Land Management
photo M. Noonan
There are many
innovative methods of land management which are currently being
employed in Costa Rica to help conserve the unique wildlife of the
nation.
When forested areas are
cleared to make way for cities, agriculture, or logging operations,
the remaining habitat is fragmented. At times, such large areas of
forest are cut down that only small "islands" of undisturbed habitat
remain. The problem with such "islands" is that they decrease the
inhabitable forest area significantly. Too much of the remaining
forest consists of "edges", areas that are not suitable for species
that depend on central forests. Moreover, members of certain
species are isolated within these "islands", making critical
inter-breeding impossible. Fortunately, modern practices are
changing for the better. Today many people do their best to create
corridors to connect any "islands" created. In this way, animals
from one "island" can raech other "islands" where they can use the
resources there and also interbreed with individuals in that area.
Shade-grown crops are
another example of an innovative use of land. These are areas where
crops, such as coffee or bananas, are grown under the rainforest
canopy rather than in clear-cut areas. This allows farmers to
continue growing crops without clearing away forested lands.
Parks and private
reserves are another way in which the wild lands of Costa Rica are
preserved. By establishing such areas, many forested lands and the
unique species within them are saved.