18 Feb Caño Negro Wetland: A Living Wetland That Still Works
Caño Negro Wetland: A Living Wetland That Still Works
Not all wetlands still function the way they once did. Many have been drained, fragmented, or reduced to isolated patches of water surrounded by development.
Caño Negro is different.
Located in northern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, Caño Negro remains one of the few wetlands in Central America where natural cycles still dictate life, not infrastructure or artificial control. It is not a preserved snapshot of the past — it is a living wetland, constantly changing, adapting, and sustaining life.
A WETLAND DEFINED BY WATER — AND TIME
Caño Negro does not look the same year-round, and that is exactly the point.
During the rainy season, water spreads across vast areas, flooding forests, grasslands, and lagoons. During the dry season, water retreats, concentrating fish and nutrients into smaller channels and pools. These seasonal shifts create a dynamic mosaic of habitats that support an extraordinary diversity of life.
BIRDS AS THE PULSE OF THE WETLAND
Resident and migratory birds depend on Caño Negro’s seasonal abundance. Their presence reflects water levels, food availability, and ecosystem health.
CAÑO NEGRO AND THE RAMSAR CONVENTION
Caño Negro is recognized internationally as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands worldwide.
Caño Negro’s designation highlights its importance for resident and migratory bird species, its role in regional hydrology, and the need to protect its natural seasonal cycles.
Being a Ramsar Site does not freeze Caño Negro in time. It recognizes the value of maintaining a living, functioning wetland where natural processes and responsible human activity coexist.
MORE THAN A WETLAND: A BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR
Caño Negro functions as part of a broader biological corridor connecting wetlands, forests, rivers, and lowland habitats.
HUMAN PRESENCE WITHOUT BREAKING THE SYSTEM
Responsible tourism and local knowledge allow nature and people to coexist without breaking the system.
WHY CAÑO NEGRO STILL MATTERS
At a time when wetlands worldwide are disappearing, Caño Negro offers a rare reference point of what a healthy seasonal wetland looks like when natural cycles are respected.
EXPERIENCING A LIVING WETLAND
Experiencing Caño Negro transforms conservation from theory into lived reality.
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