Costa Rica Case Study

Question 1

Where is Costa Rica located?

Answer 1

Costa rica is a small country located in Central America

Question 2

How much in percentage does Costa Rica have of the world’s biodiversity?

Answer 2

It is home to ~5% of the world’s
biodiversity (animal and plant species).

Question 3

How many tourists does it attract a year?

Answer 3

It attracts over 2 million tourists a year.

Question 4

How has Costa Rica experienced deforestation?

Answer 4

In the 1960s Costa Rica began to experience rapid deforestation, mainly due to
commercial farming (cattle ranching). Between 1970-1990, deforestation reached
one of the highest rates in the world, with 32,000 hectares of forest down each year.

Question 5

What has been done to prevent deforestation in Costa Rica in a national scale?

Answer 5

● The government has passed laws to stop
deforestation.
● They gave landowners a financial incentive to
protect forest by paying them to keep it rather
than turn it into farmland.
● Set up 28 national reserves meaning 24% of the
country’s land area is protected.

Question 6

What has been done to prevent deforestation in Costa Rica in a local scale?

Answer 6

Monteverde Cloud-forest Reserve.

The cloud forest is at an altitude of about 1700 metres. It has extremely diverse flora
and fauna (over 100 species of mammals, 2,500 plant species).

Question 7

What have been the advantages of the Monteverde Cloud-forest Reserve?

Answer 7

✔ 80 new businesses have opened in Monteverde since 1970s.
✔ The Biological Reserve in Monteverde now covers over 10,500 hectares, this
ensures wider habitat range for the animals within this ecosystem.
✔ It ensures that new infrastructure (new roads, sewers, water pipes, electricity lines)
benefit the locals as well as the tourists.
✔ Ecotourism aims to create local employment while conserving the natural
environment: There are 400 full-time and 140 part-time jobs directly related to
tourism.

Question 8

What have been the disadvantages of the Monteverde Cloud-forest Reserve?

Answer 8

X People have migrated into the area looking for jobs. This is placing pressure on
the local infrastructure such as dirt roads.
X Atmosphere has negatively changed away from traditional local community to
a busy tourist centre.
X Tourists are demanding more and more facilities and greater luxury. These
facilities can use more electricity, although the majority of Costa Rica’s energy is
produced from renewable sources.