Five Seasons in Ecotopia: Rainforest Immersion and Conservation Action in Costa Rica

Maintaining jaguar Panthera onca subpopulations throughout Mesoamerica is vital to range-wide jaguar conservation. Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is critical habitat for the Osa Peninsula jaguar subpopulation. There is a debate regarding whether the jaguars in this National Park are in a state of crisis. To examine this, we implemented long-term camera-trap monitoring throughout Corcovado National Park during 2015–2021. Using a spatially explicit Jolly–Seber model we estimated jaguar populations and distribution throughout our study area. Additionally, we reran our model using a constrained study area to compare our findings with those of a previous study. Trends in jaguar abundance indices and population estimates during 2015–2021 indicate that jaguar abundance has increased over time. Our jaguar density estimates also fall within the range of jaguar densities reported for relatively stable populations elsewhere. Using the same study area as that of a prior study, jaguar densities also increased over the duration of our study and were mostly comparable to previous density estimates. Our results suggest that jaguars within Corcovado National Park may not be in a state of crisis. Rather, our findings provide further hope for the jaguars of the Osa Peninsula. They do not, however, diminish the importance of continued conservation efforts. These will remain critical both inside and outside Corcovado National Park, as threats appear to have persisted over time.

The history of conservation in Latin America offers insights into the dramatic environmental transformations the region has undergone, particularly in the twentieth century. Sterling Evans’s Green Republic explores the history of conservation in Costa Rica, with an emphasis on environmental policy. While journalists, policymakers, and others have pointed to Costa Rica as a model of conservation policy, Evans questions whether it is appropriate to call Costa Rica a “green republic.” Using a wide range of sources, including interviews, archives, and newspapers, Evans paints a complex and nuanced picture of how conservation emerged in twentieth-century Costa Rica.Costa Rica’s exemplary and well-publicized conservation projects have emerged as a response to an equally dramatic but less well-known process of environmental destruction. Between 1950 and 1990, Costa Rica lost 65 percent of its forest cover. The causes of this deforestation included the expansion of export agriculture (particularly bananas and coffee), cattle ranching, and forestry. Government programs to distribute land to landless peasants (precaristas) also inadvertently promoted forest destruction. Evans argues that Costa Rica, like many other countries in Latin America, has faced an “agricultural dilemma” in which policymakers try to balance the drive for agricultural development with the need for environmental conservation.Part 1, “Costa Rica’s History of Conservation,” traces the emergence of conservation policy in Costa Rica as a response to this agricultural dilemma. Until the 1950s, most conservation policy in Costa Rica was ad hoc. The government created a few national parks, and some wildlife conservation agencies. Several conservation laws had been decreed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but they were never adequately enforced. Evans argues that the key turning point in Costa Rica’s conservation policy was the Ley Forestal of 1969. The law did not improve the problem of deforestation overnight—indeed, some of Costa Rica’s worst deforestation happened after the law had passed—but it did provide the basis for later conservationist action.The centerpiece of Costa Rica’s official conservation programs was its system of national parks. This system was the brainchild of Mario Boza, an energetic Costa Rican naturalist who worked for the government. Boza began building the system of national parks during the 1960s and 1970s, with the political backing of international conservation groups and influential Costa Ricans such as Karen Olsen de Figueres, the wife of the president. His projects bore fruit, and conservation efforts in Costa Rica continued unabated even through the economic crisis of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Government agencies became more entrepreneurial, soliciting funding from international organizations such as the Sierra Club and the World Wildlife Federation. In the late 1980s, the national park system underwent a “philosophical change in strategy,” that emphasized incorporating national parks and preserves into the nation’s larger socioeconomic context. Once again, Costa Rica’s fiscal problems were turned into a conservation oppor tunity, through the “debt for nature swap” programs that allowed Costa Rica to write off parts of its foreign debt in return for placing more lands under conservation.The chapters of part 2, “Building a Green Republic,” explore other forces that promoted conservation in Costa Rica. Environmental education at all levels has contributed to forming a rudimentary environmental ethic in Costa Rica, although Evans questions how deeply rooted it is. Costa Rican and foreign non-governmental organizations have played an increasingly important role in promoting conservation through research, training, grassroots activism, and legislation. Ecotourism took off during the 1980s and 1990s, bringing the hoped-for economic boom to Costa Rica. But it has become such a success that it threatens to harm the very flora and fauna that attract the visitors in the first place. Costa Ricans have also organized a national institute for biodiversity (InBio), to do a survey of Costa Rica’s biological resources.While Costa Rica is not the “ecotopia” that many people claim, Evans argues that it has enjoyed a number of short-term conservation successes. This lucid and thoughtful work will be useful to historians and policymakers, and as a textbook for graduate and undergraduate courses on agriculture, development, and conservation in Latin America.

