Development and Conservation: Can they coexist? 

Most people know Las Catalinas for its walkable streets, car-free living, beach town community, and impressive ocean views. But there is another layer to this place. One that lives in the forest, along the trails, and in the quiet work that has been happening behind the scenes.

Twenty-one years ago we adopted core values that have directed each of our steps. The last two being: “We love Costa Rica and are a positive influence in the country. We care about nature and work hard to protect and enhance it.” These are promises we made that go beyond looking good on paper, but ones we made to do things differently.

This is a closer look at these choices and the actions we have undertaken to keep up with these promises. 

CHOOSING NATURE OVER PROFIT

In Costa Rica, the law allows up to 80 percent of a property to be developed, as long as 20 percent is preserved. In Town, we chose the opposite. Eighty percent of the land is conserved, and only 20 percent is used for development.

This decision changes everything.

By concentrating the human footprint into a compact urban area, the surrounding ecosystem remains largely undisturbed. Instead of spreading buildings and roads across the entire landscape, development is clustered, leaving natural areas intact and connected. This kind of approach, which aligns with the principles of New Urbanism, helps preserve ecological continuity. It allows wildlife to move freely, birds to migrate, seeds to disperse, and forests to regenerate without interruption.

In traditional developments where each lot must preserve 20 percent individually, the green spaces often end up fragmented and isolated. A small backyard here, a strip of trees there, but never enough to function as a true habitat. Over time, this patchwork of green loses its ecological value. Fragmentation interrupts animal movement, limits biodiversity, and weakens the land’s natural ability to recharge water, regulate temperature, and resist fire.

By preserving 80 percent of the property as a single, continuous area, Las Catalinas helps protect a portion of tropical dry forest, one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. These forests once covered nearly half of all tropical forest regions globally, but today less than two percent of their original extent remains intact in many areas.

In Costa Rica, tropical dry forests are found mostly in Guanacaste and are home to a rich and unique biodiversity. From howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins to coatis, armadillos, toucans, and vibrant trogons, this forest shelters countless species, many of which depend entirely on this environment to survive. Its trees,  like the Guanacaste, Roble Sabana, and Cortez Amarillo, not only define the landscape but also contribute to soil enrichment, carbon storage, and the local water cycle.

These forests also offer a wide range of ecological services. They protect the soil, store water underground, regulate temperature, and act as carbon sinks. Some of their native species also provide food, medicine, wood, and fiber, many of which have been traditionally used by local communities.

As development continues to grow in Guanacaste, these forests face increasing pressure. That’s why protecting them as a single, connected whole, rather than in fragmented pockets,  is essential. The forest in Las Catalinas is not just a scenic backdrop. It is a living system, resilient and active, doing maybe quiet, but essential work every day.

This is not just about leaving space undeveloped. It is about allowing nature to remain whole.

RETURNING MORE WATER TO THE EARTH

Long before the first house was built, there was already a wastewater treatment plant in place. This was the first investment of Las Catalinas, because it was necessary and because there was a genuine commitment to responsible water resource management.

In 2006, a $350,000 investment made it possible to treat all used water and repurpose it for irrigation. None of it flows back into the ocean. Instead, it helps keep gardens, plants and public spaces alive.

Rainwater is also carefully managed. Two large retention ponds located in Central Park were designed as part of the environmental impact study carried out before developing El Prado. These ponds serve a crucial role: they slow the flow of rainwater, help filter sediments, and reduce erosion. As a result, the water that eventually reaches the ocean is cleaner and causes less disruption along the way.

Another key practice we carry out is harvesting rainwater to help recharge the aquifer. The image below shows this intervention, which may not look like much at first glance, but it reaches deep into the ecosystem and nurtures it from within.

Across the forest and open land, a series of long and narrow trenches have been dug. Each is about two meters deep and four meters long. These simple, low-tech interventions act as catchment basins. When it rains, instead of rushing down slopes and carrying soil and debris into rivers and the sea, the water slows, settles, and begins to sink into the ground.

This is how the ecosystem naturally stores water. And by creating conditions that mimic this process, we’re helping the land do what it does best. These trenches help replenish underground water, stabilize the soil, and reduce the risk of erosion and sedimentation. Over time, they support the vegetation above and the aquifer below.

