En tanto que el análisis de las fotografías aéreas y de las imágenes satélite nos muestran que, des de los años 60 hasta ahora, ha habido un importante incremento de la cobertura forestal i vegetación costera en el corredor biológico Paso de la Danta (se estima que el corredor ha incrementado por más del 50% la disponibilidad de hábitat natural respecto a la década de los 60), creemos que el Paso de la Danta es uno de los pocos casos en el mundo en el que hay una evidencia documentada de que el estatus de conservación ha incrementado. En un mundo donde las victorias en el campo de la conservación son pocas, el Paso de la Danta es un increíble ejemplo de éxito.

Como la misión de ASANA está centrada en la conectividad de la región, nosotros esperamos identificar y consolidar las piezas existentes de hábitat saludable y trabajar para asegurar su conservación. Esperamos convertirnos en una organización que siga los principios del manejo adaptativo de los recursos naturales y no tenga miedo de arriesgar, innovar y fallar. Esperamos tomar la ventaja en las fuerzas de mercado que ejercen presión en el corredor biológico y usarlos en nuestra ventaja. Donde sea necesario, nosotros estamos considerando la restauración y las reintroducciones para ver hecha realidad nuestra visión. Deseamos llegar a ser una organización que pueda identificar y responder rápidamente a las amenazas urgentes y/o emergentes; deseamos ser una organización profesional que sea clara con lo que pretende cumplir, centrándonos en lo que hay que hacer, que sea colaborativa y amistosa en sus aproximaciones, pero que sea dura como la piedra cuando sea necesario.

Some of ASANA’s Recent Achievements

To provide some examples of the kinds of impacts ASANA has had in the region, we include the following list of results:

• Environmental education. ASANA has participated as an important partner in providing environmental education programs for schools in the communities of the CBPD. This has been possible through the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
• Preparation of a proposal to declare the Savegre River Watershed a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. ASANA has managed a process of community consultation and planning that led to the development of the proposal. The proposal is in its final stages of approval by local and national authorities and will be submitted to UNESCO for the next proposal cycle.
• Rerouting of electrical transmission lines. ASANA has managed to successfully negotiate with the National Electricity Institute (ICE) to change plans for routing high-tension electrical transmission lines through the Path of the Tapir. ICE had originally planned to route three main lines through the Corridor and now plan to route only one using a variety of technique to mitigate its impacts.
• Conservation of endangered marine turtles. ASANA’s marine turtle nursery continues to be a success with the conservation of more than 80 nests in 2011 alone.
• Community empowerment to manage freshwater resources. With a generous grant from the Stroud Resreach Center, ASANA has been able to engage ten communities in evaluating their river and stream resources to better manage freshwater drinking supplies. Better management of water for drinking also leads to Improved conservation of riparian (river-related) habitats.
• Conservation of private lands. ASANA board members have been instrumental in establishing and registering a Costa Rican private foundation that will serve as a local land trust in the Path of the Tapir and its associated natural areas. This Trust, based on the Land Trust movement of the United States, will receive lands from private landowners and search for mechanisms to compensate them.
• Certification of key properties. ASANA has developed a series of “Principles for Sustainable Development of the Path of the Tapir and its associated natural areas.» We are currently using these principles to certify a number of important privately-owned properties that will form the backbone of connectivity running along the Pacific Coast.