Help us Reforest Avellanas Beach
Costas Verdes is a nonprofit that restores coastal forests in Costa Rica. We have recently teamed up with the Avellanas community to reestablish the native vegetation of this iconic beach. The 5-year project will create a beautiful coastal forest with shade for all users to enjoy, and most importantly, connect and protect the fragile mangrove ecosystem right behind.
We're launching this campaign to raise $7,500, which will cover half of the costs to plant and maintain 1,000 trees in 2026. Costas Verdes will match all donations.
About Costas Verdes
Costas Verdes is a Costa Rican nonprofit that restores degraded coastal forests through community based reforestation projects. In our 15 year history, we have planted 102,750 trees in 34 different beaches along the Pacific of Costa Rica, actively working with over 13,300 volunteers, 35 schools, local governments, businesses, and NGO´s.
www.costasverdes.org
https://www.instagram.com/costasverdescr/
These before/after pictures of our project in Guiones Beach are an example of what can be accomplished in Avellanas.
Avellanas Reforestation Project
Summary:
Avellanas is a beautiful beach with important, yet fragile ecosystems. The mangrove forest stretches along a large portion of the coastline and is a habitat to many species. Unfortunately, much of the adjacent coastal forest that serves as a buffer zone and natural corridor was lost a long time ago.
To recover this ecosystem, 28,314 m² in the public area of the beach (Zona Pública de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre) need to be reforested and restored. There are 4 sites or parcels that are currently colonized by exotic species which won´t let trees grow. We have to remove the exotic species, strategically plant native trees, and give continuous maintenance to the planting site.
Costas Verdes is leading this effort through a 5-year community-based project (2025–2029). We are teaming up with the Municipalidad de Santa Cruz, the Asociación de Desarrollo Específico (ADE) de Avellanas, the Clean Wave and other nonprofits, local businesses, residents and visitors.
The initiative has already started! In 2025 we planted 600 trees across two locations with 145 volunteers, and created a program for tree monitoring and maintenance. The community even accomplished to install a fully automated drip irrigation system. The results are promising!
For 2026 we are planning to:
• Plant 1,000 trees in three different beach locations
• Host 3 reforestation campaigns for the community
• Create this fund to cover costs, including maintenance
• Produce the trees for the 2027 planting campaign
Importance:
Coastal forests in the Pacific of Costa Rica provide shade, prevent erosion, shelter wildlife, protect infrastructure from natural disasters, and help mitigate Climate Change impacts, all while supporting sustainable tourism and community wellbeing.
In Avellanas particularly, a strong, interconnected coastal forest will serve as a buffer zone and biological corridor for the mangrove ecosystem. It will also generate highly sought-after shade for visitors to enjoy and make the beach even more beautiful.
Reforestation Sites:
Sites are divided in 4 parcels, numbered from North to South. Parcel 1 (8,331 m2); Pacel 2 (1,667 m2); Parcel 3 (2,339 m2); and Parcel 4 (15,977 m2).
Please visit our You Tube channel to watch a series of videos for more detailed explanations of the Avellanas reforestation project:
English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGlwGJ8IEP4&list=PLfYgL0SVhDz33cR07Q-70RpfyZp59YhHd
Español: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLPZPtz7o20&list=PLfYgL0SVhDz0WN0301P41AmNOBC1iMmHM
Bird's eye view of Parcel 3 on which 500 trees were planted in July 2025 with the local community.
Point of view of a trail in Parcel 3, reforested in 2025.
Parcel 3 from the beach. Most of the planted trees are looking strong and growing fast.
Aerial view from North to South. In 2026 we will be focusing our efforts on reforesting Parcels 1 and 2, as well as replanting Parcel 3. The restoration of the coastal forest is key to protect the mangrove wetland in the back.
Costs:
• Tree production and trasportation
• Planting sites preparation
• Volunteering activities costs
• Planting costs (Hidrokeeper gel, wooden stakes, etc)
• Maintenance (hired local labor for weed and exotic bush control, firebreaks, watering, pest controls, pruning; natural fertilizers, irrigation system, etc)
The total project cost is $15,000. Costas Verdes has already raised $7,500!
If you love Avellanas, the beach, nature, Guanacaste, surf, Costa Rica, community projects...please help us make this possible!!
You can contact us at info@costasverdes.org or via our social media with any questions. Thanks for reading!