Forest Evolution in Costa Rica

Forest Evolution in Costa Rica

Today Costa Rica is a pioneer in reforestation forest management forest protection policies

1950 and 1987 1950 and 1987 but between but between Costa Rica underwent rapid and widespread deforestation but between 1950 and 1987 Costa Rica underwent rapid and widespread deforestation

Falling from 75% forest cover to 21% at its lowest point.

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 75%

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 72%

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 53%

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 31%

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 26%

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 21%

KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING DEFORESTATION Logging Lenient laws on land and amendments to forestry law makes it easy to obtain logging concessions as owners exploit the land to maximise income. Cattle Ranching Since the 1950s, approximately 60% of Costa Rica has been cleared to make room for cattle ranching. The problem was worsened because during the 1960s, the US offered Costa Rican cattle ranchers millions of dollars in loans to produce beef Today Costa Rica is a pioneer in reforestation forest management forest protection policies. Banana Plantations Banana plantations also contribute to the shrinking of the Costa Rican wilderness; in particular, the ultra-diverse lowland rainforest. They now cover 130,000 acres of previously forested land, primarily in the Atlantic and Northern regions. Population Growth While the large companies get bigger and bigger, the small farmers are forced to vie for scraps, parcels of land that are unsuitable for agriculture, usually on steep hillsides. Costa Rica's population explosion will only prove to exacerbate the problem.

KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING DEFORESTATION Logging Lenient laws on land and amendments to forestry law makes it easy to obtain logging concessions as owners exploit the land to maximise income. Cattle Ranching Since the 1950s, approximately 60% of Costa Rica has been cleared to make room for cattle ranching. The problem was worsened because during the 1960s, the US offered Costa Rican cattle ranchers millions of dollars in loans to produce beef Today Costa Rica is a pioneer in reforestation forest management forest protection policies. Banana plantations also contribute to the shrinking of the Costa Rican wilderness; in particular, the ultra-diverse lowland rainforest. They now cover 130,000 acres of previously forested land, primarily in the Atlantic and Northern regions. Banana Plantations While the large companies get bigger and bigger, the small farmers are forced to vie for scraps, parcels of land that are unsuitable for agriculture, usually on steep hillsides. Costa Rica's population explosion will only prove to exacerbate the problem. Population Growth

KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING DEFORESTATION Cattle Ranching Since the 1950s, approximately 60% of Costa Rica has been cleared to make room for cattle ranching. The problem was worsened because during the 1960s, the US offered Costa Rican cattle ranchers millions of dollars in loans to produce beef. Logging Lenient laws on land and amendments to forestry law makes it easy to obtain logging concessions as owners exploit the land to maximise income. Today Costa Rica is a pioneer in reforestation forest management forest protection policies. Banana plantations also contribute to the shrinking of the Costa Rican wilderness; in particular, the ultra-diverse lowland rainforest. They now cover 130,000 acres of previously forested land, primarily in the Atlantic and Northern regions. Banana Plantations While the large companies get bigger and bigger, the small farmers are forced to vie for scraps, parcels of land that are unsuitable for agriculture, usually on steep hillsides. Costa Rica's population explosion will only prove to exacerbate the problem. Population Growth

KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING DEFORESTATION Banana Plantations Banana plantations also contribute to the shrinking of the Costa Rican wilderness; in particular, the ultra-diverse lowland rainforest. They now cover 130,000 acres of previously forested land, primarily in the Atlantic and Northern regions. Logging Lenient laws on land and amendments to forestry law makes it easy to obtain logging concessions as owners exploit the land to maximise income. Cattle Ranching Since the 1950s, approximately 60% of Costa Rica has been cleared to make room for cattle ranching. The problem was worsened because during the 1960s, the US offered Costa Rican cattle ranchers millions of dollars in loans to produce beef. Today Costa Rica is a pioneer in reforestation forest management forest protection policies. While the large companies get bigger and bigger, the small farmers are forced to vie for scraps, parcels of land that are unsuitable for agriculture, usually on steep hillsides. Costa Rica's population explosion will only prove to exacerbate the problem. Population Growth

KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING DEFORESTATION Population Growth While large companies get bigger, small farmers are forced to vie for parcels of land that are unsuitable for agriculture, usually on steep hillsides. Costa Rica's population explosion will only prove to exacerbate the problem. Logging Lenient laws on land and amendments to forestry law makes it easy to obtain logging concessions as owners exploit the land to maximise income. Cattle Ranching Since the 1950s, approximately 60% of Costa Rica has been cleared to make room for cattle ranching. The problem was worsened because during the 1960s, the US offered Costa Rican cattle ranchers millions of dollars in loans to produce beef. Today Costa Rica is a pioneer in reforestation forest management forest protection policies. Banana Plantations Banana plantations also contribute to the shrinking of the Costa Rican wilderness; in particular, the ultra-diverse lowland rainforest. They now cover 130,000 acres of previously forested land, primarily in the Atlantic and Northern regions.

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest In the next 27 years, however, tree planting and forest conservation activities have managed to reclaim 26.3% of the lost forest areas. 21%

2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 forest 42%

forest 2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940 47%

forest 51% 2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940

forest 52% 2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940

forest 52% 2010 2005 2000 1997 1987 1983 1977 1961 1950 1940

REFORESTATION PROGRAMME KEY REFORESTATION STRATEGIES The Costa Rican Office of Joint Implementation established to trade carbon emissions in the international market. BRAIN 4 5 Costa Rica has delegated much responsibility for forest management and conservation to private landowners. IDEAS The Natural Resources Administration has merged the administration of forest and protected area activities into one unified organization. 3 Legislation has been passed to protect the forests, including the Environment Law, the Biodiversity Law, and the Forest Law. 6 REFORESTATION PROGRAMME Developed a National System of Protected Areas that has a minimum of infrastructure and an institutional presence in each region of the country. . 2 The "polluters pay" principle was introduced through a tax on fossil fuels to pay for environmental services. 7 The National Forest Fund established to handle financial issues for forests and natural resources. 1 8 Many efforts have been made to protect biodiversity and generate income from it.

CURRENT COSTA RICAN SPECIES BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity 8

CURRENT COSTA RICAN SPECIES BIODIVERSITY

COSTA RICAN SPECIES BIODIVERSITY 12000 Plant species

COSTA RICAN SPECIES BIODIVERSITY 12000 1239 Butterflies Plant species

BIODIVERSITY COSTA RICAN SPECIES 1239 838 Butterflies Plant species 12000 1239 838 Butterflies Plant species Birds

BIODIVERSITY COSTA RICAN SPECIES 1239 838 440 Amphibians & Reptiles 12000 1239 838 440 Amphibians & Reptiles Butterflies Plant species Birds

BIODIVERSITY COSTA RICAN SPECIES 1239 838 440 232 12000 1239 838 440 232 Amphibians & Reptiles Butterflies Plant species Birds Mammals

BIODIVERSITY The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. COSTA RICAN SPECIES BIODIVERSITY 12000 1239 The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is now. CHINESE PROVERB 838 440 232 Amphibians & Reptiles Butterflies Plant species Birds Mammals

BIODIVERSITY "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. COSTA RICAN SPECIES BIODIVERSITY 12000 1239 "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is now.“ CHINESE PROVERB 838 PowerPoint Alabaster Green 440 Music BenSound 232 References http://explore.fieldstudies.org/blog/reforestation-costa-rica http://lnweb90.worldbank.org/oed/oeddoclib.nsf/DocUNIDViewForJavaSearch/A25EFCF3220878D585256970007AC9EE http://www.vivacostarica.com/costa-rica-information/costa-rica-deforestation.html Amphibians & Reptiles Butterflies Plant species Birds Mammals