Each year, these catchment areas are cleaned and maintained so they can continue to function as intended. It's quiet work, mostly invisible to the public eye, but it makes a big difference. Especially in a region like Guanacaste, where water is a precious resource, harvesting rainwater is not a side effort. It’s a central part of the efforts to care for this land.

On the other hand, to better manage the water that is extracted, two large tanks were recently added, increasing capacity from 300 to 2600 cubic meters. This makes it possible to pump less, store more, and use water more intentionally. Improving the tank system means we are no longer extracting from the wells indiscriminately. Instead, water is stored first, so that extraction is tied to actual demand rather than a constant flow that could go unused.

PROTECTING THE FOREST BY MANAGING FIRE

Wildfires are one of the biggest threats to dry tropical forests like the one we are part of. Guanacaste is the province with the highest number of forest fires in Costa Rica, and Santa Cruz is the most affected county.

To address this, a dedicated team known as the fire brigade maintains over 80 kilometers of firebreaks across Town. They have managed to prevent fires for over 14 years. When one broke out two years ago, they contained it. Their focus is local, but their reach is broader. Whenever needed, they support neighboring areas like Zapotal, Pacific Heights or Potrero, always in coordination with the Ministry of Environment or the local emergency committee.

The team has been certified three times as forest firefighters, trained by institutions like USAID, MINAE, and INA. One member specializes in water resource management during fire emergencies, and their leader, Michael, is trained in incident command.

To further support their work, Las Catalinas invested in specialized Nomex suits for the brigade. This high-tech fabric reacts to heat, is flame-resistant, and highly visible in the field.  It’s a practical upgrade that enhances safety for the team while strengthening their ability to care for the forest during fire season.

TREATING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AS A CORE PART OF DEVELOPMENT

Before construction began, more than 5,000 trees were planted across the property. In the early stages of development, alongside the offices for Construction and Infrastructure, the Agroforestry Team was also created. It is a company within Las Catalinas dedicated exclusively to environmental management. This was a major differentiator from other developments, as it placed conservation at the same level of importance as construction.

The decision to conserve 80 percent of the land was part of that same commitment. The goal was never just to develop. It was to do so with care, through ongoing monitoring, proactive management, and the mitigation of environmental impacts identified in our Environmental Impact Assessment.

That care continues. Agroforestales, or the Agroforestry Team, is now a team of 9. With the longest-serving members in Town. Three of them have been here for 18 years, Michael, Director of Environment and Community Affairs and leader of the team, for 17 years and one, Eloy Castillo, for 19 years. Literally, from day 1. Their experience and dedication have shaped the way we interact with the land every single day.

The team also plays an active role in the everyday care of the environment. Some of their tasks include cleaning the beach every day and maintaining 80 km of trail network. Their work is ongoing, strenuous and deeply connected to the place they help protect.

DOING THINGS DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IT MATTERS 

From the start, the founder of Las Catalinas made it clear that all permits would be obtained properly and that every step of development would follow the law. No shortcuts. No backdoors. Just honest, transparent work.

It is not something to boast about. Following the law is the minimum we owe to the land and the country we are part of. But it does matter. It means we can face scrutiny with confidence. We can say we have not built on fragile ecosystems or aquifer zones. We have not cut corners. And we have done what we said we would do.

None of this would be possible without follow-through. The environmental commitments made at the beginning are monitored daily and formally reviewed every three months with the support of external technical advisors. This is not about checking boxes. It is about doing things right. That does not mean there is no environmental impact. What it does mean is that there is a real effort to face that impact with responsibility and a long-term mindset.

THE REASON BEHIND THESE CHOICES

Yes, this is a development. It builds, it grows, it sells. But choosing to conserve 60 percent more than what is legally required speaks to a different kind of intention. One that, hopefully, can set a precedent for others to follow.

We do not brand ourselves as a sustainable development, even if the term might sound appealing. What we have done, consciously and consistently, is adopt practices that move in that direction. Because we believe in caring for the environment we are part of, while mitigating the impacts of the areas we do intervene, in order to help counterbalance the disruption that construction inevitably brings.

Not because it looks good, or because it is expected. But because we genuinely care. About this ecosystem. About Costa Rica. And about the responsibility that comes with building something here, with respect and a long-term vision.