Accounting for the Costa Rican Oceans

Background and Objectives 

A collaborative project with the Costa Rican government and non-government stakeholders aims to integrate the value of coastal and marine ecosystems into the planning of sustainable development of the ocean and coastal zone in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has a long history of natural capital accounting on land, and Costa Rican institutions are globally recognised for their expertise in the field.

The 2023 Environmental Performance Report notes that, while Costa Rica has made significant strides in the collection and dissemination of environmental data, there are still gaps in ocean-related information needed for informed decision-making and public engagement.

By 2030, Costa Rica aims to establish its first comprehensive ocean account, as announced by Hon. Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Rodrigo Chaves Robels, President, during the High Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change on World Oceans Day 2024. Minister Franz Tattenbach, reinforced Costa Rica’s ambition to develop national ocean accounts by 2030, stating that the objective of this project is to assess the ocean’s state, condition, and the ecosystem services it provides. Achieving this will enable Costa Rica to fully understand the potential of its coasts and seas and to secure resources for the sustainable use and protection of its marine ecosystems. 

With a strong track record in natural capital accounting on land, Costa Rica is a global leader in environmental initiatives, such as the Payments for Environmental Services (PSA) forestry program. Now, with 92% of its territory being ocean, the country is striving to apply its expertise to marine and coastal areas. This new ambitious project aims to transfer their experience on land to the coastal and marine areas, promoting participatory planning to improve the integration of nature’s contributions to the local economy and the well-being of the population in the country’s development landscape. 

The GOAP Secretariat looks forward to supporting Costa Rica’s ambition over the next four years and beyond.

Key initiative

As Co-Chair of UNOC 3, Costa Rica will be championing the development and implementation of ocean accounts—a crucial step toward understanding and managing the value of ocean ecosystems. Ocean accounts are a key feature of the UN Decade Programme for Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management and critical for fostering a sustainable and inclusive ocean-based economy. 

Costa Rica is looking to invite like-minded countries to join a global movement towards ocean accounting. By committing to this effort through the Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts towards 2030 (the level of commitment is voluntary and can be defined by each state depending on national priorities), countries will create a powerful coalition to protect and sustainably use the ocean, ensuring that future generations benefit from healthy and resilient marine ecosystems. 

Learn more about the Pledge for Ocean Accounts

 Activities 

September 2025 | Costa Rica finalises first Roadmap to Implement Ocean Accounts by 2030 

Costa Rica finalised its first Roadmap for the Implementation of Ocean Accounts, developed through a multi-phase process and supported by GOAP Secretariat. The roadmap defines a strategic pathway toward implementing ocean accounts by 2030, with pilot work planned for both Pacific and Caribbean regions to reflect different national realities.

The document will be adopted by the Council for Environmental Accounts and integrated into Ministry of Planning Strategy, ensuring continuity beyond the administration change in February 2026. 

️ 11 June 2025 | Costa Rica Pavilion Workshop at UNOC 3 (Green Zone) | Nice, France

An interactive 3-hour workshop including policy-oriented training, Costa Rica’s roadmap, and live opportunities to sign The Joint Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030 . 

10 June 2025 | “Delivering on the 2030 Sustainable Ocean Economy: Pledge to Develop Ocean Accounts by 2030”, a Side Event at UNOC 3 (Blue Zone) | Nice, France 

“Delivering on the 2030 Sustainable Ocean Economy: Pledge to Develop Ocean Accounts by 2030”. Co-hosted by Costa Rica, Portugal, and partners. A forum to showcase leadership, explore new commitments, and build international alliances. 

24-27 March 2025 | Ocean Accounts Exchange: Building a Blueprint for Action | San José, Costa Rica 

This three-day event convened over 100 government representatives, key international organisations, finance bodies, relevant NGOs and global leaders committed to ocean sustainable development from 28 countries.

During the event, The Joint Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030 was developed. On the final day, the Pledge was signed by eight nations and one regional convention, while several more countries and organisations delivered strong statements of support for the initiative.

