of species and long-term environmental monitoring. The designation made by UNESCO in 1997 confirms the exceptional and universal value of a cultural or natural site that must be protected for the benefit of humanity.
In a joint effort with the Government of Costa Rica through the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Friends of the Coco Island Foundation (FAICO) supported its management.