Private Wildlife Refuges in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's Wildlife Conservation Law of 1992 provides for a number of privileges, including relief from property taxes, for property owners who establish private wildlife reserves. An important article in Conservation Biology describes the operation of the program and includes a map and list of the private reserves. Langholz, Jeff, Lassoie, James & Schelhas, John
Incentives for Biological Conservation: Costa Rica's Private Wildlife Refuge Program.
Conservation Biology 14(6), 1735-1743 (2000). The authors found that reserve status was especially popular in coastal areas, where localities have control over development. In some instances, local governments have organized bands of squatters to invade property to pressure owners who resist development projects. When a private wildlife refuge is created, the local government loses jurisdiction over the property to the central government.

Following are tables from the above article listing the private reserves, with added details and links. Additional reserves undoubtedly have been set up since the time of publication.

Table 1. Officially recognized private wildlife refuges in Costa Rica (participants).

Table 2. Private nature reserves that are not part of the Private Wildlife Refuge Program (control group).