Tonight’s diary is following up on Pakalolo’s scary diary regarding the vital importance of fighting deforestation to combat climate change. There, he posted one hopeful tweet about Costa Rica’s reforestation. I followed that link and added more helpful sources.
According to CNN, Pedro Garcia is one of several Costa Rican farmer-environmentalists. Over the past 36 years, he has changed his property over “from bare cattle pasture to a densely forested haven for wildlife, where the scent of vanilla wafts through the air and hummingbirds buzz between tropical fruit trees.”
“Garcia has restored the forest -- home to hundreds of species from sloths to strawberry poison-dart frogs -- while also cultivating agricultural products from pepper vines to organic pineapple.” He then charges for ecotourism to make a better living.
His is one of many farms taking advantage of a Costa Rican government program called PES — “payments for ecosystem services”. The government program has stimulated a mass movement toward conservation. This contrasts dramatically with Costa Rica in the 1970s and 1980s, when it “had one of the highest deforestation rates in Latin America”. About half its rainforest had disappeared since the 1940s. Then chopping down forest was made illegal in 1996 (with few exceptions with government approval) and PES was introduced in 1997. Now more than half of the lost rainforest has been restored and ecotourism is now booming — 3 million visitors per year to a country of 5 million! It now accounts for about 8% of GDP.
So what do other countries need to do to follow in Costa Rica's footsteps? Most Latin American countries have strong commitments to reforestation, but at the same time continue deforestation. Costa Rica found that paying farmers to make a living on forested or partially forested land was key. See the CNN link for more examples. The payments are funded with taxes on fossil fuels. The boom in ecotourism creates even more incentive to preserve the landscape and wildlife. In contrast, countries with fewer tourists have fewer incentives and resources to put money into environmental conservation, which can create a downward spiral.
Other Latin American countries are participating in global efforts to restore forests (bolding mine):
But these countries lack Costa Rica's long history of environmental policy coherence and consistency, says Maginnis.
It is this combination of political will, environmental passion and tourism that has enabled the country to become a pioneer in reforestation.
Rodríguez, the country's environment minister, says that while Costa Rica's basic strategy could be applied anywhere, "principles and values" need to be in place too. These include good governance, strong democracy, a respect for human rights and a solid education system, he says.
how you can help
1) Use the Lilo search engine! You can fund any projects you like, including reforesting the Amazon. OK, it’s one water droplet at a time in the bucket, but will add up. It’s free and easy and works well. I use it.
2) Take individual action: From Vox: As always, reduce, reuse, recycle. Eat some vegetarian meals. Join protest groups. (Bolding mine to help you find your skill set:)
If you’re a writer or artist, you can use your talents to convey a message that will resonate with people. If you’re a religious leader, you can give a sermon about climate and run a collection drive to support one of the groups above. If you’re a teacher, you can discuss this issue with your students, who may influence their parents. If you’re a good talker, you can go out canvassing for a politician you believe will make the right choices on climate.
3) Note that environmental passion starts with values of “good governance, strong democracy, a respect for human rights and a solid education system”. Support those here in the US, which has been sadly lacking lately; starting with supporting Democrats in November. See if you can help your local schools with environmental education projects.
4) Money talks! Donate to any of the six most high-impact, cost-effective climate change groups per Vox: Coalition for Rainforest Nations, Clean Air Task Force, The Clean Energy Innovation Program, Rainforest Foundation US, Sandbag, and Climate Emergency Fund. See the Vox link for whats, whys and hows.
5) Big money talks even bigger! And it’s fun! When we can travel again, consider ecotourism and volunteer travel to Central and South America if you have that kind of budget! Be sure to check for true ethical tourism, not greenwashing. Purchase carbon offsets for your travel! And eat at local restaurants that use local ingredients. Many more details and links at Frommer’s Sustainable Travel and Ecotourism in Central America and Frommer’s Sustainable Travel and Ecotourism in South America.
To join the Regenerative Culture for an Altered Planet group, please read more about it and contact us here!
To join the GreenRevolution Direct Action Environmental Protest group, please read more about it and contact us here!
Please note: We are currently trying an 8:30 PM posting time and considering posting even later in the evening, since I can’t be here quite yet. If you have a preferred time to read such diaries, please discuss in the Comments! Thank you!