Ecotourism in Costa Rica

What has allowed ecotourism?
•Biodiversity - 5% of land based species
•Tectonic activity - active volcanoes
•Varied ecosystems - 12 of 30 life zone ecosystems

Activities:
•Eco lodge
-vast selection according to price and luxury
•Eco-adventures
-canopy zip wires
-white water rafting
-climbing
-surfing
•Medicinal treks


Management:
•National Park Service 1970
-Halt to deforestation
-choice of educated population who value environment
-over 25% of land now protected
•Foreign investment
-buying up land for protection eg. Quakers, 1950s onwards

Benefits:
•Economic well being of Costa Ricans- wealthy nation in regional terms
•Land values viewed sustainably
•Money reinvested into education and health


Problems:
•Increased levels of waste
-people feeding animals leading to ecosystem decline
-monkeys seeking food from bins
•Overcapacity?
•Over reliance on tourism?
•'Greenwashing' from tour companies
•Profitsleaked abroad (25%)


Expansion?
•Probably not, extent of problems indicated carrying capacity already reached/exceeded
•Diversification?