Costa Rica is considered an environmentally friendly country for a number of reasons. Some of the main reasons include:
- Conservation efforts: Costa Rica has a strong tradition of conservation and has set aside a significant portion of its land for protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife refuges. This helps to preserve the country’s biodiversity and protect endangered species.
- Renewable energy: Costa Rica has made a significant effort to transition to renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar power. In 2019, the country generated 99% of its electricity from renewable sources.
- Sustainable tourism: Costa Rica promotes sustainable tourism, which encourages visitors to have a minimal impact on the environment and to support local communities. Many of the country’s tourism-related businesses have been certified as eco-friendly.
- Forest conservation: Costa Rica has implemented policies to conserve its forests and reduce deforestation. For example, the country established a national system of payments for environmental services, which provides financial incentives for landowners to maintain their forests.
- Marine conservation: Costa Rica has also implemented a number of initiatives and regulations to promote responsible fishing and protect marine resources, such as marine protected areas, fishing quotas and size limits, and a system of marine conservation concessions.
- Climate change: Costa Rica has implemented policies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable development. The government has set a goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2021.
- Environmental education: Costa Rica has a strong emphasis on environmental education, which helps to raise awareness about environmental issues among citizens and promote conservation and sustainable development.
Overall, Costa Rica’s commitment to conservation and sustainable development has helped to make the country an environmentally friendly destination, where people can experience nature and enjoy the beauty of the country without compromising the environment.
