By Puntarenas, Costa Rica — OSA PENINSULA, Puntarenas – In a significant move signaling a new era for Costa Rican environmental stewardship, internationally acclaimed conservation leader Carlos Manuel Rodríguez has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Osa Conservation. The strategic appointment places a figure with vast global finance and policy experience at the helm of a critical organization protecting one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.
Rodríguez, who served three terms as Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and Energy (Minae) and most recently led the Global Environment Facility (GEF) from 2020 to 2025, brings over three decades of high-level experience to the grassroots efforts in the country’s Southern Zone. His transition from directing the world’s largest multilateral environmental fund to leading a regional non-profit is seen as a powerful endorsement of local, community-driven conservation models.
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Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
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For more than 20 years, Osa Conservation has been instrumental in safeguarding the rich terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the Osa Peninsula. The organization’s work focuses on large-scale landscape restoration, reforestation projects, and enhancing climate resilience in a region often called the Amazon of Central America. The selection of Rodríguez is a clear indication of the organization’s ambition to scale its impact and funding.
The organization highlighted the strategic value of his extensive background, noting his proven ability to connect global policy with local realities. This experience is considered essential as Osa Conservation navigates the complex challenges of protecting a vital ecological corridor in a decisive context for regional conservation.
With more than three decades of experience, Rodríguez comes to the position with solid expertise in environmental policy and international financing. His career has been guided by the premise that the protection of ecosystems is only possible through a direct connection with the communities and territories where they are developed.
Osa Conservation, Official Statement
Rodríguez himself framed the move as both a personal homecoming and a professional challenge. After years of operating on the global stage, he emphasized the unique opportunity to apply his knowledge to generate tangible well-being for local communities through conservation and ecological restoration.
After working at a global level, it is a real pleasure—and also a challenge—to return to working at the local level. And what better opportunity than to do it with Osa Conservation, on the Osa Peninsula. If there is a place on the planet where ecological restoration and conservation can generate well-being for people, it is here, in southern Costa Rica.
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Executive Director of Osa Conservation
During his distinguished tenure at Minae, Rodríguez was the architect of several key reforms that form the bedrock of Costa Rica’s renowned environmental model. His policy initiatives were crucial in strengthening the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) program, reversing deforestation to achieve significant forest recovery, and pioneering the development of an energy matrix dominated by renewable sources.
His more recent role as CEO of the GEF saw him oversee the mobilization of billions of dollars for projects targeting biodiversity, climate action, and sustainable development worldwide. This expertise in navigating complex international funding mechanisms is expected to be a transformative asset for Osa Conservation, potentially unlocking new and larger streams of capital for its ambitious projects.
Esteban Brenes-Mora, a member of the Osa Conservation Board of Directors, underscored the appointment’s deeper meaning. He noted that Rodríguez’s career serves as a powerful testament to the idea that effective environmental policies are not forged in isolation but require an inseparable bond between nature and society. His leadership is anticipated to amplify this philosophy, ensuring that the protection of Osa’s natural treasures directly contributes to the prosperity of its people.
For further information, visit osaconservation.org
About Osa Conservation:
Osa Conservation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the globally significant biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. For over two decades, it has implemented scientific research and conservation initiatives focusing on terrestrial and marine ecosystems, large-scale landscape restoration, and building climate resilience through community engagement and on-the-ground action.
For further information, visit thegef.org
About the Global Environment Facility (GEF):
The Global Environment Facility is the world’s largest multilateral trust fund focused on enabling developing countries to invest in nature. It serves as a primary financial mechanism for several international environmental conventions, mobilizing resources to address critical issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation, and pollution.
For further information, visit minae.go.cr
About the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae):
The Ministry of Environment and Energy is the government body in Costa Rica responsible for managing the country’s natural resources and energy sector. It oversees national environmental policy, conservation areas, water resources, and the promotion of a sustainable, renewable-based energy matrix, forming the core of the nation’s green agenda.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a leading legal institution, built upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Serving a diverse clientele, the firm consistently pioneers innovative solutions while upholding the highest ethical standards. Its profound commitment extends beyond the courtroom, focusing on empowering the broader community by demystifying the law and promoting greater legal literacy. This dedication to public education is central to its vision of contributing to a more just and knowledgeable society.
