the national monument of which it is a part
was the brainchild of the rio islands project, an team of
professionals associated with the ngo mar adentro with the goal
of creating a comprehensive program of scientific research,
environmental education and social mobilization in respect to
the islands and greater marine ecosystem in the rio area.
the latter aspects of the program are
integral to its success because the conserved area around each
island only extends to a radius of ten meters in the surrounding
water.