Costa Rica
Payment for Environmental Services
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Ecotourism
Sustainable development via contributions to the economy
Eco-lodges, e.g. Selva Bananito
Attracting visitors to an area
educating them on the benefits of caring for the environment
Introduce them to eco-friendly way of life
Does not use electricity
Uses solar energy to heat up water
Biodegradable soap
Recycle glass/plalstic
Around £250 for three-day stay - reasonably priced
Evaluation: little contribution to development, as many of these are owned by US expats, and money doesn't go towards economy much. However, there is local employment, but that is one of the only few benefits
Eco-adventure holidays
Deforestation and biosphere stats:
There are 28 national parks and 24% of the country is protected.
Between 1940 and 1970s, Costa Rica used to have one of the highest deforestation rates in the world but this has decreased significantly.
In 1977, 52,000 Ha was cleared while in 2005, only 4,700 ha was cleared showing a significant drop in deforestation
Around 65,000 ha of land uses an environmental certification system that guarantees that the trees/land is used sustainably.
Through active planting, the tree cover in the country has increased by 38,000 hectares from 2001-12
Zip-wiring, biking, hiking, rafting
Ethiopia
Companies owned by Costa Ricans, e.g. Rio Tropicales
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Increasing number of people are hired for a variety of jobs
EVALUATION: Sustainable, but not all of it contributes to the local economy
Biosphere Reserve, Savegre, Costa Rica
Reconciles biodiversity conservation with sustainable use of resources
Biodiversity
20% of all flora and 54% of all mammals in Costa Rica
Several fruit plantations
Apples, blackberries and avocados
70% of visitors visit protected areas
Significant crop production in areas with high altitudes
Protected areas
7 protected areas
Dams banned for 25 years
Evaluation
No substantial changes for communities
Doesn't restrict people's rights to use of their lands,
Doesn't restrict use of area's natural resources
Not as effective in sustainable management as it should be
However it is biodiverse and does development
Economic
Significant increase in ecotourism in the area
Source of socio-economic growth in the region
50k people live there
The Savegre Biosphere Reserve in Costa Rica is an example of sustainable development on a regional scale. It aims to promote biodiversity within the reserve. The 50,000 people who live there have to live alongside 20% of all flora and 54% of all fauna within Costa Rica.
There are many ways in which the reserve is being sustainably managed. One method of sustainable management is by protecting the land within the reserve. Within the reserve are 7 protected areas, and dams have been banned from being constructed for 25 years. The reserve also contributes to the development of the region by being an ecotourist attraction, and therefore is a source of socio-economic development within the region. Additionally, there are many fruit plantations, including plums, avocados, blackberries, strawberries and apples. Crop production is also significant in areas with high altitudes.
However, the reserve is not fully being sustainably managed. People who live in the area have no restrictions regarding the use of their land, or the use of their resources. Hence, there are no substantial changes for communities located within the reserve.
Overall, despite the lack of restrictions placed on people’s behaviours, significant actions have been made to preserve biodiversity, and the economic growth of the region is achieved through sustainable means. Therefore, the reserve is quite effective in managing the rainforest sustainably.
Global Hazards
Australian Big Dry 2004-2008
Haiti 2010
Boscastle
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Quick Fire Stats:
Earthquake measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale
52 aftershocks of 4.5 or greater, largest one was 5.9 which caused more buildings to collapse
70% of the buildings collapsed
230,000 deaths including 100 UN personnel
1.5 million made homeless
4,000 prisoners escaped Prison Civile
Cost of damages and losses: $8 billion