The variety of plants, animals and microorganisms reflect the biodiversity of that area. Uttarakhand state falls under Central Himalaya which is rich in biodiversity as this area exhibits large number of plants and animals. There are about 7000 species of plants and 500 species of fauna in Uttarakhand state. Contribution of floral diversity is 31% of total floral density of India whereas fauna contributes just 1.58% of the total faunal density of the country. Besides, there are 119 endemic species of flowering plants in the state that exhibited 2.35% endemism and 35 faunal endemic species including 11 vertebrates and 24 invertebrates. Many plant and animal species are threatened, rare or becoming extint therefore some major initiatives have been taken such as 6 wild life sanctuaries, 5 national parks, one conservation reserve and one biosphere reserve has been established apart from this few herbal gardens, arboretums, parks, zoos, medicinal and aromatic plant area, sacred grooves have been made by the state government to save them for sustainable ecological balance. Unfortunately for the last few years biodiversity of the area is declining and now it’s important to strenthern existing policy of the state. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to assess the status of biodiversity of Central Himalaya.

Manupeu Tanadaru forest block was designated as National Park based on Ministry of Forestry and Plantation Decree No.576/Kpts-II/1998. The designation has not been followed by boundary demarcation and a proper management plan. There is a different perception between government and community on the existence of the national park that has led to a conflict between forest protection and biodiversity conservation with community livelihood. The objective of this research is to develop zoning system of Manupeu Tanadaru National Park based on area sensitivity and community activities. Area sensitivity was defined based on biological and physical condition analysis, consists of erosion area analysis, water catchments area analysis and wildlife protection area analysis. Community activities was defined based on type and distribution of local community activities inside the national park. Result of this research show that about 52.89% of the national park was area with high to very high sensitivity level that should be allocated as “Wilderness Zone and Core Zone”. About 12.36% of the national park is used by local community for agriculture, non timber forest product, sacred place and water resource for subsistence needs in area with low to middle sensitivity level that should be allocated as “Traditional Zone and Other Use Zone”. Key words: national park, area sensitivity, community activities, zoning system

Biodiversity assessment and forest ecosystem are critical for species conservation. However, limited research had been done in Sierra Leone’s tropical forests. This research explores the feasibility between two different protected areas of forest. This was accomplished by comparing the forest status in terms of tree species composition, diameter at breast height of each tree (to assess basal area), tree species density, and species abundance. Systematic sampling design, with a total of 15 sampling plots each, were districted in both forest ecosystems. All tree species (dbh ≥ 10 cm) in every plot were classified and their height, diameter at breast height (dbh) and diameters at the top, middle and base were evaluated for Otamba Kilimi National Park (strictly protected) and Kangari Hills Forest Reserve. There were 180 individual trees belonging to 24 species in the National Park, and 155 individual trees belonging to 58 species in the Forest Reserve. The most abundant species in the Forest Reserve was Xylopia aethiopica with 25 species compared to the National Park, which was dominated by Spondias mombin with 35 individual species. The Forest Reserve had a higher Shannon-Wiener index (3.63) and evenness (0.89) than the National Park with Shannon-Wiener index (2.76) and evenness (0.87). The Forest Reserve had a higher basal area (33 m2 ha-1) and volume (741.32 m3 h-1) compared to the National Park with a basal area (12.42 m3 ha-1) and volume (184.42 m3 h-1). Results indicate that the Forest Reserve is a potential biodiversity hotspot compared to the National Park. We conclude that the National Park is of lower tree diversity than the Forest Reserve by a degree that probably varies depending on improved management strategies, reforestation measures such as seed regeneration and/or enrichment planting, which will facilitate the gradual return of complex forests. The information on tree species structure and composition can provide baseline information for biodiversity conservation of protected forests in the country.

