Download The Environment of Costa Rica

The Environment
of Costa Rica
By: Amanda Karpa, Stephen Sadock,
and Darcie Mather
Geography
Landscape

Rocky mountain
ranges
 Active volcanoes
 Rainforest is about
.1% of the land on
earth
– Accounts for the
largest biodiversity
among
plants/animals in
the world
Weather

Rainy/Dry seasons
– May to August
rainy season
– September to April
dry season

Tropical Climate
– 70 to 80 degree
avg.
Environmental Organizations

The Xerces Society for
Invertebrate
Conservation

National Biodiversity
Institute of Costa Rica

National Bamboo
Project of Costa Rica

The Fund for Costa Rica

FUNDECOR
Rainforest

Over 1 million
hectares of forest
 10,000 wildlife
species / sq km
 0.1% of world's
landmass
 Contains 5% of
world's
biodiversity
Wildlife







35,000 species of
insects
160 species of
amphibians
220 species of reptiles
850 species of birds
205 species of mammals
1,200+ species of
orchids
10,000+ plants and trees
Animals

Greatest biodiversity among all
biome on earth
– Rainforest has the most biodiversity
among plants/animals

Worlds largest species of sea turtles
(Leatherbacks)
– Average 772 lbs
Deforestation

Deforestation is
killing
off/threatening
many species
 The bamboo
project helps cut
back on
deforestation
 Taught farmers
safe agricultural
methods

Methods of
deforestation
– Slash/Burn
– Commercial
logging
– Firewood
– Clear-cutting
• Shifting
cultivation
– Creating farms
Effects of Environmentalism

Little driving

– Cities only
– Not far distances

– Rainforest brings in
mass number of
tourist
– Preservation/Conse
rvation of rainforest
mandatory
Farming
– Respectful of the
environment

Diets
– High in fruit
(bananas)
– Coffee Beans
Tourism

Trade
– Depends on the
environment
conditions
(Farming)
Tourism
Why Costa Rica?
 Costa Rica’s
biggest industry
ecotourism
 High standard of
living
 National Parks
(Bird watchers)

Butterflies are
more common
 Main tourist
– Americans
– Hippies from the
U.S.

Peaceful Country
Work Cited
"Adventure in Costa Rica." Go Visit Costa Rica. 2008. Delfina Travel
Group Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
<http://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/floraFauna.asp>.
"Costa Rica - Wildlife and biodiversity." Rara Avis and BXI Inc 1995.
15 Jan. 2008. <http://pages.interlog.com/~rainfrst/wildlife.html>.
"Costa Rica." Mongabay.Com. 6 Feb. 2006. Google. 15 Jan. 2008
<http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20costarica.htm>.
"Flora and Fauna of Costa Rica." CREN Costa Rica Exotica Natural.
CREN Travel Agency. 15 Jan. 2008
<http://www.travelingcostarica.com/travel/costa-rica/nature.htm>.
"Tropical Forests." Tropical Forests. 2008. 15 Jan. 2008 <"The
Conservancy Strengthens Commitment to the Osa Campaign."
The Nature Conservancy 2007. 15 Jan. 2008 .>.
"The Conservancy Strengthens Commitment to the Osa Campaign."
The Nature Conservancy 2007. 15 Jan. 2008
<http://www.nature.org/wherewework/centralamerica/costarica/mi
sc/art19702.html>.