Community Climate Art: The Ocean as a Source of Life on Earth
Location:
La Cruz, Costa Rica
Art Medium:
Mural Painting
Partner:
Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund
Artist:
Patricia Blanco
The Challenge
La Cruz, located in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is renowned for its beautiful coastlines and rich marine biodiversity. However, the region faces several challenges affecting marine life, such as overfishing, pollution from plastics and agricultural runoff, habitat degradation caused by urban development, and unsustainable tourism practices. Many local communities have long standing economic and cultural ties to the sea, and ensuring they are informed and engaged in conversation surrounding conservation efforts is key to protecting marine biodiversity in the region.
The Action
Alongside partners at Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund, Creative Action Institute effectively engaged 45 community members in La Cruz in discussions and activities to raise awareness for the need to protect marine biodiversity. Participants ranged from children to adults and represented various local groups. Together, they created a community mural depicting various species present in the area, allowing locals to recognize and identify with them. The mural fostered awareness, a sense of belonging, appreciation, and respect for the marine resources on which communities depend.
During the community event, participating organizations from various sectors - conservation, education, youth development - committed to foster a strategic alliance to holistically address the complex challenges of marine conservation.
The Impact
• The mural has become a permanent public space appreciated by both locals and tourists, raising awareness about the importance of protecting marine biodiversity. It was used as part of the activities in the community to celebrate International Ocean Day.
• Partnerships formed throughout the CAP with organizations such as CCMAR (Ciencia Ciudadana Marina), Fundación Costa Rica WildLife, Universidad de Costa Rica, and Grupo de Guías y Scouts, strengthened environmental education and collective efforts to address community challenges. By working together, they are tackling interconnected issues like habitat degradation, overfishing, climate change, and wildlife conservation more effectively. The involvement of the Scouts allows them to have community trust and participation among the youth, which is critical to long-term efforts.
"The mural is a representation of what our town is; it’s truly something important. It reflects what the sea means to all of us, whether we have a different job or one that isn’t related to the sea. It’s something that characterizes us as locals because our parents work in the sea, and thanks to them, we have everything, including our education—all of it is because of the sea."