1. Kelsey, Pat, Teresa LAND PRESERVATION AND ACQUISITION

2.  In the 1950’s a lot of forested land was transformed into pastures and farmland  In the 1980’s the profitability of agriculture and cattle ranching in marginal forest lands decreased  Costa Rica also introduced policies that created special conversation areas HISTORY OF LAND PRESERVATION

3.  Today more than 25% of Costa Rica’s land is in public parks and other such conservation areas  One of the most extensive systems of environmental protection in the world  Costa Rica provides supports and tax breaks for good forest management and conservation IMPORTANCE OF LAND PRESERVATION

4. IS COSTA RICA STILL ACQUIRING LAND?  YES!  Progressive conservation policies  Help from organizations and government

5. PEACE WITH NATURE INITIATIVE  “…local and global vision for integrating environmental responsibility and sustainable development into all aspects of government activities in Costa Rica and challenging other countries’ to do the same”  Implemented by President Oscar Arias Sanchez

6. PROBLEMS WITH ACQUISITION OF LAND  44% of protected lands in Costa Rica is owned privately  Enforcement of these protected areas is minimal  Public purchase is a step in the right direction  Logging and agriculture has proven to be more profitable for landowners, discourages the sale of their land.

7.  Government owns and protects a lot of the land in the form of national parks, natural forests, ect.  Provide incentives for forest conservation  Private groups also play a large role in this process  http://www.osaconservation.org/ http://www.osaconservation.org/ GROUPS INVOLVED IN LAND PRESERVATION

8. ENFORCEMENT  Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE)  Responsible for conservation, control, and use of continental wildlife  National Conservation Area System (SINAC)  A management system decentralized through MINAE  Costa Rica’s national park administer

9. LAWS  Wildlife Conservation Act (Law # 7317)  Controls trade of wild species or samples for cultural and scientific purposes  All research must be registered through SINAC  Biodiversity Act (Law # 7788)  Provides some norms on biosafety, conservation, sustainable use of the ecosystems and their species

10. POSITIVES OF ECOTOURISM  Economic benefits  Builds environmental awareness  Prevents further deforestation

11. NEGATIVES OF ECOTOURISM  Destruction of local resources to make room for ecotourism  Garbage and sewage problems in some cases  Cause an increase in the cost of living for locals  Overcrowding  “Greenwashing”

12. SOURCES  http://www.benefitsofecotourism.com/benefits-of- ecotourism/effects-of-ecotourism/ http://www.benefitsofecotourism.com/benefits-of- ecotourism/effects-of-ecotourism/  http://www.govisitcostarica.com/sustainability/article.asp?at id=7 http://www.govisitcostarica.com/sustainability/article.asp?at id=7  http://www.amigosofcostarica.org/programs/environment/pe ace-with-nature http://www.amigosofcostarica.org/programs/environment/pe ace-with-nature  http://www.eco-resorts.com/Archives/Wild-May23.php http://www.eco-resorts.com/Archives/Wild-May23.php  http://www.conservationmaven.com/frontpage/evaluating- ecotourism-in-costa-rica.html http://www.conservationmaven.com/frontpage/evaluating- ecotourism-in-costa-rica.html  http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/travel/ecotourism-pros- cons/1362 http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/travel/ecotourism-pros- cons/1362