From the painting The Treasure is the Island, by naturalist painter Dierdre Hyde, the images that compose this new series of stamps were obtained. This series illustrates the ecosystem of Isla del Coco National Park and is an initiative of the Friends of Isla del Coco Association and the local postal system, Correos de Costa Rica. FAICO is an organization dedicated to practicing the island and works to promote conservation of marine resources in general.
This series of these stamps has been titled National Parks 2006: Isla del Coco. It consists of 10 details extracted from the above painting, each of a native species of the island. Stamps can be purchased at the Philatelic Office in the Correos de Costa Rica. Each stamp measures 40 mm by 30 mm, and 200,000 stamps of have been printed.
Deirdre Hyde
Deirdre Hyde, born in England and living in Costa Rica for more than 20 years, is known for her paintings of Costa Rica�s biodiversity. Her knowledge of the Isla del Coco is first hand, as she resided on the island during the beginning of her stay in Costa Rica. Hyde learned to SCUBA dive before returning to the island, allowing her to see the ocean species up close.
Isla del Coco is located 532 Km southwest of Costa Rica�s Pacific coast. If measures less than 24 square kilometers and boasts 1997 Km of protected marine ecosystems. The island�s exceptional nature, its rich ecosystems and its biodiversity have made the island a national park, World Heritage Site, Wetlands of International Importance and part of Costa Rica�s History and Architectural Heritage.
If you are a nature lover, these stamps show us what the pirates that arrived on the island looking of buried treasures didn�t know to appreciate: the only treasures on the island is the island itself.
Art and Culture 
