Conservation in Costa Rica
The country has used this ecological diversity to its economic advantage in the form of a thriving ecotourism industry, putting its commitment to nature, on display to visitors from across the globe.
Critics have pointed out however, that in achieving this milestone, the country has built several dams (providing the bulk of its electricity) some of which have negatively impacted indigenous communities as well as the local flora and fauna.
[2] Evans mentions that when the Spaniards first arrived in the Americas, the landscape of Costa Rica did not appear particularly hospitable to them, compared to Guatemala or Mexico which seemed more reminiscent of the Spanish climate.
The agricultural model adopted by coffee growers in Costa Rica was of small family owned farms known as cafeteras, and they strove to be responsible stewards of the land.
As a result, even though the coffee production increased substantially from 1850 to 1950, there wasn't large scale deforestation in Costa Rica until the 1950s, contrary to popular belief.
President Bernardo Soto's government in 1888 began the process of attracting scholars from all over the world, particularly Switzerland and Germany in an effort to educate the locals about agricultural practices harmonious with the environment such that by 1914, Costa Rica became a leading scientific research center in tropical America 2.
At the helm of UCR were many influential academics such as Rafael Lucas Rodríguez and Alexander Skutch whose forward thinking publications served as a foundation for the future policy decisions.
Thus the naturalist working in some remote spot was not likely to have his studies suddenly interrupted or his thin lines of communication cut by a violent upheaval, as has happened to many in Latin America.
An alternative analysis by Julia Flagg within the framework of "process-tracing" reveals that after gaining independence in 1821 the isolation of Costa Rica from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua was critical in shaping its future and served as a divergence point in the evolution of the Central American nations.
while all of the other provinces quickly became engulfed in warfare and political chaos, Costa Rica escaped such devastation and made tentative economic strides forward”.
She also argues that the lack of a land-owning elite class in Costa Rica was instrumental in the development of good governance and maintaining a stable democracy in the country.
Costa Rica's conservation efforts emerged amidst significant environmental degradation, driven by factors like agricultural expansion and land redistribution.
Evans traces the evolution of conservation policy, highlighting key moments such as the Ley Forestal of 1969 and the establishment of a national park system.
These areas safeguard diverse ecosystems, such as rainforests, cloud forests, beaches, and coral reefs, protecting a wide range of flora and fauna.
Most rules are common sense, like a prohibition on hunting, going off marked trails, removing specimens such as plants, animals, or shells, and going into volcano craters Costa Rica has become a global leader in ecotourism, attracting travelers eager to explore its natural wonders while minimizing their environmental impact.
The country offers numerous eco-lodges, nature tours, and adventure activities, generating revenue that supports conservation efforts and local communities.
Through initiatives such as biodiversity surveys, genetic research, and habitat monitoring, scientists contribute valuable data to inform conservation policies and practices.
Initiatives include organic farming, agroforestry, and certification programs that encourage producers to adopt eco-friendly techniques while maintaining productivity.
[9] Buoyed by this success, the World Bank extended its support to the Costa Rican government's initiative by funding a new program titled "Mainstreaming Market-Based Instruments for Environmental Management".
[10] Over the years, many international agencies have pushed the national government to make the process of obtaining the payments easier so as to include more underdeveloped communities and cast a wider net for the program.
After a steady global decline in its population due to overhunting for its meat and eggs, the Tortuguero National Park was established in 1975 in an effort to protect and save the turtle's breeding zone.
Although the population of turtles shows a large inter-annual variation thus making the task of determining the exact number very difficult, on an average, the trend has been positive over a long time scale of almost 35 years.
The study illustrated that the enactment of three laws by the Costa Rican government was vital in stabilizing and increasing the population of these green sea turtles.
These MPAs provide important habitat for sea turtles and other marine species, helping to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable fisheries practices.
Over the period from 1996 to 2015, PSA projects dedicated to reforestation garnered a substantial investment of 318 million USD, with 64% of the funding sourced from taxes on fossil fuels and 22% from loans provided by the World Bank.
In her concluding project as RAND artist-in-residence, Gabrielle Mérite aimed to visually depict Costa Rica's journey towards a carbon-neutral future, drawing inspiration from the Solarpunk art movement, which envisions a more sustainable world.
As a result, the uncleared vegetation in the flooded areas began to stagnate, creating the perfect conditions for the growth of the Water Hyacinth (an invasive species).
