<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/costa-rica-paying-locals-protect-wildlife-biodiversity/>
"The Osa Peninsula on Costa Rica’s west coast occupies just 0.001 percent of
the planet’s surface area, yet is home to an estimated 2.5 percent of all the
biodiversity in the world. Inhabited by jaguar, tapir and close to 400 species
of birds, the forests here — and others like them around the world — combat
biodiversity loss and play a key role in capturing carbon and fighting climate
change.
Importantly, recent research shows, such benefits come not only from keeping
forests standing, but also from regrowing degraded and secondary forests. In
this vein, the Osa Peninsula region has become internationally recognized for
showing how financial incentives can lead to landscape restoration and
protection, while also creating jobs and supporting rural economies.
“For us it has been important because before, we protected [the forests], we
looked after them, but we didn’t receive anything for it,” says Lineth Picado
Mena, a rural farmer living on the peninsula and participant in the
government’s Payments for Environmental Services (PES) program. “Now we can
support ourselves with what we have.”
Previously, Picado explains, other farmers in the region cleared forests to
plant crops or to create pastures for cattle. Now, Picado earns $58 per hectare
per year for having reforested her land, agreeing to keep 75 percent of her
48-hectare (119-acre) property conserved as forest. These funds help her family
survive and maintain the farm, while using the remaining portion of the
property to raise cattle and grow crops.
“This is a paradise for us … that’s why visitors come and visit,” Picado says."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
