Program: Dow Sustainability Fellows Program
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Nacientes Palmichal is an ecotourism site located in the mountains of Costa Rica, approximately an hour outside of San José. After enduring the economic setbacks of the Covid-19 pandemic, which greatly affected ecotourism in the country, Nacientes Palmichal sought to find a forward-facing, sustainable funding model to help restart its ecotourism mission. Working with community stakeholders, a Dow Fellows created a holistic plan to help the organization grow in a post-pandemic world, leveraging the strong entrepreneurial spirit in the community by creating a “Made in Palmichal” brand. Through extensive stakeholder engagement, the team laid the foundation for a community cooperative that shares the benefits of a vibrant tourism industry. The team also created three visitor profiles and designed marketing materials customized for each type of visitor.