Costa Rican Government’s Large-Scale Sustainable Management

• Deforestation Challenge: Costa Rica faced deforestation, losing 32,000 hectares between 1970-1990
• Government Initiatives: Enacted laws against deforestation and introduced “Payment for Environmental Services” (PES)
• Protected Areas: Establishment of 28 national parks; 24% of the country is now protected
• Sustainable Practices: Implemented strategies such as agroforestry, selective logging, and afforestation
• Success in Declining Deforestation: Costa Rica’s deforestation rate declined to almost zero, showcasing effective sustainable management