Video: Women park rangers of Costa Rica
Costa Rica stands out internationally for its natural wealth, where flora and fauna coexist in perfect harmony. Despite being a small country of just 51,100 km², it is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
105 women works as a park rangers in Costa Rica. © Deutsche Welle
25.5% of the national territory is protected under the 152 Wildlife Protected Areas managed by the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), where 105 women park rangers work to protect Costa Rica’s natural treasures.
In the region, it’s uncommon to see women in this line of work—yet they are changing that narrative.
Today, we share the stories of Yocelin, Lourdes, and Yorlene—three women park rangers who chose to put on their boots and green uniforms to protect biodiversity while also embracing their roles as mothers and women with hobbies and personal needs.
But first…
What is GIZ Central America doing?
In 2022, Costa Rica led and promoted the adoption of Target 23 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which specifically addresses the need to ensure gender equality in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This includes equitable participation of women and girls in decision-making, ensuring their access to biodiversity-related benefits, and safeguarding their rights in this context.
In response to Target 23, and recognizing the importance of biodiversity protection through a gender equity lens, GIZ Central America's ACCIÓN Clima and BioFrame projects joined forces to support SINAC and women park rangers through local workshops designed to highlight their work and emphasize the importance of integrating gender perspectives in biodiversity conservation.
As a result, in 2024, SINAC established a gender unit to support the development of its Institutional Gender Equality Policy and address the specific needs of women park rangers.
Now, it's time to watch the Deutsche Welle feature for Latin America, created in collaboration with the Regional Communications Unit of GIZ Central America. Don't forget to turn on the captions!
- Country: Costa Rica
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