Parallel Cinema: The Ostional Project
The Ostional Project
Sea Turtles & Community Conservation:
Date: Wednesday, May 15
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: SALA Los Alamos Event Center
Admission: Free community event – donations encouraged
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating Costa Rica’s groundbreaking sea turtle conservation efforts and how a small community is making a global impact.
Why Ostional Matters
Nestled along Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline, the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge protects some of the world’s most vulnerable marine species—including the critically endangered leatherback and Pacific green sea turtles. It’s also one of the few places on Earth where you can witness the arribada, a rare natural event when tens of thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest in synchrony.
Since 1983, the refuge has led the way in community-based conservation, blending traditional knowledge with scientific innovation and global collaboration.
What You’ll Experience
- Personal stories from Allan Saenz, Carolyn Cowan, and Jairo Sandoval
- Stunning video footage of nesting turtles and hatchlings
- A look at the arribada and the Ostional legal egg harvest model
- Insights into the volunteer experience—from night patrols to hatchling releases
- Discussion of current threats like climate change, poaching, tourism pressure, and how Costa Rica is fighting back
Support the Ostional Project
This event also launches a fundraising campaign for the Ostional Project GoFundMe, which supports:
- Hatcheries for leatherback and Pacific green sea turtles
- Volunteer training, gear, and housing
- Community education and youth engagement programs
- Population tagging, monitoring, and data modernization
Fundraising Goal: $14,500
Budget Breakdown:
- Tagging and Monitoring: $6,000
- Field Equipment: $1,500 per year
- Hatchery and Station Maintenance: $4,000
- Community Education: $2,000
- Data and Scientific Tools: $1,000
How to Help
You can contribute by donating, volunteering, or simply sharing what you’ve learned. Every effort brings us closer to protecting sea turtles and supporting the communities who care for them.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/
More Information
Learn more or get involved: https://fundecodes.org/en/
