The year 2017 saw the second highest global tree cover loss recorded in the history of this planet, according to the World Economic Forum. Researchers at the University of Maryland (USA) found an area of tree loss equal to the size of Bangladesh. That equates to losing 40 soccer fields covered in trees every minute for a year. But guess what, Costa Rica took the fight in the other direction, declaring they had officially doubled their tropical rainforests since 2001. Doubled!

How can the world learn from Costa Rica’s experience and use it as a model for other nations? It helps to take a closer look at exactly what Costa Rica has done right in managing this issue, while other countries have failed miserably.
In the mid-20th century, three quarters of Costa Rica was covered in lush, verdant tree canopy. Then came loggers, who savagely cleared acres and acres of pristine rainforest, lining their pockets by selling off Costa Rica’s natural resources. At the same time, of course, they were destroying the natural habitats of Costa Rica’s indigenous creatures, for instance Golden toads and Poison dart frogs.

But then, something changed radically in the thought processes of Costa Rican policy makers, and the rate of deforestation slowed, until it eventually dropped to zero. What happened? Costa Rica awakened to the potential of its rich ecosystems and began vigorously safeguarding them. Healthy ecosystems meant tourist dollars and employment opportunities for Ticos throughout the country.

Commented Carlos Fernandez Mora, a farmer from Platanillo, “A lightbulb went on in our heads. To keep attracting tourists to this little nation, we needed exotic jungles and forests teeming with wildlife and adventure. We had to protect those assets – our gold – with everything we had. It was our treasure, our reason to call our land the Rich Coast, the Costa Rica.”
To that end Costa Rica took the following powerful steps:

~ restricted the number of logging permits granted, and better monitored roads to enforce anti-logging regulations, especially in and around national parks.

~ created a national forestry commission to police forest and park activities.
~ created a system of payments for environmental services designed to help reduce poverty in rural areas.
~ offered landowners per-acre financial incentives to conserve their land and prevent degradation, both helping with reforestation efforts.
~ created 18,000 new jobs for workers employed in preserving the land and reforestation.

It was that simple. A lightbulb went on, and Costa Rica began to preserve its natural resources, thereby providing new jobs, creating new industries, saving wild animals, cleaning the air and water, laying the foundation for the discovery of new animals and plants – and possibly new jungle medicines – and setting a powerful example for the world in how a tiny nation can help save the planet. Not too shabby for a nation in the midst of a financial upheaval with an uncertain future ahead of it.

About the Author :