Forest Expansion in Northwest Costa Rica: Conjuncture of the Global Market, Land-Use Intensification, and Forest Protection
background
This article examines the land cover conversion trends in Costa Rica, a topic that is widely studied in developed coutries but less so in developing.
Goals & Methods
The authors aimed to classify and and quantify land cover changes in the Tempisque Basin of Northwestern Costa Rica from 1975 to 2000. To do so, the authors used Landsat satellite imagery, which helped determine net area gains or losses of major land cover classes
Conclusions & Takeaways
The study finds that cropland and forestland increased after 1975 along with a reduction in pasturelands. The increase in forestland may be attributable to early reforestation initiatives including Payment for Environmental Services (PES) protected area establishment. The author questions the longevity of forest recovery and reconsiders the role that the timber trade has in facilitating forest recovery.
Reference:
. Forest Expansion in Northwest Costa Rica: Conjuncture of the Global Market, Land-Use Intensification, and Forest Protection. In: Landscape Series. Landscape Series. Springer Netherlands; 2009:227–252. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9656-3_10.
Affiliation:
- School of Natural Resources & Environment, Land Use & Environmental Change Institute, University of Florida