Costa Rica Flashcards
Where is Costa Rica?
Central America
How many tourists does the country attract a year?
over 2 million
What ecosystems does Costa Rica have?
- tropical rainforests
- cloud forests
- dry forests
- mangrove swamps
- beaches
- coral reefs
- volcanoes(not actually ecosystem but they influence them)
When did deforestation reach its peak?
1985
What is agroforestry?
- Trees and crops are grown together
- Some crops benefit from the shelter of the tree canopy
- Trees also prevent soil erosion
- Crops benefit from the nutrients in the leaf litter
What is selective logging?
- Trees are felled only when they reach a certain height
- Young trees are allowed to mature
- So the height of the canopy is maintained
What is afforestation?
- Trees are planted
- This is to replace the original forest that has been lost
- The secondary forest lacks biodiversity
- This is because it takes species a long time to reestablish
What is monitoring?
- Satellite technology and photos are taken
- This is to ensure that no illegal activities are taking place
- Also that landowners follow guidelines for sustainability
What did Costa Rica experience in the 1960s?
Rapid deforestation
Why did they experience rapid deforestation in 1960?
Due to cattle ranching and agricultural development
What happened between 1970 and 1990?
Deforestation reached one of the highest rates in the world with 32,000 hectares of forest cut down each year
What did the government put in place to stop deforestation?
- Laws were put in place to stop deforestation
- They gave landowners a financial incentive to protect forests by paying them to keep it rather than turn it in farmland
How many nature reserves and national parks are there?
28
How much of the countrys land area is protected?
24%
What is ecotourism?
a type of sustainable development that aims to create local employment while conserving the natural environment
