Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve marks 63 years

The Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, commemorated 63 years since its establishment on October 21, 1963. As the first designated protected wild area in both Costa Rica and Central America, the reserve serves as a cornerstone of the nation’s environmental conservation policy.

The reserve was established following the advocacy of conservationists Nicolás Wessberg and Karen Mogensen, whose efforts helped transition environmental protection from an informal ideal into a formal public policy framework. This shift contributed to the development of a modern network of protected areas that currently covers more than 25% of Costa Rica’s landmass.

Under current legal frameworks, absolute natural reserves are subject to the highest standards of protection. Commercial activities are strictly prohibited to preserve fragile ecosystems, though limited scientific research and environmental education are permitted.