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"There may be no better place in all of Central America to study tropical ecology than the Osa Biodiversity Center.
The Osa Peninsula contains a nearly intact fauna, including jaguars, tapirs, white-lipped peccaries, curassows, macaws, and other sensitive species. The
diversity of wildlife is astonishing. Moreover, the Center provides
first-rate facilities and a fine trail network for investigating forests
of all ages, coastal ecosystems, and a variety of agricultural lands. I
recommend it enthusiastically."
–Dr. David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton University
The Osa Biodiversity Center (OBC) is Friends of the Osa's biological field station and conservation center located on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. The 4,200 acre Center is made up of the Piro Research Center, Greg Gund Conservation Center, and Cerro Arbolito Biological Outpost. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, our facilities are ideal for researchers, student groups and volunteers to study and learn about tropical ecology, volunteer in our Sea Turtle Conservation Program, and experience the diverse wildlife of the Osa Peninsula.
The OBC is located on the Pacific side of the peninsula and its greatest asset is its close proximity to a tremendous diversity of ecosystems. The Center encompasses 4,200 acres of forested habitat, providing easy access to some of the most diverse old-growth rainforest in Central America. Within walking distance are a variety of both mature and secondary forest types that harbor some of the largest trees to be found in neotropical rainforest. Agro-ecological systems, freshwater streams, and coastal habitat complement the forest-scape and provide biologists with numerous research opportunities. The forests surrounding the OBC are home to a vast array of large mammals, including jaguars, tapirs, and peccaries.
During the wet season (May through November) the beaches near the OBC are visited by large numbers of nesting Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), as well as a smaller number of Pacific Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). The rocky section of the beach features a diversity of rock types and tidal pool fauna.
The Piro River runs through the center of the OBC properties, from forested hills out to the coast. This watershed includes a variety of springs and smaller tributaries. The river has a dynamic estuary and associated floodplain and riparian habitats.
The Golfo Dulce is one of only four tropical fjords in the world, possessing a variety of marine and coastal habitats, including mangroves. Given its peculiar oceanographic characteristics it has great scientific and ecological value. Two resident dolphins, the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata), inhabit the gulf and it is visited by even larger cetaceans like the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaengiae) from both the northern and southern hemisphere. Read more about the Golfo Dulce.
The OBC Trail system and old farm roads provide access to all of these habitats. Within a short drive, there is access to brackish lagoons with abundant crocodilian, estuarine fish and wetland bird populations. |
Aerial view of the Piro Research Center
University group at the Piro Research Center
Volunteer working with sea turtles
Student group at the Greg Gund Conservation Center |