Introduction: The white-lipped peccary is a highly social species that forms large, cohesive groups of 10 to over 300 individuals. They are vulnerable to human presence and habitat fragmentation because they require large extensions of undisturbed forest with sufficient availability of food to maintain their biological requirements. This species has disappeared in 84% of its historic range in Guatemala. In Guatemala, the only place containing a viable population of white-lipped peccary is the Maya Biosphere Reserve although it is possible that residual populations exist in Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge, Laguna Lachuá National Park and Maya Mountains Biosphere Reserve. The specific objectives of this study were to describe the size and composition of white-lipped peccary groups in Mirador-Rio Azul National Park, a protected area within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, and describe their daily activity patterns at waterholes using camera traps and direct observations. Methods: For analysis with camera traps we used photo-captures of white-lipped peccary obtained in a Rapid Ecological Assessment conducted in Mirador-Río Azul National Park in 2004. In addition, as part of this study, in 2006 we studied 12 waterholes, from April 22 to May 25. In 2007 direct observations were also made on waterholes from 8:00 at 17:00 during the months of February to May 2007 (dry season), and opportunistic encounters occurred on roads during June to January (rainy season). When a group was observed we recorded the date, time, number of newborns, juveniles and adults. Results: In 2007 we recorded 11 groups of white-lipped peccary, five in waterholes and six in roads totaling 344 individuals. The estimated average of groups during the dry season in the Mirador-Río Azul National Park, was larger compared with Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and Corcovado National Park although these differences were not statistically significant (U = 9, P = 0.08, U = 31.5, P = 0.63). Group composition included 94.2 % adults, 3.8 % juveniles, and 2 % newborns. The groups visited waterholes more frequently between 8:00 and 12:00 . Discussion and conclutions: The average group size of white-lipped peccary reported during the dry season in Mirador-Río Azul National Park is larger than the estimates reported in studies at the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Mexico and the Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. This may be due to the moderate level of conservation within the Mirador-Río Azul National Park, high connectivity to protected areas of Mexico and Belize, and high availability of water for the presence of the Río Azul, which provides surface water availability, even during the dry season. White-lipped peccaries visited waterholes mainly during the day, registering two peaks of visits between 8:00 and 12:00 . It is necessary to increase the protection in the Mirador-Río Azul National Park, especially at the borders with Mexico and Belize, and coordinate actions should be implemented in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala to preserve the natural heritage of these protected areas.

Costa Rica has a long customary and legal history of reserving its Pacific Coast and Caribbean Sea for public benefit. The most important law for the management of the coast, enacted in 1977, focuses on the zona maritimo‐terrestre (the marine and terrestrial zone). It has been actively implemented by national and local government. Costa Rica thus has the distinction of possessing the longest history (now 12 years) of coastal program implementation among developing nations. A review of the literature on environmental management in developing countries indicates that there are few other success stories. The analysis of Costa Rica's program demonstrates that it has achieved many of its objectives. The public has more access to the beaches, the aesthetic quality of coastal development has improved, and important coastal habitats have more protection. Seven factors are selected to explain why the program is succeeding. Although the program is 12 years old, there is still much work to be done. The inst...

The management effectiveness of three protected areas, Mole National Park (MNP) in the Northern Region, and the Shai Hills Resource Reserve (SHRR) and the Densu Delta Ramsar Site (DDRS) both in the Greater-Accra Region of Ghana, were assessed. Park managers, wildlife officers and guards, and conservation practitioners were interviewed using the World Bank-WWF Alliance Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool Questionnaire (METT). Management effectiveness varied across the three protected areas (PAs). In general, the PAs were effective in conserving biodiversity, and ecological and cultural values. However, their contribution to improving standards of living of fringe communities remained a major management challenge, even though livelihood support programme existed in some communities surrounding the MNP and SHRR. A total of 21 threat factors were recorded for the PAs, with five of them, poaching, livestock grazing, bushfire, erosion and flooding being common to all the three PAs. The most severe and persistent threats varied from site to site. In all the PAs, management were constrained by inadequate funding, trained field personnel, and equipment and facilities. Addressing these constraints, therefore, may enhance the management effectiveness of these PAs.

Sustainable development represents the future for Romanian rural areas and a viable solution to solve the environmental problems. This concept can be put into practice through the interaction between economic, sociocultural, environmental and political-institutional dimension. In this interaction an important role has the ecological education of citizens from rural areas and their involvement in environmental policy decisions. So, a low level of ecological education in rural areas leads to a permanent degradation of environmental factors. In this research we showed some negative environmental practices related to the inhabitants of rural areas. Citizen’s education in environmental spirit should promote the principles of prevention, conservation and recycling.

