Two foreign partners, GTZ and the National Banana Corp. of Costa Rica (also known as CORBANA), have joined forces with banana grower-shipper Chiquita Brands International Inc., Cincinnati, in the company’s San San Pond Sak biodiversity project on the Panama-Costa Rica border, according to a news release.

Courtesy of Chiquita Brands International

GTZ is the German government development corporation, while CORBANA represents the Costa Rican banana industry.

Chiquita and REWE, a German retailer, entered into a partnership in 2008 to protect the 320-acre San San Pond Sak reserve and the various species living in the reserve.

“Chiquita is committed to supporting important environmental sustainability projects wherever we operate,” Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer, said in a news release.  “The addition of GTZ and CORBANA to our San San Pond Sak biodiversity project will further strengthen our sustainability efforts.”

The four parties formalized the public-private partnership Mar. 5 in a ceremony on the banks of the San San River.
The three year agreement commits the partners to biodiversity, environmental education, community development, new income sources for inhabitants and becoming a model of international cooperation, according to the release. The partners are contributing to a conservation initiative supported by the governments of the region, the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, the release said.