National Geographic magazine has chosen Costa Rica as one of eight sustainable destinations for 2021 and onward. In the Best of the World selections, the magazine announced something we have always known about the most beautiful place in the world. We’re number two! Costa Rica sustainability measures make it a leader in its mandates to safeguard and maintain the earth’s wonderful resources. After all, who could look at one of our monkeys or sloths and not want to do everything we can to keep their forests beautiful for them?
Following Copenhagen, Denmark, Costa Rica was acknowledged for its sustainability efforts that have been in place for many years. National Geographic says: “Imagine a country that’s one-quarter national park, a place where you could hike in a rainforest in the morning and surf tropical waves in the afternoon. Imagine an adventure Eden where sustainability was a strategy long before the world caught on, where jaguars prowl in the jungle, harpy eagles fly and Jesus Christ lizards walk on water before your eyes.”
Here are the eight countries offering a “blueprint for sustainable nature and wildlife tourism” according to Natural Geographic:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Costa Rica (the whole country!)
- Helsinki, Finland
- Denver, USA
- New Caledonia
- Alonissos, Greece
- Gabon
- Freiburg, Germany
Carbon-neutral this year?
With our country’s proliferation of natural resources, the government has spent a lot of effort implementing laws and regulations to protect the forests and animals. Our national goal is to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country this year. Since 2015, nearly 99 percent of Costa Rica’s electricity comes from renewable sources like water energy, geothermal (from our volcanoes), and solar energy. According to the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University, our government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars for the construction of geothermal and hydroelectric plants. Drive around any province and it’s a common site to see solar panel or windmill farms.
Costa Rica sustainability measures
And don’t think all this is just talk. Costa Rica walks the talk. The energy sector aggressively take action to protect the country, and therefore the earth. But, it’s the little everyday things you will notice. You’d be hard-pressed to find a plastic straw for your tropical drink, nor a Styrofoam container for your takeaway food or coffee. The National Geographic article noted the conservation efforts in place since the 1970s, the government protected areas, the closing of zoos, and work to reverse deforestation. Perhaps all of these things contribute to the fact that the Nicoya Peninsula is one of five of the world’s only Blue Zones. There lives an inordinate number of people who are over 100 years old! Good environment, good health, long life!
As you know we at Costa Rica Vacations have long promoted the idea that nature heals. Now let us tell you that those of us who live in Costa Rica, led by the government, are healing our nature.
