Costa Rica - Samasati Nature Reserve

• Where is Costa Rica?

  Southern Central America (in North America), located between Nicaragua and Panama. The Caribbean sea is to the East while the Pacific ocean is to the West.
• Costa Rica is home to 6% of the world's biodiversity (located mainly in its rainforests). This is why many countries have funded its ecotourism projects. The country attracts 6 million tourists each year.
• Threats to the Costa Rican Rainforests:

  1. Agricultural development
  2. Mining and Quarrying
  3. By 1990, 32000 hectares of forest was cut down each year.
• How is the rainforest managed more sustainably in Costa Rica now?

  1. The government has founded 28 national parks with 24% of the country's land protected.
  2. Law enforcements meant that in 2005 there was almost no deforestation.
  3. Agroforestry encourages trees to be planted where old trees have been cut - this produces better crops when farming too.
• What are some disadvantages to the Samasati Nature Reserve in Costa Rica?

  1. Land prices have increased.
  2. Expensive and only small scale.
  3. Can't use the land for other uses.