# 🐊 Why Nambi Sanctuary?

## 🔍 Ecosystem Overview

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<div align="center" data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="https://3042622134-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fabg0UXUamXLGyhJ3BIhX%2Fuploads%2FDMLzQHrPGe5kYZNyEUhM%2FScreenshot%202025-06-19%20at%203.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=750cac84-cc81-4b07-b884-49f1f6d87c44" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

| Country                       | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Location                      | [Tarcoles, Garabito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica](https://earth.google.com/web/search/nambi+sanctuary/@9.7995521,-84.6340637,29.628866a,831.44434853d,35y,0h,0.00000002t,0r/data=Cn4aUBJKCiUweDhmYTFjYjAwM2UwZjg5ZGI6MHhlZmQxMGJlNTE0NGNiNWFmGXDlkeRemSNAISvF6X-UKFXAKg9uYW1iaSBzYW5jdHVhcnkYAiABIiYKJAmGixT5KzwjQBFPwZgqzTkjQBkHpq7n-yNVwCGVKbLceyRVwEICCAE6AwoBMEICCABKDQj___________8BEAA) |
| Extension                     | 288 hectares and 4,742.77 square meters                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Vegetation Type               | Caballero Mangrove, Cacho Mangrove, and Mariquita Mangrove, with the first being the most predominant.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Trees Per Hectare             | 600                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| CO₂ Stored                    | [400k - 600k tons](https://www.globalmangrovewatch.org/country/CRI?bounds=\[\[-84.70851474951075,9.767539597085147],\[-84.5832986803764,9.836752607855416]]\&active-widgets=\[%22mangrove_blue_carbon%22,%22widgets_deck_tool%22]\&layers=\[{%22id%22:%22mangrove_blue_carbon%22,%22opacity%22:%221%22,%22visibility%22:%22visible%22}]\&category=%22all_datasets%22)                    |
| Average Annual CO₂ Absorption | 3,371.2 tons                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Provided Services             | Provisioning, Regulation, Cultural, Support.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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<figure><img src="https://3042622134-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fabg0UXUamXLGyhJ3BIhX%2Fuploads%2FqcB5A8FPI7GgbCXCOvu2%2FWhy%20Nambi.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7a15922d-1959-4573-9c5d-1c1c4fe78bfe" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The Nambi Sanctuary provides a variety of essential ecosystem services and is home to a large amount of endangered wildlife species including scarlet and green macaws, parakeets, hawks, ospreys, kingfishers, blue and green herons, basilisk-type lizards, crabs, and white-face and howler monkeys.

<figure><img src="https://3042622134-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fabg0UXUamXLGyhJ3BIhX%2Fuploads%2FqArn4dIXrBSeqjwS5NtM%2FParque%20Nacional%20Carara.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ecb2e99a-9179-4a27-8abf-aaf1d76afea8" alt=""><figcaption><p>Part of the broader Guacalillo Mangrove Forest and located along the Grande de Tárcoles River and adjacent to Carara National Park, the Nambi Sanctuary is one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse ecosystems, serving as a vital hub for global conservation, ecological connectivity, and restoration efforts.</p></figcaption></figure>

It is recognized as a vital ecosystem for the survival of the scarlet macaw, as it makes up a biological corridor with the [Carara National Park](https://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/acopac/pnc/Pages/default.aspx), which was the subject of a detailed study by a group of American biologists in the late 1990s, whose work is documented in Chapter 22 of the book "*The Large Macaws: Their Care, Breeding, and Conservation"*.

The study also details the role of the population of clams and oysters that live in the mangrove, which play a crucial role in the cleaning the Grande de Tárcoles River; Central America's most polluted waterway.

<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uga-AfiSsqPDw0KPVixWWET5eViGsay4/view" class="button primary">The Large Macaws Ch. 22</a>

## 📍 About the Location

Nambi Sanctuary is located in Garabito, the 11<sup>th</sup> Canton of the Province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Founded on September 25, 1980. It occupies a narrow coastal plain area of 316.31 km² on the Costa Rican Central Pacific Coast. As of the year 2022, it has a population of 27,404 inhabitants. The capital is the city of Jacó; a popular destination for surf lovers, with a 4 km long black sand beach. In addition to surfing, Jacó offers other activities such as whale watching, boat tours, and horseback riding through the jungle. Jacó is also known for its nightlife and as a gateway to other national parks in Costa Rica. It's an ideal destination for those seeking paradise beaches, outdoor adventures, and a complete tourist experience.