National System of Conservation Areas

Created in 1994, it combined three previously separate organisations that had managed laws relating to national parks, wildlife, and forestry.

The entire country of 12,596,690 acres (50,977 km²) is under the jurisdiction of eleven large Conservation Areas which were created in 1998, overseen by divisions of SINAC.

Costa Rica's progressive policies on environmental protection and sustainable eco-tourism in the National Parks System have been lauded as a model for other countries.

The rainforests, tropical forests, marine areas and wetlands of Costa Rica are the subject of many university and scientific organization studies.

The enrichment of the world's knowledge of these important habitats is an invaluable contribution from the conservation efforts of the various organisations involved.