AGP Executive Report

World Happiness Report: Costa Rica jumped to 4th place in the 2026 World Happiness Report, the highest rank for any Latin American country, with the rise drawing attention for happening without the usual income boost. Wildlife & Ocean Health: A new Costa Rica deep-sea study formally describes a “ghost shark” species, Rhinochimaera costaricana, adding to what’s known about the country’s hidden biodiversity. Climate Risk: Forecasts point to a growing chance that El Niño could intensify into a “super El Niño,” raising concerns for drier conditions, water stress, and wildfire risk. Conservation Tech & Policy: Costa Rica is moving toward wildlife-friendly road planning, with requirements for wildlife crossings where roads affect fauna. Marine Noise Pollution: Research from the region shows boat noise can cut the detectability of humpback whale songs by up to 45%, complicating communication and movement. Water Security: Global Water Challenge and Cargill expanded their Cargill Currents partnership into Costa Rica, aiming to improve safe water access, sanitation, and watershed restoration.

Sustainable Tourism Win: Arenal Fortuna (San Carlos) won Ibero-America’s “Mature Sustainable Destination” prize, highlighting tourism growth tied to sustainability, local business participation, and community benefits. Wildlife Crime Watch: Costa Rica’s wildlife trafficking is increasingly moving online, with complaints rising sharply since 2020 and prosecutors warning the country is becoming a “species bank” that fuels demand abroad. Marine Life Under Pressure: A Panama study finds boat noise can cut the chance of detecting humpback whale songs by about 40–45%, potentially disrupting communication and movement. New Deep-Sea Discovery: Researchers formally described a new “ghost shark” species, Rhinochimaera costaricana, from specimens collected off Costa Rica’s Pacific. Climate Risk Signal: Forecasts point to a growing chance El Niño could intensify into a “super El Niño,” which could mean drier conditions and higher wildfire risk for Costa Rica. Water & Farming Action: Global Water Challenge and Cargill expanded their Cargill Currents partnership into Costa Rica, focusing on safe water, sanitation, watershed restoration, and more efficient farming. Connectivity for Underserved Areas: Tarana Wireless and Itellum demonstrated 1 Gbps fixed wireless access in Costa Rica using SUTEL’s new 6 GHz framework. Tourism Growth in Guanacaste: Guanacaste Airport added a new weekly charter route from Chicago Rockford, aiming to boost visitor demand and local jobs.

Deep-Sea Discovery: Scientists formally describe a new “ghost shark” species, Rhinochimaera costaricana, based on specimens collected off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast from 2000–2023, adding to what’s still largely unknown in the deep sea. Marine Noise & Whales: A Panama study finds boat noise cuts the chance of detecting humpback whale songs by about 40–45%, raising concerns for communication and migration—work that matters for Costa Rica’s shared Central American Pacific waters. Climate Outlook: Forecasts point to a more than 60% chance El Niño could intensify into a “super El Niño,” with likely knock-on effects for Costa Rica’s rainfall, drought risk, and wildfire conditions. Biodiversity Crime: Costa Rica’s wildlife trafficking is increasingly moving onto social media and encrypted marketplaces, with complaints rising sharply and wildlife now described as a major environmental crime. Agriculture Under Pressure: Heavy rains are flooding parts of Costa Rica’s banana-growing regions and boosting disease risk, with damage that may show up weeks later. Water & Farming Partnership: Global Water Challenge and Cargill expand the Cargill Currents partnership into Costa Rica to improve safe water, sanitation, watershed restoration, and more efficient farming water use.

Wildlife Crime Watch: Costa Rica’s wildlife trafficking is increasingly moving online, with complaints rising sharply since 2020 and prosecutors describing the country as a “species bank” that draws buyers abroad—now including frogs, snakes, iguanas, parrots, beetles and even crocodiles sold via social media and encrypted marketplaces. Climate Justice Diplomacy: Pacific leaders and civil society are pushing to turn the International Court of Justice’s landmark climate opinion into real national and international action, arguing the legal win must become accessible, usable policy. Marine Life Under Pressure: New research links boat noise to humpback whale songs being detected far less often off Panama, raising concerns about how vessel activity can disrupt communication and behavior. Extreme Rain Hits Farms: Heavy downpours are stressing Costa Rica’s banana sector, leaving some plantations underwater for up to 36 hours and boosting conditions for black sigatoka. Biodiversity Field Notes: Scientists documented a rare golden blotched round ray in Costa Rica’s Pacific, a partial pigment-change case spotted during monitoring near La Cruz. Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, to speed up financing and a just energy transition.

