Located 330 miles south of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Cocos Island sustains 16% of the country’s known biodiversity. There are few places in the world that possess the climatic, terrestrial and marine conditions necessary to shelter a wide variety of plants and animals.
Cocos Island
It’s geographic location, within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Conservation Corridor (CMAR), a regional conservation and sustainability initiative, has favored the scientific study of its marine ecosystem; attracting major scientists and biologists from around the globe such as the renowned marine biologist Jacques Cousteau.
As a matter of fact, during one of his visits to the island, Cousteau called it: “the most beautiful island in the world”.
This jewel of the Pacific Ocean is the only emerging point of the submarine Cocos Volcanic Range. Its coast and crystal clear waters are a gathering spot for innumerable migrant marine species of rays, sharks, dolphins, whales, turtles and birds, just to name a few.
In 1997, UNESCO declared Cocos Island a World Heritage Site. And today it has been nominated to be one of the Modern Natural Wonders of the World.
However, urgent movements and conservation strategies must be carried out to protect this natural wonder from over-exploitation of natural resources, particularly overfishing to satisfy the demands of the sushi industry, which are taking a high toll on the environment of the Island. Protecting this island must be a priority for all citizens of the world.
