Rivers And Forests Alliance Rafa

The Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA) is a nonprofit organization in Costa Rica dedicated to preserving and protecting the Pacuare River Basin, its forests, and biodiversity, alongside our communities for a sustainable future. The Pacuare River flows 136.39 km (85 miles) from Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains, past Cabécar Indigenous communities and through dense jungle inhabited by endangered species, before reaching the Caribbean Sea. It is one of Costa Rica’s last large, free-flowing rivers, celebrated for its breathtaking scenery and world-class whitewater paddling. The entire river basin spans 914.11 km² (353 sq mi), forming a vital link in the Barbilla-Destierro Biological Subcorridor that connects national parks and private protected areas. It provides habitat for jaguars, pumas, ocelots, endangered great green macaws, the endangered bobo mullet fish, and many other wildlife species. Currently, the Pacuare is protected from hydroelectric development by a presidential decree until 2040. However, deforestation, illegal hunting, extraction of river materials, and agricultural pollution threaten the river and local communities. While ecotourism is instrumental in protecting the Pacuare, it also puts environmental pressure on the river. Over the last 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of ecotourism businesses operating along a short stretch of the Pacuare River. Within a distance of 26.25 km (16.3 miles), there are 11 river lodges and 17 rafting companies operating, bringing thousands of tourists annually to this fragile ecosystem. Our Guardians of the Pacuare program unites key stakeholders—including ecotourism businesses, conservation organizations, local communities, and government agencies—to protect the Pacuare River Basin’s forests, wildlife, and water resources. Our initiatives include reforestation, forest conservation, environmental education, biological corridor connectivity, and water quality monitoring.