“How can we achieve that our society actively participates in the process of conservation?”

This was the question that a group of Costa Ricans asked 25 years ago, when they wanted to collaborate voluntarily with the Simon Bolivar National Zoo and in various protected areas. This is how we started.

ASVO (Association of Volunteers for service in protected areas) has been active in Conservation in national Parks, beaches and communities of Costa Rica. We are a non-governmental organization (NGO) self-managed and nonprofit. We act as a bridge between civil society and Costa Ricas natural areas , allowing more and more people to get involved responsibly in the conservation of our national patrimony, - natural and cultural. 

We work in synergy with national and foreign volunteers, local communities, schools, colleges, national and international universities, government agencies, private companies and other environmental organizations. We develop our volunteer programs in 28 different areas of the country and about 2300 volunteers from around the world each year enable our efforts for conservation.

Active conservation in Protected Areas, beaches and rural communities of Costa Rica, promoting an environmental volunteer with a social conscience. 

We work as a bridge between civil society and areas of nature, with the objective that more and more people can get involved in a responsible and voluntary way, in the conservation of our natural and cultural patrimony. Our organization is an open space for you to act now, for conservation and development of Protected wildlife areas, for the benefit of us, and our future generations.  

We have an agreement of co-operation with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), which permits us to support the state through our volunteer program in around 20 different areas of the country and around 2300 volunteers – both Costa Rican and international volunteers from all over the world who make our conservation efforts possible every year 

We work in three strategic areas:

If you would like to be a part of the solution to environmental problems, join our program , and help voluntarily to make Costa Rica a better country.

Sometimes you may be asked : How can I collaborate meaningfully in an environmental cause ? How can I invest my time and money so that the results of these actions can actually see on the conservation of natural resources? 

Having a healthy environment for ourselves and future generations is a responsibility of all, and this requires sensitized persons concerned to protect and conserve the environment and mainly proactive individuals who want to be agents of change and an example for society. 

ASVO gives you the option to actively help by releasing baby sea turtles , collecting turtle eggs to protect them in our nursery , doing patrols with protected wildlife rangers in different areas of the country , prevent and control forest fires scientific research and do all this and more can be done through various actions.

We offer environmental volunteer programs with a social commitment, regardless of age, gender, religion, nationality or profession, in control and protection activities of Protected Areas; research and conservation of Sea Turtles; awareness and environmental education, and the fight against forest fires.

Every year, around 2300 National and International Volunteers participate in ASVO programs in parks and protected areas in general, beaches, forests optimizing conservation efforts in Costa Rica. 

If you are a student or professional, you can perform you academic research requirements or doctoral thesis in our projects. The programs are also open for community work. Our Sea Turtle Conservation projects receive interns (students or professionals) interested in investing their time and specializing in sea turtle conservation.