In 2024, the world witnessed the loss of over 6.7 million hectares of tropical forests—almost double the figure reported in 2023. Shockingly, Latin America was responsible for 71% of this deforestation, with countries like Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru topping the global charts. While the Amazon continues to face unprecedented threats, one small Central American country stands out as a model of recovery: Costa Rica.

Once a cautionary tale of forest loss, Costa Rica has reversed decades of deforestation and now boasts more than 50% forest coverage. This article explores the strategies behind Costa Rica’s success and how they can be adapted to halt the ecological crisis gripping Latin America..

1. Regional Diagnosis: Latin America’s Green Alarm

Recent satellite data confirms a disturbing trend:

• Brazil lost 2.8 million hectares of forest in 2024 alone, primarily in the Amazon and Pantanal regions, undoing much of the progress made in 2023.
• Bolivia saw a staggering loss of over 1.8 million hectares, largely driven by uncontrolled fires and the expansion of agriculture into forested areas.
• Peru and Colombia also reported significant increases, with Peru facing a 135% surge in forest loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture, and Colombia affected by illegal mining and coca cultivation linked to violence.

The main culprits across the region include:

• Deliberate fires for land clearing.
• Weak environmental governance and enforcement.
• The impacts of climate change and El Niño intensifying fire seasons.
• Expansion of extractive industries and unsustainable farming.

2. Costa Rica: From Crisis to Conservation Leade

In the 1970s and 1980s, Costa Rica was rapidly losing its forest cover—over 70% of its land was deforested. But in the 1990s, the country made a radical shift.

Key turning points included:

• The 1996 Forest Law, which banned deforestation for agricultural purposes.
• The creation of a Payment for Environmental Services (PES) program that rewards landowners for protecting or restoring forests.
• Investment in national parks and biological corridors to protect biodiversity and reconnect habitats.

As a result, forest cover rebounded from a historical low of 21% to over 50% by the 2020s, according to FAO and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE).

3. Keys to Costa Rica’s Success

A. Payment for Environmental Services (PES)

Costa Rica pioneered a model where forest protection is rewarded financially. Landowners receive payments for maintaining forests that provide services such as water regulation, carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, and scenic beauty.

The program is funded by:

• A fuel tax.
• International aid and carbon offset projects.

B. Sustainable Ecotourism as a National Strategy

Tourism now accounts for more than 6% of Costa Rica’s GDP. Instead of destructive land use, the country promotes:

• Birdwatching, hiking, and educational tours.
• Private reserves and community-managed lodges.
• Tourism revenues shared with local populations, turning conservation into a livelihood.

C. Environmental Education and Public Engagement

• Environmental curricula are included from early education.
• Reforestation campaigns and citizen participation in monitoring and protection.
• NGOs and local cooperatives play a crucial role in enforcement and outreach.

D. Stable Political Commitment

Success has been driven by consistent government leadership and strong environmental institutions like SINAC (National System of Conservation Areas).

4. Is the Model Replicable

While no one-size-fits-all solution exists, many of Costa Rica’s strategies can be adapted:

• Bolivia could incentivize ranchers and farmers to adopt agroforestry.
• Brazil might integrate forest restoration into its climate commitments through targeted PES schemes.
• Peru and Nicaragua could leverage eco-tourism to protect biodiversity hotspots.
• Colombia could pair conservation funding with peace-building efforts in former conflict zones.

What matters most is tailoring these policies to local contexts, ensuring participation from indigenous communities, and securing long-term funding mechanisms.

5. Challenges and Regional Recommendations

Challenges:

• Corruption and weak law enforcement.
• Economic dependency on extractive industries.
• Lack of monitoring technology and trained personnel.

Recommendations:

The numbers from 2024 paint a grim picture of Latin America’s forests—but Costa Rica reminds us that change is possible. With determination, policy innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, forest loss can be reversed.

Costa Rica didn’t achieve success overnight, and the journey is far from perfect. Yet its experience proves that forests are not just remnants of the past, but blueprints for a sustainable future. Latin America already has the tools—it now needs the will to act.