Vision:
To watch over the management, protection
and conservation of Cocos Island, a Natural
World Heritage Site, leading it to its incorporation
into the environmental agenda at the national
and worldwide levels.
Mission:
FAICO endeavors to obtain and optimize the
use of human, technical, scientific and
financial resources for the management,
protection and conservation of Cocos Island
through the establishment of strategic alliances
with the business sector, national and international
organizations, as well as with society in
general. Our goal is to preserve its biodiversity
and its unique natural resources for the
enjoyment and benefit of the present and
future generations. These efforts are parallel
and complimentary to those done by the Government
of the Republic of Costa Rica and the international
community.
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:: What is the Friends of Cocos Island
Foundation (FAICO)? |
Friends
of Cocos Island Foundation (FAICO), which
was created in 1994 under the laws of the
Republic of Costa Rica, is an independent,
proactive, non-profit, apolitical and multi-sectorial
organization that is committed to the long-term
management, protection and preservation
of the Cocos Island National Marine Park,
which was declared World Natural Heritage
Site (UNESCO 1997) and Wetland of International
Importance (RAMSAR 1998).
It is
comprised of distinguished citizens, businessmen
and women, scholars, government officials
and nature lovers who make up the General
Assembly, the Board of Directors and the
Executive Committee. It has an effective
and efficient internal organization which
also out sources additional resources for
defined periods of time to implement specific
projects.
Given
the geopolitical, economic, historic, scientific
and environmental importance of Cocos Island
for Costa Rica, and for all humanity, a
Board of Advisors for Friends of Cocos Island
Foundation was created, which is made up
of prestigious national and international
leaders with proven track record. The Board
of Advisors endorses the actions taken by
the foundation and assists in conservation
efforts of this exceptional natural treasure.
In FAICO
we uphold our social responsibility and
promote our values, principles and postulates,
confronting the challenge to encourage a
conservationist culture that is committed
to nature within the business sector, the
Costa Rican society and the international
community.
Friends
of Cocos Island Foundation directs its efforts
into securing resources for the development
of specific awareness and protection programs
and projects, which can be administered
by others or by the foundation itself. The
financial resources are used to execute
the above mentioned programs and projects
and/or to increase the balance in the FAICO
Trust’s Endowment Fund.
The lobbying
that FAICO does with the government, the
press, the general society, the scientific
community, the fishing industry, the tourism
operators, the private sector, among others,
may be perceived intangible. Nevertheless,
it has a high impact and is indispensable
to carrying out our mission.
As members
of FAICO, we are conscious of the historic
role that we are called upon to carry out,
which is to project the uniqueness of Cocos
Island at the national and international
levels. In this way we are demonstrating
its wealth, both in the ocean and on land,
in order to manage, protect and preserve
it for all humanity and for the enjoyment
of the present and future generations.
| ::
Strategic Objectives of FAICO |
Positioning
of FAICO and of Cocos Island:
To facilitate the
fulfillment of our mission by strengthening
the institutional image, the credibility
and the prestige of FAICO and the worldwide
importance of Cocos Island by directing
our actions to the national and international
levels.
Strategic
Alliances:
To increase cooperation
and technical assistance in various areas
(scientific, ecological, financial, academic,
etc.) by establishing a network of alliances
with individuals and national and international
organizations.
Fundraising:
To support the
management, protection and conservation
of Cocos Island through the raising of funds
locally and internationally. This will provide
sufficient, continuous and assured income
in order to carry out the programs and projects
and/or increase the balance in FAICO’s
Trust Endowment Fund. This interest rate
of which funds will help to meet a portion
of the economic needs of Cocos Island.
Development
and administration of Cooperation Projects:
To maximize
the management, protection and preservation
efforts done in Cocos Island by optimizing
and overseeing the use of resources of local
and international cooperation programs,
as well as the administration of specific
projects directly and/or carried out by
qualified consultants.
Support
of Government Activities:
To assure
the success of local and international programs
and cooperation projects by supporting and
overseeing the activities of the different
governmental agencies in the development
and implementation of such programs and
projects.
A Culture
of Conservation:
To contribute to
the environmental conservation by promoting
a cultural change in each individual and
a sense of social responsibility within
the business sector, as well as in the public
sector. |
