Background and Objectives 

A new collaborative project with the Costa Rican government and non-government stakeholders aims to integrate the value of coastal and marine ecosystems into the planning of sustainable development of the ocean and coastal zone in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has a long history of natural capital accounting on land, and Costa Rican institutions are globally recognised for their expertise in the field.

The 2023 Environmental Performance Report notes that, while Costa Rica has made significant strides in the collection and dissemination of environmental data, there are still gaps in ocean-related information needed for informed decision-making and public engagement.

By 2030, Costa Rica aims to establish its first comprehensive ocean account, as announced by Hon. Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Rodrigo Chaves Robels, President, during the High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change on World Oceans Day 2024. Minister Franz Tattenbach, reinforced Costa Rica's ambition to develop national ocean accounts by 2030, stating that the objective of this project is to assess the ocean’s state, condition, and the ecosystem services it provides. Achieving this will enable Costa Rica to fully understand the potential of its coasts and seas and to secure resources for the sustainable use and protection of its marine ecosystems. 

With a strong track record in natural capital accounting on land, Costa Rica is a global leader in environmental initiatives, such as the Payments for Environmental Services (PSA) forestry program. Now, with 92% of its territory being ocean, the country is striving to apply its expertise to marine and coastal areas. This new ambitious project aims to transfer their experience on land to the coastal and marine areas, promoting participatory planning to improve the integration of nature's contributions to the local economy and the well-being of the population in the country's development landscape. 

The GOAP Secretariat looks forward to supporting Costa Rica's ambition over the next four years and beyond.

 Activities 

18 March 2024 | Seminar Accounting for the Costa Rican Oceans Part 1: Introduction to Ocean Accounts | Online
The GOAP Secretariat hosted the first Spanish-speaking ocean accounting seminar online (recording below), which was attended by 30 participants representing nearly 20 organisations across academia, NGOs and government. The seminar introduced the concept of ocean accounts and how they can support national public policy and conservation objectives. An example of a mangrove extent account was presented, according to information provided by the Guanacaste Conservation Area on the mangroves of Naranjo and Nancite. The seminar also provided a platform for stakeholders involved in the management and conservation of marine-coastal environments.

Participants highlighted the

  • Potential of ocean accounts to align with financial sector needs and guide investments in marine and coastal conservation.
  • Importance of developing a modular approach for refining data systems over time and stressed the necessity for long-term strategies to sustain the generation, management and dissemination of data.
  • Value of collaborative efforts among various institutions to ensure good quality data reaches all stakeholders effectively. 

19 - 22 August 2024 | Workshop: Ocean Accounts in Costa Rica | San José, Costa Rica 

In coordination with the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Area de Conservación Guancaste (ACG) and Area de Conservación Tempisque (ACT), the GOAP Secretariat hosted the first Spanish-speaking ocean accounting in-person workshop, which was attended by >40 participants representing over 15 organisations across academia, NGOs and government officials. Workshop highlights include:

  • Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: through practical training, participants used Costa Rican data to develop extent and condition accounts and understand the complexity of ecosystem service accounts, according to the Ocean Accounts Framework.  
  • Context mapping:  the current regulations, protocols and best practices were shared to improve data quality from conservation areas and  make plans to begin standardizing data gathering efforts. The need to develop a national roadmap for marine and coastal sustainable development was highlighted, as well as the need for sustainable business models and socio-productive chains. 
  • Data Management: participants identified different information sources and gaps, with recognition of key governmental and non-governmental organizations in the creation of ocean accounts. This exercise  highlighted the challenges with locating and accessing data, particularly across different sectors and institutions.  
  • Identifying Priority Accounts: Participants proposed the first three accounts to be worked on in Costa Rica and the requirements for each. 
  • Communication and Awareness: the workshop highlighted the need to move beyond traditional economic accounts to incorporate ocean accounting into public policy formulation, emphasizing the inclusion of environmental accounts and social factors in the decision-making process.  The event also encouraged a dialogue to plan for the development of ocean accounts in  Costa Rica, with a view to the country’s 2030 ambition. 

Photos from the workshop in Costa Rica.

Next steps

The original scope (a mangrove pilot account) is currently being refined in alignment with the country's overarching vision to achieve a national ocean account by 2030, and the participants keen interest in advancing the project. 

Next, key information shared during the in-person workshops is being used to assess the potential creation of a nation-wide extent account for mangroves. In January 2025 Costa Rica will invite ocean accounts practitioners from around the world as well as investors, and philanthropists, among others, to work together to: 

1. Develop the implementation plan for national ocean accounts, supporting Costa Rica’s 2030 goal. This will require   support from ocean accounting experts and  leaders in the region and globally. 

2. Engage donors  to support Costa Rica's ambition for 2030. 

3. Announce Costa Rica’s national ocean accounts commitments at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June 2024.  

4. Encourage countries to join Costa Rica and submit formal commitments on the development or advancement of their own ocean accounts for sustainable ocean management at UNOC. 

 Watch the recording of the online workshop, March 2024

Authors: Marianne Feoli, Maria G. Alarcon, Monica Navarro (country liaison), Philip James and Bella Charlesworth.