Costa Rica Conservation And Ecotourism

It’s easy being green in Costa Rica! Home to many of the rarest species found on the planet, Costa Rica is a heavy hitter in the world ecotourism industry. Approximately 27% of Costa Rica’s landmass is considered protected and is kept that way through an intricate system of laws and conservation groups. Under the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), Costa Rica’s forests and wildlife are protected from expansion and overdevelopment. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation and the Neotropica Foundation were both founded to establish conservation efforts in the country, ranging from adopting endangered animals to creating protected reserves like Monteverde and Rara Avis . International interest in conservation has led a number of research-minded pharmaceutical companies to fund forest conservation efforts.

The vast expanses of protected space in Costa Rica, and the current public focus on conservation, have lead to a boom in the ecotourism industry. Environmentally minded tourists looking for adventure and the chance to make a difference flock to Costa Rica to lend a helping hand. Most of these ecotourists end up volunteering at one of the country’s national parks or reserves, through private or public organizations, for anywhere from one week to several months. Many Costa Ricans worry, however, that the massive expansion of tourism has happened too quickly, and that many less-than-environmentally minded organizations are trying to cash in by riding the ecotourism wave. Many tourist agencies are “green” in name only: they don’t follow environmentally friendly tour practices or actually give their profits back to the community. Despite those eco-tourism minded individuals, Costa Rica possesses thousands of opportunities to spend time helping the earth as you travel.

Ecotourism Resources. For more information on environmentally responsible tourism, contact one of the organizations below:
Conservation International, 1919 M St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, USA (☎1-800-406-2306 or 202-912-1000; www.ecotour.org).
Earthwatch, 3 Clock Tower Pl., Ste. 100, Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754, USA (☎1-800-776-0188 or 978-461-0081; www.earthwatch.org).
Ecotourism Latino (www.ecoturismolatino.com).
International Ecotourism Society, 733 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, USA (☎1-202-347-9203; www.ecotourism.org).
National Audobon Society, 200 Trillium Ln., Albany, NY 12203, USA (☎518-869-9731; www.audobon.org).
Responsible Tourism Partnership (www.responsibletourismpartnership.org).
Tourism Concern, Stapleton House, 277-281 Holloway Rd., London N7 8HN, UK (☎+44 020 7753 3330; www.tourismconcern.org.uk).