Pompilio, Lucia, Mosini, Andrea (2021): The Odonate fauna of Val Grande National Park (Insecta: Odonata). Fragmenta entomologica 53 (1): 25-42, DOI: 10.13133/2284-4880/434, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.13133/2284-4880/434

There is a growing consensus among researchers for the need to conserve biodiversity within agricultural landscapes. Increasingly, research suggests that on-farm biodiversity is integral to the resilience and sustainability of agroecosystems. Biodiversity performs a range of ecosystem services in the agroecosystem such as regulating microclimates, recycling nutrients, augmenting soils, pollinating crops and supressing pest invertebrate populations. In particular, the role of invertebrate diversity in providing ecosystem services on farms is garnering much attention. Invertebrates comprise the bulk of faunal biomass on farms, are taxonomically diverse, and are the main drivers of many ecosystem functions. Globally, there are various practices and programs which are designed to increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Often, these involve participation by farmers in projects which emphasize restoration of native vegetation (revegetation of land or protection of remnant native vegetation) on farmland.<br> <br> This study investigates the effect of restored native vegetation on invertebrate communities in southeastern Gippsland, in Victoria, Australia. In this project, restored native vegetation refers to both blocks of remnant vegetation and strips of land revegetated with native vegetation, both of which were protected by fencing from livestock. This study comprises a series of ecological assessments along with a social study of the role of farmers in championing and actioning conservation work within agricultural landscapes.<br> <br> The ecological component of the study was based on two broad taxonomic surveys of invertebrate abundances conducted on four farms and one reference site in the study area. Comparisons of invertebrate abundance were made at several taxonomic levels, across several vegetation types: restored native vegetation (either protected areas of remnant native vegetation or areas revegetated with native vegetation communities), pasture adjacent to restored native vegetation, pasture remote from native vegetation and a reference site. Groups of invertebrates considered to be beneficial to agriculture were of particular interest. At the order level, Araneae generally had higher abundances in restored native. Four (Asilidae, Tachinidae, Bethylidae, and Formicidae) of the 11 beneficial invertebrate families had higher abundances in restored native vegetation. One beneficial invertebrate family (Carabidae) had consistently higher abundances in pasture adjacent to restored native vegetation. The highest abundances of the other five beneficial invertebrate families (Lycosidae, Staphylinidae, Dolichopodidae, Syrphidae, and Apidae) showed no consistent pattern with regards to vegetation type. One beneficial invertebrate family (Xylophagidae) was only found in restored native vegetation. Thirteen of 16 genera of ants were commonly found to have higher abundances in restored native vegetation. Eight of the 16 genera of ants were found exclusively in restored native vegetation. Two out of the three functional groups consistently had higher abundances in restored native vegetation.<br> <br> When sampling of invertebrates was undertaken at different distances from the edge of restored native vegetation, decreases in abundance from the edge of restored native vegetation to 20m and 80m out into adjacent pasture were not uncommon for beneficial invertebrates. These results suggest that beneficial invertebrates may be using restored native vegetation as a faunal refuge.<br> <br> The reference site, a low-disturbance area, had unique invertebrate fauna, with high abundances of some beneficial groups. In addition, the cores and edges of areas of restored native vegetation had distinct assemblages of beneficial invertebrates compared to adjacent pasture. These results indicate that low-disturbance areas and restored native vegetation are important in increasing the abundance and diversity of beneficial invertebrates in a pasture landscape.<br> <br> Farmers in the research area were genuinely interested in restoring native vegetation on farmland. However, due to dry weather patterns in the research area, low commodity prices on the world market, and reductions in agricultural funding, farmers lacked the time and money to restore native vegetation on farmland. Lack of funding was most commonly identified by farmers as a barrier to restoration work on farms. Farmers expressed interest in learning more about the important role of beneficial invertebrates in controlling pest species in pasture landscapes; and the related role of restored native vegetation in supporting the abundance and diversity of beneficial invertebrates on pasturelands. Farmers who are included in agroecological projects and are presented with the results from these projects could be more open to undertake restoration work on farms.

Amit y Valverde-Zúñiga reportaron las primeras observaciones de Desmodus rotundus intentando alimentarse de Tapirella bairdii en Costa Rica. Ellos reportaron comportamientos que creían consistentes con comportamientos de antiparasitismo para las dantas. Proporcionamos evidencia adicional que argumenta que tales comportamientos antiparasitarios pueden haber sido seleccionados y estar extendidos entre los mamíferos neotropicales. Mantuvimos una red de cámaras trampa dentro del Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica desde 2015. Nuestra red consistió en 13 a 56 cámaras emparejadas o no emparejadas, colocadas en una cuadrícula de 4 x 4 km. En 2021 capturamos vídeo de un D. rotundus arrastrándose hasta un T. bairdii en un aparente intento de alimentación, mientras un segundo D. rotundus parece estar esperando cerca, mostrando una táctica de alimentación en grupo bien conocida de esta especie. Sin embargo, la danta evadió el intento de alimentación debido a lo que parece ser un comportamiento consistente a través de algunas especies en el tiempo y el espacio. Esto sugiere una respuesta conductual evolutiva a los intentos de alimentación por parte de D. rotundus. En 2023, documentamos un segundo evento entre un individuo de D. rotundus y un T. bairdii juvenil que caminaba por el área de detección de nuestra cámara. Nuestras observaciones, combinadas con las observaciones de otros, sugieren un movimiento repentino que obliga a D. rotundus a apartarse del cuerpo de la danta, lo cual es una estrategia eficaz para evitar un ataque.

