The Costa Rican Network of Natural Reserves Association (RCRP) is an organization that links private natural reserves of Costa Rica.
For several decades the protection of forests has been a measure to conserve species of flora and fauna in the country; and in parallel with the creation of the State Protected Wild Areas (ASP), there is also the private protection of forests and natural ecosystems, which is voluntary.
The owners and administrators of many of these private lands in conservation, decided to unite under the figure of the Costa Rican Network of Private Natural Reserves.
The RCRP groups a large number of affiliates, owners or representatives of diverse reserves, which include reserves of absolute protection, reserves that offer ecotourism activities, biological stations of worldwide recognition and others.
The approximately 210 Private Reserves of Costa Rica, which together protect an area greater than 82,045 hectares of territory, are mostly primary or forest forests intervened or secondary, in recovery.
Through the economic recognition given by FONAFIFO, many of these reserves receive income for payment for environmental services or PSA. 60% of its members dedicate their farms to absolute conservation, and 40% complement the above with other activities such as ecotourism and research.
40% of the reserves are less than 49 hectares, 16% have areas of 50 to 100 hectares, 34% have areas of 100 to 500 hectares, and 10% are reserves of more than 500 hectares.
