Costa Rica Research Paper

Costa Rica’s Progressive & Successful Deforestation Policies

By

Cory Phillips

Costa Rica lost more than one-third of its rainforest during the booming 20th century to cattle ranching, agriculture, and logging. Since the 1990’s, when it had one of the worst deforestation rates in the Americas, 26% of its territory has been protected, and it has increased its forest cover to over 50%.1 By pursuing a number of bold conservation policies, by establishing and managing national parks and reserves, and by promoting ecotourism, the country has reversed this trend of deforestation. In fact, Costa Rica continues to combat encroaching forces of development successfully, now serving as a leading practitioner of afforestation, reforestation,

Services like preserving forests for reduction of greenhouse gases, care for water resources, biodiversity protection, and maintenance of aesthetic beauty were given value, and landowners were compensated over contracted years. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy now oversees the PSA system through the National Forestry Financing Fund, working with REDD+ to broker arrangements with international organizations. These organizations can invest in environmental programs or in essence trade their surplus of pollution for services being maintained in Costa Rica. Selling allowances to emit greenhouses gases generated $20 million in 1999. Similarly, Costa Rica joined a group of tropical developing countries in a deal at the United Nations’ Summit on Climate Change in 2005. The “rainforest conservation for emissions” plan, called for wealthy countries to compensate poorer countries for their potential

(ucsusa.org) According to the United Nations, all of these policies and practices have increased forest cover in Costa Rica up to over 50% of total cover, a figure not seen since 1960. These numbers have also proved stable since 2005. (un.org)

It is hard to tell if this progressive approach can be transferred to other nations. Not everyone can rely on ecotourism or do without a military. What the international community can learn however is that a healthy economy cannot survive for very long without a healthy environment. Costa Rica made this connection decades ago and are seeing the results of choices that will certainly reinforce the mission to conserve the rainforests. What is very clear is that the country’s decisions have positively impacted both itself and the