Wildlife Crime in Costa Rica: The Attorney General’s Office says wildlife trafficking is rising fast, with cases climbing from 61 (2020) to 157 (2021) and past 250 complaints by 2024, now driven by social media sellers and encrypted marketplaces. Climate & Agriculture: Heavy Caribbean rains are flooding banana farms and boosting black sigatoka risk, with some areas underwater for up to 36 hours and damage that may show over the next 10–12 weeks. Marine Life Under Pressure: Boat noise is making humpback whale songs harder to detect off Panama, cutting recording odds by about 40–45%, a reminder that sound pollution can reshape marine behavior. Conservation Science: Researchers documented a rare golden blotched round ray (xanthism) off Guanacaste, tracked via repeat sightings near Playa Manzanillo. Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, to speed financing for solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and green transport.

Wildlife Crime: Costa Rica’s wildlife trafficking is surging online, with Attorney General data showing complaints rising from 61 (2020) to 157 (2021) and past 250 (2022), then 198 formal complaints by end of 2024—now the country’s third most common environmental crime as sellers increasingly use Facebook and encrypted marketplaces to move frogs, snakes, parrots, beetles, and even crocodiles. Road Safety for Fauna: Costa Rican lawmakers approved rules requiring wildlife crossings where roads interrupt connectivity and threaten animals, with early planning and budgeting required for new projects and possible retrofits for existing roads when data shows they’re needed. Climate & Food Pressure: Heavy Caribbean rains are stressing banana farms, leaving some fields underwater for up to 36 hours and boosting conditions for black sigatoka, while damage may take weeks to show. Biodiversity Watch: Researchers documented a rare golden blotched round ray in Guanacaste, a partial case of xanthism, photographed twice near Playa Manzanillo. Conservation Action: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to restore a species wiped out by hunters, with long-term success tied to stopping poaching. Public Health: Dengue cases have climbed above 3,400 by week 32, up 30% from last year, while malaria shows signs of resurgence.

Wildlife & Roads: Costa Rica lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings for road projects that disrupt habitat connectivity, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat tasked to verify plans early—and even existing roads could face new crossings if data shows they’re needed. Conservation Success: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to restore a species wiped out by hunters, using years of study and a careful soft-release effort. Health Watch: Costa Rica’s dengue surge is accelerating, with cases above 3,400 through epidemiological week 32 and mosquito-control teams visiting hundreds of thousands of homes; malaria is also showing signs of resurgence. Climate & Water Stress: Monteverde’s cloud forest is losing moisture despite heavy rainfall, as rising temperatures lift the cloud base and reduce mist—hurting epiphytes that help capture and hold water. Renewables Push: IRENA opened a call for renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, aiming to speed financing and de-risk deployment. Tourism (Sustainability): Costa Rica continues to position itself as a global benchmark for sustainable tourism, with ecotourism and rural wellness tied to conservation and local community benefits. Infrastructure (Energy/Buildings): ICE says it will demolish the historic Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón building in La Sabana Norte and replace it with a modern 21-story facility.

Wildlife & Roads: Costa Rica’s lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings for road projects when roads interrupt natural connectivity and threaten animals, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat tasked to check plans early and, in some cases, push crossings on existing roads if new information shows they’re needed. Species Recovery: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries across Golfo Dulce to Piedras Blancas National Park to restart a population wiped out by hunting, using a long, careful capture-and-soft-release effort and ongoing monitoring. Public Health: Costa Rica is seeing dengue surge (over 3,400 cases by epidemiological week 32, up 30% year-on-year) while malaria shows signs of returning after progress toward elimination. Climate & Water: Monteverde’s cloud forest is “dying of thirst” as warming lifts the cloud base higher, reducing mist and drying epiphytes that help hold moisture. Renewables Push: IRENA opened a call for renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, to speed financing and de-risk deployment.

