Of the estimated 60,000 known tree species worldwide, some 8,000 (over 10%) are threatened with extinction. These daunting statistics published in the IUCN by Red List and Global Tree Campaign are stark reminders of the importance of conserving Earth’s fragile biodiversity.

Similarly, despite Costa Rica’s robust conservation efforts, of the country’s 2,677 confirmed tree species, at least 242 are considered endangered, with the possibility of new additions as assessments continue.

Thanks to concerted national and local efforts on the Osa Peninsula and elsewhere, the tides are changing for the nation’s forests. Pioneers such as Lapa Rios, Osa Conservation, and the Global Tree Campaign are working diligently to reverse the impact of deforestation and provide a haven of hope for endangered tree species.

Tree species of the Osa Peninsula

One of Costa Rica’s most rare and unique tree species is the Sangrillo Colorado Paramachaerium gruberi. Named for its reddish-hued wood, the Sangrillo Colorado is only found on the Osa Peninsula and the Baru Region of Panama. The tree’s rarity and vulnerability to illegal logging have made it one of the most important species of Osa Conservation’s Botanical Conservation Program.

Much to the delight of Lapa Rios’s proprietors and on-site naturalists, a concentration of Sangrillo Colorado trees is found in the lodge's expansive 1,000-acre private reserve. Some specimens are between 500 and 600 years old, and the trees are the primary food source for several bird and animal species, including limpets, parrots, and monkeys.



Join the Lapa Rios Plant a Tree Program

The tree’s remarkable resilience and abundance in the Lapa Rios Reserve have earned it the lodge’s flagship species title. Through the Lapa Rios’ Plant a Tree Program, visitors and guests can help secure the future of the Osa’s endangered species. The program entails a visit to the Lapa Rios tree nursery, where staff biologists explain rainforest regeneration and have participants choose a seedling, such as the Sangrillo Colorado, for planting in an emerging forest area.

Participants receive a digital diploma commemorating the date and location of their reforestation efforts. Gift diplomas can also be purchased for those wishing to plant a tree in honor of a friend or loved one.

Come to Lapa Rios and join our efforts to protect the Sangrillo Colorado and other treasured tree species.