This event was hosted by Costa Rica’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment and Energy, Costa Rican Council of Environmental Accounts, and the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership, with support from the UK government’s Blue Planet Fund. Learn more here.

19 - 22 August 2024 | Workshop: Ocean Accounts in Costa Rica | San José, Costa Rica

In coordination with the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Area de Conservación Guancaste (ACG) and Area de Conservación Tempisque (ACT), the GOAP Secretariat hosted the first Spanish-speaking ocean accounting in-person workshop, which was attended by >40 participants representing over 15 organisations across academia, NGOs and government officials. Workshop highlights include:

• Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: through practical training, participants used Costa Rican data to develop extent and condition accounts and understand the complexity of ecosystem service accounts, according to the Ocean Accounts Framework.
• Context mapping: the current regulations, protocols and best practices were shared to improve data quality from conservation areas and make plans to begin standardizing data gathering efforts. The need to develop a national roadmap for marine and coastal sustainable development was highlighted, as well as the need for sustainable business models and socio-productive chains. 
• Data Management: participants identified different information sources and gaps, with recognition of key governmental and non-governmental organizations in the creation of ocean accounts. This exercise highlighted the challenges with locating and accessing data, particularly across different sectors and institutions.
• Identifying Priority Accounts: Participants proposed the first three accounts to be worked on in Costa Rica and the requirements for each. 
• Communication and Awareness: the workshop highlighted the need to move beyond traditional economic accounts to incorporate ocean accounting into public policy formulation, emphasizing the inclusion of environmental accounts and social factors in the decision-making process. The event also encouraged a dialogue to plan for the development of ocean accounts in Costa Rica, with a view to the country’s 2030 ambition. 

Photos from the workshop in Costa Rica.

18 March 2024 | Seminar Accounting for the Costa Rican Oceans Part 1: Introduction to Ocean Accounts | Online

The GOAP Secretariat hosted the first Spanish-speaking ocean accounting seminar online (recording below), which was attended by 30 participants representing nearly 20 organisations across academia, NGOs and government. The seminar introduced the concept of ocean accounts and how they can support national public policy and conservation objectives. An example of a mangrove extent account was presented, according to information provided by the Guanacaste Conservation Area on the mangroves of Naranjo and Nancite. The seminar also provided a platform for stakeholders involved in the management and conservation of marine-coastal environments.

Participants highlighted the

• Potential of ocean accounts to align with financial sector needs and guide investments in marine and coastal conservation.
• Importance of developing a modular approach for refining data systems over time and stressed the necessity for long-term strategies to sustain the generation, management and dissemination of data.
• Value of collaborative efforts among various institutions to ensure good quality data reaches all stakeholders effectively. 

Next steps

Costa Rica, as Co-Host of of UNOC 3 (alongside France), is championing the development and implementation of ocean accounts. Costa Rica is working to engage interested countries and organisations to join a global movement towards ocean accounting by signing or supporting the Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030.

To gather international support for this initiative, Costa Rica will:

• Formally present the Pledge on the main stage at UNOC 3, and early signatories will be publicly recognised
• Co-hosting a side event in the Blue Zone, along with Portugal, Maldives, Indonesia, UK, Norway, and other key stakeholders on ocean accounts
• Facilitating a pavillion in the Blue Zone with a dedicated section on ocean accounts and how they can support decision making for a more sustainable ocean economy

Regarding in-country work, using inputs from all three workshops, and a diagnostic tool for ocean accounts applied across the country’s stakeholders, Costa Rica is developing their implementation roadmap towards 2030, which should be launched at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC). This roadmap will include the fields of work in the next five years, and should assist in capturing support for its implementation.  

Watch the recording of the online workshop, March 2024

Authors: Marianne Feoli, Maria G. Alarcon, Monica Navarro (country liaison), Philip James and Bella Charlesworth.