The Central American region has distinguished the Costa Rican Fundecor Association for its conscientious work in the protection of the Central Volcanic Range in the country.

The Fundecor Association is a non-governmental organization that protects the country’s forest as well as supervises the well intended use of water reservoirs.   Fundecor relies on Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to oversee the protected areas.

According to the Isthmus’ report regarding the 2008 Sustainable Human Development, the protected areas are an example of these good natural practices for the entire region.  The Fundecor program has come to fill in the gap left by the absence of proper institutional presence as well as management plans along with the overriding of personnel responsibilities.

The report also mentioned that it is very common that the funds generated from the marketing and entrance fees for protected areas and national parks as well as concessions of services and such are rarely re-invested in the protected areas itself.

However, researches applauded the people responsible of the Central Volcanic Range Conservation Area’s action of investing the attained funds back into the conservation and protection of the area.

According to the Fundecor Association, in 2008, so far a total of 83 million Costa Rican Colones (approximately $150,000) have been invested in the training of 12 park rangers through the Universidad Estatal a la Distancia (UNED).  These park rangers are responsible for the Irazu Volcano National Park,  Turrialba Volcano National Park, Poas Volcano National Park and the Braulio Carillo National Park.

The funds collected by the organization is also used to elaborate new management plans as well as maintain and improve trails, public toilets, telecommunications and online websites.