“The quality of life of park rangers is increasingly strengthened with the contribution of the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation”
- FAICO relaunched its “Quality of Life of Park Rangers” program by making a symbolic delivery of equipment to support the work of park rangers of the Cocos Marine Conservation Area, with a value of 41 million colones.
- The activity was attended by the highest MINAE and SINAC officials, who were able to listen to the voice of the ACMC park ranger staff regarding the main challenges to guarantee their well-being.
Last Thursday, November 24, equipment and work supplies were delivered to the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC) as part of the existing Cooperation Framework Agreement with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), for a total of 41 million colones.
This cooperation activity entailed the delivery of protective clothing, consisting of items for the staff´s daily work, such as vests, flashlights, tools, kayaks, a cart for boats, and other types of equipment, to strengthen the management and work carried out by park rangers in the marine protected areas of the ultimate natural frontier of Costa Rica.
Mr. Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, and Mr. Rafael Gutierrez, Vice Minister of Environment and Executive Director of SINAC attended the activity. Both ministers symbolically delivered this equipment to ACMC officials, but not before conducting a dialogue called “Welfare of park rangers, well being of nature” with part of the ranger staff, who were able to discuss the challenges that still exist to improve their quality of life and to be able to achieve the marine conservation objectives that the country has set for itself.
“It is not possible to conserve our marine ecosystems without park rangers,” expressed Mr. Guillermo Blanco to the audience of this activity, emphasizing the important work carried out by his fellow park rangers in Cocos Island
National Park.
The delivery of this equipment was carried out within the framework of the renewal of the image of FAICO’s “Quality of Life Program for Park Rangers”, which for more than 15 years has strengthened the capacities and equipment of ACMC staff, in addition to institutional support and that of other allies.
“These actions are aimed at providing park rangers with basic tools for the effective implementation of the management plan programs in coordination and in support of the efforts of the Regional Office of the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC),” said Mrs. Alejandra Villalobos, Executive Director of Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, FAICO.
As part of the activity, Mr. Carlos Manuel Uribe, representing the Administrative Board of FAICO, and Mr. Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, presented the Hammerhead Shark Award to Mr.
Guillermo Blanco on behalf of ACMC park rangers, for their crucial work in safeguarding the species, habitats, ecosystems, and cultural and historical heritage of our Cocos Island National Park and the Bicentennial Marine Management Area.
This cooperation activity was possible thanks to the contributions of SC & Johnson, Re:Wild, and the partnership comprised by Marviva, CIMAR, FAICO, and UBO of the Blue Action Fund.
