Osa in Your Skin
The Osa Peninsula, in southern Costa Rica, is home to 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity.

In order to protect that natural wealth, the “Osa Campaign” was launched in 2003, and it focuses on collecting us$32.5 million to protect the area and to provide area residents with jobs that will prevent them from poaching, among other negative attitudes.

Now, scientist and former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang, with a jaguar tattooed on his left arm, leads an advertising campaign to sell 100,000 temporary tattoos.

Each tattoo costs 500 colones (under $1); they are non-toxic, have no side effects, last 15 days and can be easily washed off with oil and soap.

Supermarkets and grocery stores sell the tattoos and the amount collected will be double by the Costa Rica-U.S.A. Foundation.

The Costa Rica—USA Foundation (CRUSA) was founded in 1996, by an agreement between the governments of Costa Rica and the United States, as a private, nonprofit foundation, to promote ties between the two countries through support for sustainable development in Costa Rica.

Its bi-national governing boards give priority to grant-making for the environment, education, science and technology, and competitive development. From its beginning, CR-USA has supported conservation projects and has made a $3 million challenge grant to the Osa Campaign.

The Osa Conservation Area, In just about 400,000 acres, contains more distinct tropical ecosystems than any other place on Earth its size.

The global importance of this unique region, which faces ever-increasing threats. Through the Campaign these partners are conserving the biodiversity of the Osa by strengthening national parks, creating biological corridors between them, and involving local communities in conservation efforts.

Learn More about the Osa Peninsula >>