Costa Rica: Agriculture, Biodiversity, & Economic Development Internationally renowned for its conservation of biodiversity and its ambitious commitment to reach carbon neutrality, Costa Rica is a small tropical nation that still relies heavily upon farming for its economy. Domestic production and exports of banana, coffee, pineapple, sugar, dairy, beef, ornamental plants, and timber are critically important to sustain rural communities economically. Costa Rica has also developed ecotourism as a means of generating needed jobs in rural areas where protected lands are unavailable for farming and timber harvest. How does this Central American nation maintain its extensive system of national parks, wildlife refuges, and forest reserves while managing the impacts of tourism and agriculture? In this course we will examine how rural communities in Costa Rica make their living from the land, either through farming, agroforestry, ecotourism or other means without sacrificing the nation’s natural and cultural integrity. We will travel through the countryside to visit farms, farmers markets and rural communities; hike through parks and refuges; explore forest canopies, rivers, volcanoes and the coast; and participate in natural-resource management projects. Students will gain perspective and deep understanding about the challenges involved in protecting human quality of life while stewarding the land resources and tropical biodiversity for future generations.
Quick Facts
Population: 4636348 Capital: San Jose Per-capita GDP: $ 12100 Size: 51100 km2 Time Zone: (GMT - 06:00 hours) Central Time (US & Canada)
US State Department
Travel Warning: YES See : Country Specific Info.