Conservation at Monteverde is not just about protecting trees — it’s about understanding life itself.
Our team of scientists, educators, and community members works together to conserve the ecosystems of the Tilarán mountain range.
From biodiversity research to sustainable tourism management, every program is designed to maintain the delicate balance between nature and people.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve was created to protect a representative sample of the ecosystems of the Tilarán Mountain Range — one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth.
Over five decades later, it remains a living example of how science, education, and responsible tourism can coexist to safeguard nature and inspire change.
“Science · Education · Conservation”
To conserve a representative and functional sample of the terrestrial ecosystems of the Tilarán Mountain Range, maintaining the goods and services these provide to local communities and society at large.
Through an innovative private management model, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve effectively protects its natural resources, deepens scientific knowledge, and strengthens resilience to climate change — offering science, education, and ecotourism experiences that foster both conservation and community well-being.
From pioneering private conservation in Costa Rica to international recognition, every chapter in Monteverde’s story reflects a deep commitment to the forest and its people.
The Tropical Science Center (TSC) is founded — Costa Rica’s first environmental NGO.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is created, becoming the country’s first private biological preserve.
The Environmental Education Program is formally established, becoming one of Costa Rica’s longest-running and most consistent environmental education initiatives.
The Preserve’s carrying capacity is determined through scientific studies, setting a national standard for sustainable visitation.
The Preserve earns the Blue Flag certification.
The artificial nest program begins, helping protect the Resplendent Quetzal and support its reproduction.
Establishment of the Biological Corridors Program, expanding conservation efforts beyond the Preserve’s borders.
The Preserve earns the Sustainable Tourism Certification (CST).
Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve joins the IUCN Green List, becoming a global model for effective protected area management.
Behind the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve stands a pioneering Costa Rican organization: the Tropical Science Center (TSC).
Founded in 1962, the TSC is the country’s first environmental NGO — a nonprofit dedicated to science, education, and the protection of nature.
Thanks to its leadership, the Preserve remains one of the most studied, admired, and effectively protected cloud forests in the world.
The Tropical Science Center doesn’t just manage the Preserve — it nurtures a living connection between people, science, and the forest.
Its work ensures that research, conservation, and ecotourism grow together in harmony, protecting both the ecosystem and the experience of every visitor.
The Center’s commitment has helped Monteverde become a global model of private conservation, recognized for its effective management and community involvement. In 2025, this dedication earned Monteverde a place on the IUCN Green List, a distinction shared with only the most successfully managed protected areas in the world.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve represents more than a destination — it’s a model for coexistence between humans and nature.
Every visit, study, and partnership contributes to a future where conservation and community thrive side by side.
The TSC protects nature beyond Monteverde. Across Costa Rica, it leads scientific research, environmental education, and conservation initiatives that inspire and sustain future generations.
Oversees three biological preserves and one bird refuge across Costa Rica.
Conducts long-term biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring.
Connects students and communities with nature through learning experiences.
Promotes landscape-scale connectivity and restoration.
Integrates ecotourism as a tool for education and conservation.
Every recognition we receive is not just a badge — it’s proof that responsible management, science, and community can protect one of the most extraordinary forests on Earth.
Our certifications reflect a long-term commitment to sustainability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
In 2025, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve was officially included in the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, joining a select group of the world’s most effectively managed sites.
This recognition celebrates our scientific monitoring, community engagement, and long-standing impact in tropical conservation.
The Preserve holds Costa Rica’s Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), a national program that recognizes businesses and organizations for their environmental, social, and economic sustainability practices. From waste management to community inclusion, CST reflects how every part of the Preserve’s operation aligns with the country’s sustainable tourism model.
The Blue Flag Ecological Program acknowledges our commitment to water conservation, waste reduction, and education for sustainability.
This certification highlights the daily efforts of our staff and visitors to keep Monteverde clean, resilient, and thriving.
Protecting the Cloud Forest in Action
Every trail, every bird call, every drop of mist in the Monteverde Cloud Forest is part of an ongoing effort to understand, protect, and restore life.
Our programs unite scientists, educators, and community members to ensure that the forest remains a place of wonder — a model for sustainable living in Costa Rica and beyond.
Research underpins conservation in Monteverde.
Through long-term monitoring and collaborations with universities, the Preserve tracks species, habitats, and environmental change to guide management.
Its extensive research database, built over decades of internal and external studies, offers one of the most detailed records of tropical cloud forest dynamics and informs stewardship.
We believe conservation begins with knowledge.
Our environmental education programs reach local and international students, teachers, visitors, and community groups — connecting people directly with the forest’s ecological processes.
Through school partnerships, workshops, youth leadership initiatives, and guided walks, we turn scientific research into meaningful learning experiences that inspire long-term stewardship.
Tourism in Monteverde advances conservation by regulating visitor flow, capacity, and education to keep ecotourism sustainable.
Guided experiences deepen understanding while protecting habitats.
Revenue from tickets and tours directly supports research, forest management, and community initiatives, ensuring tourism strengthens environmental health and local well-being for the region’s future prosperity.
Protecting the forest is a daily, science-based effort.
Through the Control & Protection Program, the Preserve safeguards its 10,000+ acres (4,100+ ha) of forest using preventive patrols, zoning enforcement, and the monitoring of ecological integrity.
Our rangers — trained in environmental protection, first response, and visitor safety — work year-round to prevent illegal extraction, maintain boundaries, reduce fire risk, and detect early signs of ecosystem stress and respond proactively.
Beyond the Preserve’s boundaries, our restoration work strengthens ecological connectivity throughout the Arenal–Monteverde region.
Collaborating with neighboring reserves and local communities, we maintain habitat linkages essential for species movement.
By restoring native vegetation, reforesting degraded areas, and supporting conservation-focused land management, we create resilient landscapes that allow wildlife to travel safely across varying elevations and ecosystems in each season.
Conservation succeeds when communities are strong, and our programs support that connection.
We work with local organizations, schools, and producers to encourage sustainable livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and shared responsibility.
Monteverde’s history reflects a collective commitment in which residents and nature shape one another, demonstrating how cooperative action can protect ecosystems while fostering long-term community well-being for future generations to thrive.
Building Sustainable Futures
Our community programs create opportunities that grow hand in hand with conservation.
Through education, employment, and sustainable enterprise, we ensure that protecting the forest also strengthens the lives of those who live around it.
Each student, artisan, and guide becomes part of a shared purpose — to make Monteverde a model of coexistence between nature and people.
In collaboration with local schools and colleges, our programs reach 12 schools and more than 1,200 students each year through hands-on learning, field visits, and teacher training.
The Youth Environmental Network empowers young leaders to take active roles in reforestation, waste management, and environmental communication.
The majority of our staff — from rangers and guides to maintenance teams — come from nearby communities, ensuring that conservation translates into local livelihoods.
Ongoing training in guiding, ecological restoration, and safety helps maintain Monteverde’s reputation for excellence in sustainable tourism.
The Raíces Restaurant operates under a concession by the Workers’ Solidarista Association, reinvesting its profits directly into staff welfare.
The Preserve also collaborates with local producers and artisans to promote sustainable goods and services aligned with conservation principles.
Joint initiatives bring together science, art, and culture — from biodiversity exhibitions and school gardens to workshops that connect ecological knowledge with local identity.