Algunas relaciones simbióticas, como el mutualismo, benefician a los individuos de las especies involucradas. Aunque existen registros de animales que se alimentan de organismos hematófagos que infestan a otros vertebrados, los casos de reptiles que se alimentan sobre mamíferos son escasos. Aquí reportamos el caso del cherepo, Basiliscus basiliscus alimentándose sobre la danta, Tapirus bairdii, en Costa Rica. Las observaciones se llevaron a cabo en el Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica donde uno de los autores (D. Paniagua) realiza excursiones con grupos de turistas. Durante tales excursiones, se ha observado a basiliscos en la espalda de tapires cazando tábanos (Tabanidae) que aterrizan en ellos para alimentarse de su sangre. Se obtuvieron al menos 10 observaciones de este comportamiento entre basiliscos y tapires. Estos casos se observaron con mayor frecuencia en días calurosos y cuando hay suficiente agua en los charcos u otras fuentes. Cuando los tapires descansan en lugares secos, no se ha observado la presencia de basiliscos. Este comportamiento tiene como objetivo alimentarse de tábanos hembra, que constantemente acosan a los tapires intentando posarse y alimentarse de su sangre. El cherepo obtiene alimento y ayuda a los tapires al reducir las picaduras dolorosas de los tábanos y la propagación potencial de enfermedades. Este comportamiento mutualista no había sido descrito anteriormente para ninguna de estas 2 especies.

As a multifunctional space, national park (NP) offers visitors a range of experiences, including environmental education (EE) programs, which help visitors learn about the park’s ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. These programs can take various forms, such as guided hikes, interpretive displays, educational workshops, and citizen science projects. This paper presents theoretical research and practice in EE in NPs, drawing on research conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other countries. The study aims to identify effective ways of implementing EE function in NPs, including planning the legislative system and educational activity content. Successful EE programs often involve collaboration between park staff, educators, and local communities, tailored to the specific needs and interests of different visitor groups. Challenges faced by Congolese NPs in implementing EE programs include limited funding, inadequate staffing, and a lack of public awareness and support. The study provides examples of successful EE programs in other national parks that could serve as models for Congolese NPs. To achieve EE function in NPs, the study proposes solutions such as developing partnerships with local schools and universities, using social media to raise awareness about EE programs, and integrating EE into park management plans and policies. By implementing these solutions, Congolese NPs can contribute to global efforts to conserve biodiversity and protect the planet’s natural resources.

Diversity is a natural characteristic and is the basis of ecological stability, biodiversity expressed a measure that describes the variation of plant species from a community that is affected by the number of species and relative abundance of each species. The presence of trees at a site generally will have a positive impact for the balance of the ecosystem in a wider scale. In general, the role of vegetation in an ecosystem associated with the regulation of carbon dioxide and oxygen balance in the air, improved physical properties, chemical and biological soil, ground water system settings, and others. The behavior of each type of tree growth and regeneration of species adaptation to environmental changes are a result of degradation is very useful information for consideration in determining the form of further processing of forest. The purpose of this study was to determine the structure and composition of vegetation in the protected area forest Telaga Kameloh waterfall area in subdistrict Kurun district Gunung Mas. Note that the value of diversity type (H ') from all levels of vegetation; seedling, stake, poles and trees, the largest located in protected areas with high diversity (H> 3 - 3,5). Richness of Species with the highest seedling of protected areas with a value of 7,49 in areas with the highest degradation of seedlings is 5.27. The highest value of evenness of species found on poles level in areas hedge with the value 0.97 and the area of degradation value with the highest poles evenness of 0.96. Dominance index (C) the highest found in tree in protected area 16,73, in the area of degradation value of the highest dominance on the tree with the value 23,37. Community similarity index or index of similarity (IS) has a value Of between 44,53% to 77.07%.The vegetation structure in degradasi area from curve J is inversed, it sign that the comumity was annoyed. In the protected area, vegetation structure not from curve J inversed.