Ecotourism in Costa

Rica Human-Environment

Interactions

http://buildingzoneconstruction.com/costa-rica-real-estate-blog/2008/10/06/economy-in-costa-rica /

Carly SchmidtESTU 303

Overview of the System: History

Spanish colonization starting in 1563

Achieved independence in 1821

Peace and stability: Only two brief periods of

violence since the late 1800s

No military

Now enjoys relatively high standards of

living, stability, and environmental health

http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/ecotourism-costa-rica.htm

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Costa_Rica

Overview of the System: Social

Human Development Index

UNDP measure of health, education, and living standards Ranked 62nd out of 169 countries Ranked 6th in Latin America

http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/ecotourism-costa-rica.htm

http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CRI.html

Overview of the System: Environment

Tropical climate Terrain: coastal plain separated by volcanic

mountains Main Environmental Issues

Deforestation, land use change, soil erosion, marine pollution, fisheries protection, solid waste management, & air pollution

Biodiversity Contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity

Ecology 25% of land is protected, the largest percentile in the world

http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/ecotourism-costa-rica.htm

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Costa_Rica

Overview of the System: Environment Performance Index

The EPI ranks countries on 25 performance indicators according to ten categories

Shows how close countries are to established environmental policy goals.

Costa Rica is ranked 3rd best in the world out of 163 countries

http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/ecotourism-costa-rica.htm

http://epi.yale.edu/Countries/CostaRica

http://lenteckhartproperties.com/costa-rica/costa-rica-news/costa-rica-ranks-3-in-world-for-environmental-performance

Overview of the System: Economics

The services sector accounts for roughly 70% of GDP Largely from tourism Foreign exchange

In 2000, Costa Rica earned about $1.25 billion from ecotourism

http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/ecotourism-costa-rica.htm

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Costa_Rica

Seven Natural Wonders of Costa Rica

http://www.gogoworldwidevacations.com/tours/index.jsp?touroffset=25

Ecotourism and Sustainable Development

The International Tourism Society "responsible travel to natural areas that

conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people"

Martha Honey’s Definition Involves travel to natural destinations Minimizes Impact Builds Environmental Awareness Provides financial benefits and

empowerment for local people Respects local culture Supports human rights and democratic

movements

http://www.catravel.org/

www.ecotourism.org/ http://www1.american.edu/ted/costa-rica-tourism.htm

Effects on the Environment

Pros

Preservation Conservation Environmental

education Raising awareness

Cons

Land clearance and erosion (destruction)

Biodiversity loss (disturbance)

Increase in garbage, sewage, and air pollution (deposition)

Loss of biodiversity (destruction) Monkeys, leatherback turtles

Koens, J., Dieperink, C., & Miranda, M. (2009), Ecotourism as a development strategy: Experiences from Costa Rica

http://www.ecollo.com/?tag=/eco+tourism

Effects on Humans: Economics

Pros

Foreign exchange Job creation

Cons

Economic leakage Dependency Inflation

Koens, J., Dieperink, C., & Miranda, M. (2009), Ecotourism as a development strategy: Experiences from Costa Rica

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/costa-rica/structure-of-economy.html

Effects on Humans: Social

Pros

Education Facilities and

Infrastructure Empowerment of

oppressed/deprived Community

organization Promotion of local

cultures

Cons

Loss of community Degradation of local

culture Increases in crime

rates, prostitution, trafficking, and drug & alcohol abuse

Loss of access to facilities for local people

Koens, J., Dieperink, C., & Miranda, M. (2009), Ecotourism as a development strategy: Experiences from Costa Rica

http://www.horizontes.com/eng/hc_indigenous.php

Connections to Course Content:Brundtland Definition of Sustainability

How ecotourism is defined & implemented in Costa Rica

Critique: Lack of Emphasis on the Environment Environment as a base

Connections to Course Content:Daily et al.: The Value of Nature and the Nature of Value

In1996 Costa Rica established a nationwide system of environmental payments Induces landowners to

provide ecosystem services. Accounts for sequestered

carbon, biodiversity, watershed services, and scenic beauty.

Ecosystem Services Payment Program

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rwvBFVRDQVRbV7Bh3GZyZQ

Connections to Course Content: White: Land use, Environment, and Social Change

Building tourism infrastructure (hotels & ecolodges) Scenery as “a commodity that can be bought and sold” Selection of preferred, most valuable species

http://www.travelmuse.com/articles/costa-rica/costa-rica-family-vacation-overview

(White, 1980, p. 145)

Impacts of Tourism

Conclusions

"They do ecotourism very well in Costa Rica."

References Daily G., Söderqvist T., Aniyar S., Arrow K., Dasgupta P., Ehrlich

PR., Folke C., Jansson AM., Jansson B-O., Kautsky N., et al. (2000). The value of nature and the nature of value? Science 289: 395-396.

Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science 162: 1243-1248.

Liu, J., Dietz, T., Carpenter S., Alberti, M., Folke, C, Redman, C., Schneider, S., Ostrom, E., Pell, A., Lubchenco, J., Taylor, W., Ouyang, Z., Deadman, P., Kratz, T., and W. Provencher. (2007). Complexity of coupled human and natural systems. Science 317(5844): 1513 – 1516.

Moran, E. F. (2006). People and nature: An introduction to human ecological relations.  Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

White, R. (1980). Land use, environment, and social change: The shaping of Island County, Washington. Seattle: University of Washington Press.