Wildlife & Roads: Costa Rican lawmakers approved rules requiring wildlife crossings for road projects that interrupt natural connectivity, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat tasked to check plans and a citizen-science push planned to document where bridges are most needed. Biodiversity Recovery: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park after hunters wiped them out, using a long-prep translocation and camera-trap monitoring to support the herd’s return. Public Health: Costa Rica is seeing a dengue surge (over 3,400 cases by week 32, up 30% year-on-year) while malaria shows signs of resurgence, as vector teams visit hundreds of thousands of homes and treat breeding sites. Climate Science: Monteverde’s cloud forest is “dying of thirst” as warming lifts the cloud base, reducing mist and drying epiphyte-rich canopy zones. Renewables Finance: IRENA is inviting renewable project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, for potential support via its climate and energy transition financing platforms.

Wildlife Connectivity Law: Costa Rica’s lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings for roads that interrupt natural connectivity, with early planning and budgeting now expected for new projects and possible retrofits for existing roads when needed. Biodiversity Recovery: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to restore a threatened species after hunting wiped it out about 18 years ago, using years of study and a careful soft-release. Public Health: Dengue is surging in Costa Rica, with cases above 3,400 through epidemiological week 32 and a sharp rise since mid-August, while malaria shows signs of resurgence. Forest Water Stress: Monteverde’s cloud forest is “dying of thirst” as warming lifts the cloud base higher, reducing mist and drying epiphyte-rich canopy zones. Conservation Science Spotlight: A preview from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 highlights nature stories from a record 65,000+ entries, underscoring conservation-focused wildlife storytelling.

Wildlife Crossings Law: Costa Rican lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings for roads that disrupt habitat connectivity, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat checking plans early and allowing citizen science input to flag where crossings are needed. Species Recovery: Osa Conservation translocated 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park after hunters wiped them out, using a long-prep capture-and-soft-release effort to rebuild ecosystem roles. Disease Watch: Dengue cases in Costa Rica have surged past 3,400 (week 32), while malaria shows signs of resurgence, as vector teams treated homes and breeding sites nationwide. Cloud Forest Stress: Monteverde’s cloud forest is “dying of thirst” as warming lifts the cloud base, reducing mist and drying epiphyte-rich canopy moisture. Media Freedom: CPJ and IAPA warned a proposed Costa Rica broadcast-spectrum fee could push radio and TV stations off air, threatening access to information. Tourism Pressure: Canada arrivals to Costa Rica are rising fast, especially toward Guanacaste via Liberia, adding strain to a narrower set of beach towns and roads. Conservation Spotlight: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 released a sneak peek from a record 65,000 entries, highlighting nature stories with a conservation mission.

Wildlife Crossings Law: Costa Rica lawmakers voted to require wildlife crossings in road projects when roads disrupt habitat or threaten animals, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat reviewing plans and existing roads potentially needing new crossings too. Species Recovery: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to restore a threatened species after hunting wiped it out, using years of study and a careful soft-release—while warning poaching control is still key. Health Watch: Dengue is surging in Costa Rica (over 3,400 cases by epidemiological week 32), while malaria shows signs of resurgence; vector teams have reached hundreds of thousands of homes and treated millions of breeding sites. Cloud Forest Drying: Monteverde’s cloud forest is losing moisture despite heavy rainfall, as warming lifts the cloud base and reduces mist—hurting epiphytes and the forest’s water retention. Conservation & Public Safety: SINAC is monitoring unusual solitary sea lion sightings on the Pacific coast and urges people to keep at least 10 meters distance. Media Freedom: CPJ and IAPA warn a proposed broadcast spectrum fee could push radio and TV stations off air, threatening access to information. Tourism Pressure: Canada is driving record tourist arrivals to Costa Rica, with growth concentrated in key beach regions and airports. Wildlife Photography: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 released a sneak peek from a record 65,000 entries, with the London exhibition opening Oct. 16.

