Dr. Robin Chazdon - University of Connecticut, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - "Our biggest conservation challenge is to manage the landscapes we live in to enhance plant and animal life (including insects) while still permitting productive use of the land."
Forests cover 30 percent of the planet’s total land area. The total forested area in 2005 was just under 4 billion hectares, at least one third less than before the dawn of agriculture, some 10,000 years ago. (100 hectares is the same as 1 square kilometer).
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Deforestation Facts in Costa Rica |
What percent of the forest is actually primary forest in Costa Rica ? According to the latest satellite imagery taken in 2005, Costa Rica has 2,391,000 hectares of total forest area or about 46.8% of the land. However out of this total, only 180,000 hectares or 3.5% of all the land is considered primary forest. The annual deforestation rates have actually gone down because there is more "forested" area, but the question of what exactly is defined as "forest" is interesting. Who actually owns the forests in Costa Rica? Public 24.3% Private 75.7% Production (plantations) 1.9% What is the total number of tree species on the IUCN RED LIST? AS of 2008: Native trees = 117 species on the list Critically Endangered trees = 4 (which by the way are illegal to cut down) Endangered = 33 species Vulnerable = 74 species So why is Costa Rica so unique for biodiversity? Trees are usually the largest most obvious element of an ecosystem. We need to conserve and plant trees that are threatened not only of their intrinsic value - ecosystems, biodiversity and economic values - but because in fact Costa Rica has more than 1,511 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, 6.9% which are endemic (only exist in Costa Rica!) and 12,119 vascular plants, 7.8% which are endemic and 9.3% on the IUCN RED List! How did Costa Rica change their rate of deforestation? In the early 90s Costa Rica had one of the worst deforestation rates in Latin America: In the past - 99% forest 1940s - 85% forest 70s - 80s - 35% forest (many areas slash and burn) 2005 - 46.8% forest coverage Reason for deforestation - clearing for agriculture and cattle
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