The extinction of the golden toad and its cultural value in environmental conservation in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Abstract
The community of Monteverde, located in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica, is globally recognized for its natural wealth and tourism, as well as for the disappearance of an endemic toad species, declared extinct in 1989.
The objective of this article is to explore the relationship between the extinction event of the Golden Toad and its consolidation as a symbolic representation of Monteverde’s cultural identity, associated with environmental conservation, through an academic initiative from the General Studies Department at the Interuniversity Campus of Alajuela, part of the National University.
To achieve this objective, the study’s methodology employs qualitative research tools in the analysis of bibliographic resources and the conduction of two interviews with community leaders, as well as quantitative tools through the application of surveys to a representative sample of the total population, following the scientific rigor necessary for the exploration of the phenomenon.
Its main reflections and conclusions highlight the cultural significance of the Golden Toad as a symbol that remains in the collective memory and represents the Monteverde community. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of conservation as a means to maintain balance between the living conditions of its inhabitants and the protection of their natural environment.
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