Wildlife & Roads: Costa Rica lawmakers approved a rule requiring wildlife crossings for road projects when habitats are cut off, with the National Environmental Technical Secretariat checking plans early; existing roads could also face new crossings if new information shows they’re needed. Species Recovery: Osa Conservation moved 13 white-lipped peccaries to Piedras Blancas National Park to restart a population wiped out by hunters, using a long, careful translocation and ongoing monitoring—while stressing poaching control as the key risk. Cloud Forest Water Stress: Monteverde’s cloud forest is losing moisture even with heavy rainfall, as rising temperatures lift the cloud base and reduce mist days, threatening epiphytes that help capture and hold water. Wildlife Health Mystery: Sick pelicans keep washing up on Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches; SENASA reports tests so far are negative for avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and the investigation is widening beyond viral causes. Climate Impacts on Beauty: A study warns Morpho butterflies could dull as hotter development temperatures alter wing structures, linking climate change to changes in appearance and survival. Conservation Policy Watch: CPJ and IAPA warn a proposed Costa Rican broadcast spectrum fee could push stations off air, threatening access to news during emergencies and disasters. Tourism Pressure: Canada surged to record growth in Costa Rica arrivals, with Guanacaste and the northern Pacific feeling the added strain.

Wildlife Monitoring: SINAC is tracking a rare, solitary sea lion sighting along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and is urging people to keep at least 10 meters away, avoid feeding, and stay quiet so the animal can move on safely. Bird Die-Off Mystery: Sick pelicans continue to wash up on Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches since late June; SENASA reports lab tests for avian influenza and Newcastle disease came back negative so far, and the investigation is expanding beyond viruses to possible poisoning, environmental stress, and other causes. Climate Impacts on Biodiversity: A new study warns that hotter development temperatures can dull the blue of Morpho butterflies, suggesting climate change could alter how Costa Rica’s iconic species look as well as where they live. Conservation Spotlight in Media: NBC’s “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild” returns Oct. 3 with new episodes that include Costa Rica among other conservation destinations. Policy & Media Freedom: CPJ and IAPA warn a Costa Rica bill could impose a spectrum fee that threatens radio and TV broadcasters’ ability to stay on air, raising concerns for access to information.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: The Natural History Museum in London has unveiled a sneak peek of 16 standout images from the 62nd Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, after a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries—showcasing everything from polar bears and orcas to the human pressures that harm wildlife. Costa Rica Conservation Spotlight: A new look at Monteverde’s cloud-forest protection traces how the 1972 start grew into a 10,500-hectare preserve, built on science, education, controlled tourism, and community involvement. Marine Life Watch: Golfo Dulce whale guides report fewer humpback sightings this season, with warmer water and possible coral bleaching raising questions about where whales are going. Conservation Tech Reality: Costa Rica camera-trap researchers warn that theft is a major threat to wildlife monitoring, wiping out data and equipment costs. Climate & Oceans: Reports say global ocean temperatures hit a record level, adding urgency to concerns about heat impacts on marine life. Food Systems & Resilience: FAO calls for stronger, coordinated investment in Latin America and the Caribbean agrifood systems, citing climate risk and financing gaps.

Wildlife on TV: Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild returns for a fourth season on NBC Oct. 3, with new conservation adventures that include Costa Rica and other wildlife hotspots. Climate & oceans: Global ocean temperatures hit a record level, while NOAA’s updated El Niño outlook raises concern for the Panama Canal’s future conditions. Marine life in Costa Rica: Golfo Dulce humpback whale sightings appear to be down this season, with guides pointing to warmer water and possible shifts in whale movement. Forest conservation history: Monteverde’s cloud-forest protection story traces back to 1972 and highlights how long-term research, education, and community involvement helped preserve 10,500 hectares. Land restoration lesson: A Princeton-backed recap revisits Costa Rica’s orange-peel experiment—about 12,000 tonnes spread on degraded park pasture helped trigger a surprising forest comeback. Pollution & development pressure: Costa Rica’s mangroves face growing threats from pollution and development. Waste-to-value: A Costa Rica-linked push turns coffee pulp into biodegradable packaging, part of a broader circular-economy push. Biodiversity & research: Camera-trap theft is undermining wildlife monitoring in Costa Rica, cutting off crucial field data and equipment. Agrifood investment: FAO calls for stronger, coordinated investment in Latin America and the Caribbean agrifood systems as climate risk rises and financing remains fragmented.