Where the ocean meets the rain forest.

• Position: Focus on Ecology - Brief article

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Roy Toft has been exploring and photographing the fauna of the Osa Peninsula for 20 years. He focuses on creating images that convey a sense of the animal's character and spirit. Tort has returned some 50 times to the locale, an area that The National Geographic Society has called "the most biologically intense place on the planet."

The Osa Peninsula juts into the Pacific Ocean and is located in the southwest corner of Costa Rica. It encompasses lush rain forests and a complex system of freshwater and marine life. Just 35 miles long and 20 miles wide, the Osa boasts a variety of plant and animal life.

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The area hosts a rich array of fauna, including jaguars, Central American squirrel monkeys, Baird's tapirs, and three species of sea turtles (olive ridley, Pacific green, and leatherback). More than 375 bird species are found there as well, including the country's largest population of the threatened scarlet macaw. The Osa also is home to the magnificent harpy eagle and the endemic yellow-billed cotinga.

For plant lovers, a quarter of Costa Rica's tree species are found on the Osa Peninsula, including...