Aleste, the first real estate development certified for its commitment to biodiversity

Aleste, the environmentally friendly mixed-use real estate development being built in Curridabat, has become a national benchmark for how cities can integrate natural resources and inclusion in their design, construction and, soon, operation.

It was precisely this commitment to ecosystems that made it the first project to be awarded the Ecological Blue Flag in the Biodiversity category.

Generating a baseline of birds, amphibians, reptiles and macroinvertebrates to make decisions for the development of the project and creating a citizen science program with the nearby communities are some of the actions promoted by the developer Portafolio Inmobiliario, in harmony with the environment.

In addition, the work to strengthen connectivity with the María Aguilar Inter-Urban Biological Corridor stands out, as well as the implementation of biodiversity-friendly purchasing criteria and a nursery with more than 5,000 native trees, said Federico Baltodano, Project Director of Portafolio Inmobiliario.

"We seek to be a bridge of connection between nature and people. A year ago we began the adventure of understanding our interrelationship and dependencies with biodiversity with an interdisciplinary team that undertook, during several months of work, to expand knowledge regarding natural capital and ecosystem services and, from that diagnosis, the Aleste 2020-2023 Biodiversity Plan emerged," Baltodano added.

The first stage of construction of Aleste will cover 42 hectares -of 67 hectares in total- and a $15 million investment.

Located in front of Sek College, the development will include residences, offices, stores, gastronomy and entertainment.

The heart of the development will be a four-hectare park designed to create a sense of belonging, with a variety of spaces such as a community garden area, a lake and other differentiating elements.