Costa Rica: environmental and developmental issues and solutions. An analysis of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation practices

The main purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of how Costa Rica has managed to achieve sustainable development while preserving and implementing conservation and enhancing tourism, mostly in its declination of what has become widely known as ecotourism.
Both qualitative and quantitative research methods have been adopted in order to provide empirical and descriptive data of all the major devices enacted. In addition, case studies concerning the most important conservation, biodiversity and ecotourism sites have been examined in order to supply essential in-depth information. The main sources I have based my work on are taken from books about sustainable development and tourism in Costa Rica, as well as Internet sources such as organizations and governmental websites and academic scientific articles.
The overall structure of my work has the form of four chapters, plus this introduction and the conclusions, with a brief appendix containing detailed maps relating to conservation issues.
In chapter 1, an overview of the country is provided, with information relevant to understand the situation of ecotourism and biodiversity, major environmental issues affecting it and laws and institutional documents aiding the cause of biodiversity conservation.
Chapter 2 examines ecotourism, starting from a general analysis of its evolution and leading to the present status of the country, with an in-depth review of certification programmes promoted by governmental entities.
Chapter 3 deals with a more specific investigation of ecotourism and related issues, with particular attention to host-tourist relationships and their possible consequences, stressing the importance of the role of local communities in its development and implementation, with a case study regarding the area of La Fortuna. A review of tropical forest evaluation is also provided. Finally, an examination of ecotourism as a tool for sustainable development is reported, with another case study about the areas of La Amistad and La Osa.
In chapter 4 conservation and marketing strategies are investigated. Special attention has been drawn to practical projects implemented by both public and private organizations, with particular focus on the contribution given by and to private landowners. Another case study examines the bioregional approach in one of the most outstanding protected areas of the country, i.e. the one comprised in the Osa peninsula.
Finally, the conclusions offer a summary of what has been investigated by emphasizing the unique approach to sustainable development adopted by Costa Rica.