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As a Costa Rican surfer, environmental engineer, coastal conservation activist and mother, Laura Zumbado inspires us in and out of the water. We had the chance to ask Laura a few questions about her work directing the Playa Hermosa World Surfing Reserve and other sustainable urban development projects she’s passionate about. Read on to learn more about Laura’s work and get inspired to help protect the coastlands you love.Tell us a little bit about your relationship with the ocean. How did you get started surfing, and how would you describe your evolution as a surfer?
I started surfing as a young adult, and it has certainly shaped my life. In those early years, I would escape life and spend every spare moment travelling to the coast to surf with my friends. For me, the ocean has been both mentorship and awe. Awe, of course, from being IN nature and our precious coastal environment; and growth through each wipeout, mountainous wave in front of me, and failed duck dive - and despite it all, having the mental strength to paddle back out.
This all happened while I was defining my future self, shaping me. Since then, I have become a surf-lover-mom-professional-caretaker-activist. So, my evolution as a surfer has been accompanied by personal growth. More important than how bad or good I am at it, is that I am happy that I have evolved with surfing.
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We've never met a coastal environmental engineer. Can you tell us about your work, what motivates you, and some of your favorite projects that you've worked on?
An environmental engineer prevents or mitigates environmental impacts. In light of climate change, I focus on the coast and its challenges. In fact, I have been undergoing a career transition, defining once again my work under new terms. Once it was “environment - engineer” and today it is “sustainable - urbanism”. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to get these answers straight.
Some of the things that motivate me are children, survival, nature and community. I constantly think about the question, “what will our generation leave to those of the future?”.
I try to shape my work with this in mind, and my latest favorite projects include: What’s an Eco-Neighborhood for Costa Rica?, based on the book I co-authored; and the Sustainable Urban Framework for Playa Hermosa. The latter is an incredible community effort that showcases community power. This project challenges standard urban planning systems while putting surf and community at its center.
Photo by Ivan Camacho
Photo by Ivan Camacho❀
We're super inspired by your work directing the World Surfing Reserve initiative in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. Can you tell us more about what it means to be a World Surfing Reserve, some of the projects you're running, and how that designation is supporting the community and coastal environment of Playa Hermosa?
Being a World Surfing Reserve is both a celebration and something every Costa Rican should be proud of. But it’s also a great responsibility. It means we value and cherish our surf resources, and that we will take the actions required to protect it.
A World Surfing Reserve is a designation given by Save the Waves Coalition, a global non-governmental organization (NGO) that seeks to protect coastal areas with outstanding waves, incredible biodiversity, and a community with interest in protecting them.
Here in Playa Hermosa, the World Surfing Reserve works with the vision of protecting surf and nature for future generations. We focus on three main objectives: healthy economy, protecting and regenerating ecosystem services, and sustainable urban development. Since receiving our designation, we have been supported by Save the Waves (SWC), World Surfing League (WSL), and Conservation International (CI) to develop a regeneration project alongside the Trails of the Reserve project. This initiative takes place in a beautiful area of Hermosa and seeks to protect and recover the last patch of forest connecting the mountains with the beach.
We are working alongside the community and municipality to include this in the current local zoning plan. Additionally, through a project supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and in partnership with SWC and CI, we look forward to developing additional mechanisms for coastal protection.
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What do you love about living and surfing in Playa Hermosa?
What I like the most is that when you’re grateful enough with the ocean, taking what it gives every day, you can surf every day. Consistency, frequency, quality, power - all these amazing elements make my family and me love it here.
Of course there’s also the talent in the water, a peaceful family-oriented community, and a strong surf culture, which I also love.
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How do you balance family life, surf life and work life?
This is the constant challenge! I am always managing my most valuable asset: time. I’m always setting up helpful tools, routines and balancing energy very carefully. With every work project I want to develop, I have to really analyze the impact it might have on each of my family members.
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How has surfing impacted your life as an advocate for coastal conservation?
Surfing has brought me into the amazing Save the Waves Coalition, and into the world of surf conservation work. This has been guiding the ‘how’ and ‘what’ to protect.
This vision for coastal conservation, through the protection of elements that enable surfing and surf ecosystems to thrive, has definitely strengthened my core values, and my sense of purpose.
Photo by Michael Torres
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How can other eco-conscious surfers contribute to conserving our coastal environments?
Join and support existing efforts in your community – add, don’t divide. The goals we have require all the hearts and minds to make them possible.
Educate yourself and use your voice to share your passion and support conservation. Beyond that, be sure to reduce your environmental footprint in your own home or property: be anti-consumerism, use the least possible space, harvest rainwater, reuse wastewater, prevent erosion and water runoff, compost, recycle, produce your own food, reduce meat consumption, and avoid high energy consumption… just to mention some.
Finally, there are many causes out there – find and support one that shares your values by investing your skills, time or money.
Interview by Tara Ruttenberg.