Costa Rica represents a most remarkable model for the linking of tourism and conservation. Costa Rica enjoys 5% of the world's biological diversity on less than 1% of the world's land area. Rapid deforestation in the 1970s led to a bold decision to set a goal of protecting 25% of the country's land over 10 years. Today 126 protected areas makes up 31.5% of the national territory (26% public and 5.5% private).

Year: 2012

From album: Costa Rica - Model for Linking Tourism & Conservation

Photographer: Peter Prokosch