Costa Rica, a country barely bigger than the
state of New Hampshire, lies along a tenuous land bridge separating
the continents of North and South America. This is a pivotal
region, separating two oceans and two continents vastly different in
character. Despite its small size, the nation of Costa Rica boasts
more than a dozen different climate zones, all located along a
backbone of jagged volcanoes and mountains.
photo M. Noonan
In the past, nearly 40% of the forested lands in
Costa Rica were destroyed to make way for cities, agriculture and
logging operations. However, today the nation of Costa Rica is
considered a model of what can be done to help conserve forested
lands. Costa Rica has employed ecotourism and enlightened land
management strategies which have dramatically slowed the rate of
deforestation in the nation, and helped to make Costa Rica an
example for other nations to follow.