Biodiversity

I recently visited Costa Rica, a Central American country with the most biodiversity in the world.

Whilst part of this is due to the topography of the landscape and the climate it is also due to its resolute commitment to conservation.

This has not always been the case. Until the late 1980’s there was significant deforestation taking place in the country to provide pasture for cattle to provide beef for exportation.

However, the country became the first in the world to reverse deforestation using incentives to reward landowners for nurturing the forests.

In addition they have ensured that there are wildlife corridors linking habitats and man has learned to co exist with nature.

I’m sure, like everything, it is not perfect but Costa Rica has proved that it is possible to reverse nature depleting practices – something the rest of us need to look at, learn from and implement.

If you want to read more about how Costa Rica has achieved all this I recommend Biodiversity: Costa Rica’s Remarkable Journey by Greenpeace and How the world can learn from Costa Rica’s biodiversity effort by the Forward Lab

I have been inspired by the flora and fauna of Costa Rica and it has given me some hope that it may still be possible to reverse the damage that humankind is inflicting on the natural world.