1. Protecting Paradise: An Insight into the Sustainability Tactics of Costa Rica's Protected
Areas
2. This presentation is the product of our field study in Costa Rica’s National Parks and
protected areas, where our overarching objective was to analyze how conservation and
sustainable development in Costa Rica depend on each other for success, as well as the
management strategies of each of the protected areas visited.
3. In our time in Costa Rica, we were able to visit National Parks, reserves, and other areas
that exemplify Costa Rica’s conservation and sustainable development efforts. In this, a
number of lodges are included due to their great contribution to the country’s ecotourism,
which, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development,
accounts for 5% of the country’s gross domestic product.
4. *****Read the list of visited areas.
Carara
5. The first place we visited was Carara National Park. Carara National Park is a
protected area of 11,613 acres and with an elevations range from 328 to
1640 feet. The habitats represented here are regenerating tropical
rainforest-lowland and tropical dry forest. The land protected by Carara
was donated to the parks service in 1979 by the Instituto de Tierras y
Colonización, who’s primary function was to redistribute large ranches
obtained by the government to family farmers. The park was established
in 1978 as the Carara Biological Reserve before it became a National Park
in 1998.
6. Within the boundaries of the Carara National Park lies the northernmost
Pacific coastal rainforest in Costa Rica and it serves as a vital transition
zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest. Moreover, avian
population benefit greatly from this transitional habitat. Often unnoticed
as a part of the national park is the Tarcoles River, which marks the park’s
northern boundary. Also, the river’s famous "Crocodile Bridge" provides a
landmark to the area. This river helps supports the varied ecosystems in
this national park.
7. There are two hiking trails in Carara. We experienced the Universal Access
trail. This trail is of a distance of 0.74 miles and includes nine resting bays,
drinking water systems, and a sanitation station. This trail is marked by
the equal opportunities of enjoyment it provides the public through
signage in multiple languages and Braille, maps for the blind people and
auditive systems. Carara was the first national park to feature a universal
access trail, offering all visitors the opportunity to appreciate its rich
biodiversity and cultural heritage.
8. Its proximity to San José makes it one of Costa Rica's most popular national
parks, attracting not only tourists but school field trips, marking its efforts
to raise awareness and spread the area’s rich knowledge through
education. This education is done strategically because the information is
placed at the center of each resting bay. The information at each bay
touches on different topic such as the negative effect of human activities on
nature, how we are also a pat of nature, and endangered species like the
Scarlet Macaw and the positive results of conservation efforts. Carara
National Park also prohibits the entrance of single use plastics into the
boundaries of the park.
9. We had the pleasure of visiting a coffee plantation belonging to Café Monteverde. Café
Monteverde is a family-owned association of 20 families that are deeply rooted in
coffee, agriculture, conservation, and education. For five generations, these
families have cultivated, processed, and roasted top-quality coffee in the
Monteverde region, aiming for harmony with the surrounding cloud forest.
Their mission is to produce, preserve, and educate, thereby contributing to
the perpetuation of life on Earth.
10. Café Monteverde oversees the entire coffee production process, from seed
germination to ripe cherries, to processing as sun-dried beans, and
roasting. Texas Coffee Traders has been a significant partner in their
journey. In 1990, during his first visit to Monteverde, RC Beal assisted local
coffee farmers in roasting, tasting, and understanding the quality of their
coffee.
11. Since then, Texas Coffee Traders has been crucial in promoting and
developing Fair Trade practices in Costa Rica through advanced training,
purchasing green beans at above-market prices, and investing in
infrastructure to enhance coffee quality. The main farm, located in Cañitas
near the Monteverde Cloud Forest, also houses their roasting and quality
monitoring cupping laboratory.
12. Their vision is to achieve global recognition for their contributions to
sustainability through education, ecotourism, and specialty coffee. Visitors
can explore the world of sustainable coffee and specialty farming through
guided tours of the seed-to-cup process at Café Monteverde. They continue
to diversify production to achieve a completely organic farm. They already
have an organic vegetable garden, goats, pigs, and hens, while keeping half
of the farm's land under forest cover to balance production and nature
protection.
