Green Junction - Hope Grows Here: What the World Can Learn from Costa Rica’s Reforestation
The world’s rainforests are home to half of all biodiversity. These forests regulate global climate, purify air and water, provide resources for local communities, and contribute to the health of the entire planet. According to National Geographic, the earth’s rainforests once covered 14% of the land on earth and are now only 6%. Beginning in the 1950’s, Costa Rica experienced massive deforestation; large swaths of wooded land were cleared for ranching and agriculture. The national forest cover fell to its lowest point in 1985 at 24.4%, according to Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy.
During the 1990s, Costa Rica passed laws to preserve forest and reverse deforestation. An analysis of the ecosystem recovery by Kathryn Tafoya describes the unique improvements. “Costa Rica successfully reversed deforestation by restoring forest cover from 24.4% in 1985 to >50% by 2011 through implementation of national environmental protection policies in the 1990s that included a portfolio of PAS (protected areas), PES (payments for ecosystem services), and ecotourism.”
According to the International Institute for Environment and Development, “PES are payments to farmers or landowners who have agreed to take certain actions to manage their land or watersheds to provide an ecological service.” The recovery of Costa Rica is described by reporter Nell Lewis. “The government scheme, which is financed predominantly by a tax on fossil fuels, has paid out a total of $500 million to landowners over the last 20 years. It has saved more than 1 million hectares of forest, which amounts to a fifth of the country’s total area, and planted over 7 million trees.”
Nell Lewis also explains “Costa Ricans’ deep respect for nature played a vital role in the country’s reforestation success. Its culture is summed up by the national motto, “pura vida,” which is used as a greeting, a farewell and in many other social contexts. While its direct translation is “pure life,” “pura vida” signifies much more than that – both a gratitude and a peace with oneself and the surrounding environment.”
Costa Rica provides an example of the recovery of earth’s vital natural resources when a culture of care and true political will exist and intervene.
