Payments for Education Services: Bringing Nature Into the Classroom — Building a Blueprint for Costa Rica’s Education System and Beyond

Introduction to the Metaproblem

Modern education systems, shaped by industrial-era priorities, often strip away children's innate connection to nature. As students grow increasingly disconnected from the living world, a feedback loop emerges—one that degrades both environmental consciousness and the quality of learning. This disconnection perpetuates ecological harm and leaves future generations ill-equipped to steward the Earth.

Core Problem in the Bioregion

Costa Rica holds 5% of the world’s biodiversity, Central America 8%, and Latin America nearly 40%—yet Latin America is losing biodiversity faster than any other region (Living Planet Report). Schools, rather than being places of ecological awareness, have become biological deserts. Educational policies often overlook the integration of nature, causing children to grow up alienated from the ecosystems they depend on.

Proposed Solution

Guardianes de la Naturaleza offers a scalable, policy-aligned blueprint that re-centers education around ecological awareness. Working in partnership with Costa Rica’s Ministry of Education, the program strengthens and expands the Eco Blue Flag initiative by embedding:

• Gamification and technology to track environmental actions
• Hands-on learning that brings nature into the classroom
• Incentives for schools and communities to participate
• Curriculum-aligned strategies to address pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change

This model doesn’t just teach about nature - it regenerates education as a tool for planetary healing.

What Makes it Unique

While many organizations offer environmental education to select schools or students, Guardianes de la Naturaleza takes a systems-change approach. Rather than working at the margins, we work directly with national education authorities to embed nature into the very definition of quality education.

By shifting the structure—not just the content—of schooling, Guardianes ensures ecological literacy is woven into every child’s educational journey.

Why People Should Donate

The degradation of our planet is not a distant crisis—it is a direct threat to our well-being and survival. If education systems don’t evolve now, future generations will inherit a world where thriving is no longer an option.

Costa Rica is a global sustainability leader and an eco-innovation lab for the world. With your support, we can scale our five-year partnership with the Ministry of Education to evolve their flagship environmental curriculum into a regional blueprint for Latin America—and beyond.

Call to Action

Donate now to become a co-creator of the future of education.
Help us nurture a generation of students who grow up learning with the Earth—not apart from it.
Join the movement and amplify this vision for children, biodiversity, and the planet.