13. Café Monteverde utilizes goats instead of cows in order to reduce
greenhouse emissions. Their waste is then used in a process to create solid
microorganisms and liquid microorganisms. The final process combines
the products of both previous processes to create a bio fertilizer. This
process only utilizes organic matter. This farm also makes sures to not
overuse their field by moving their coffee crops to different areas of the
property every certain number of years.
Calandria
14. One of the first lodges we experienced was La Calandria Lodge. La Calandria
has a rich 12-year history of hosting education groups, research professionals,
and providing a sanctuary for individuals seeking to deepen their relationships
within the community. With indoor and outdoor classrooms featuring multimedia
access and 3 kilometers of nature trails, La Calandria offers an immersive
experience amidst Costa Rica's lush biodiversity.
15. Additionally, Costa Rica's allure as a destination for conferences, wellness
retreats, professional development courses, and student groups is further
enhanced by the lodge's expertise in logistical support. Yet, La Calandria's
commitment to conservation extends beyond its center. This is evidenced by its
collaboration with the Fundacion Conservacionista Costarricense or the FCC.
16. The FCC, established in 2002, aims to protect the Pacific slope habitat,
particularly in the Monteverde region, where habitat loss poses a significant
threat to flora and fauna. Through reforestation initiatives and collaborative forest
restoration programs, the FCC has distributed over 300,000 trees to landowners,
focusing on species vital to the survival of endangered species like the Threewattled Bellbird and Quetzal.
17. Moreover, the organization's efforts span beyond tree distribution, encompassing
research on restoration techniques and the protection of over 65 hectares of
habitat. As a co-founder of the Bellbird Biological Corridor, the FCC fosters
environmental and social connectivity across an expansive 80,000-hectare
region. By partnering with entities like the Monteverde Institute and Monteverde
Conservation League, the FCC ensures a holistic approach to conservation,
promoting the well-being of both human and environmental habitats for present
and future generations.
18. The organization's mission aligns with the imperative combat against climate
change and habitat loss with their ultimate aim being to restore tropical forests on
the Pacific slope of Costa Rica while fostering scientific inquiry into restoration
methods. The significance of Monteverde's Cloud Forest, which harbors a myriad
of plant and animal species, underscores the urgency of protecting adjacent Rain
Shadow Forests to sustain biodiversity. Central to this endeavor is the
preservation of the Three-wattled Bellbird, whose role in seed dispersal
maintains forest ecosystems. As a symbol of the organization's dedication to
conservation, the bellbird exemplifies the interconnectedness between habitat
preservation and species survival, inspiring ongoing efforts to protect and restore
Costa Rica's natural heritage.
19. During our stay at La Calandria Lodge, we visited the Curi-Cancha reserve. This
area was acquired by the Lowther family in 1970. The area was approximately
half pasture and half virgin rainforest and named it Curi-Cancha. Over the next
45 years, they refrained from clearing any areas, allowing the pastured sections
to revert to forest. It is situated in the Arenal-Tempisque conservation area within
Monteverde.
20. The Curi-Cancha Reserve safeguards 205 acres encompassing 50% virgin
forest, 45% secondary growth, and 5% open pasture, spanning altitudes from
1450 to 1615 meters and featuring 40% Lower montane wet forest and 60%
Premontane wet forest. Its seven kilometers of natural trails offer visitors a
chance to explore the tropical cloud forest's diverse flora and fauna, making it a
haven for birdwatchers. Over 200 bird species call Curi-Cancha home, alongside
various mammals like armadillos, sloths, and monkeys.
21. Sustainable practices underpin the reserve's ethos, aimed at preserving its
ecological balance while providing exemplary service to guests. Limiting visitor
numbers to 50 at a time ensures a less crowded and minimally disruptive
experience for both visitors and the ecosystem. With a network of nine short trails
totaling about 3.25 miles, Curi-Cancha facilitates immersive hikes, offering cutthrough paths for accessibility. Furthermore, the reserve's mission emphasizes
environmental education and scientific research, aiming to conserve its
exceptional biodiversity, while its vision aspires to become a self-sustaining
conservation model with global impact.