In this, the second of a three-part series on Costa Rica’s wildlife and conservation: Tamsin Harper discusses the fantastic example Costa Rica sets to the western world when it comes to wildlife conservation.

What we take pride in as individuals shapes how we choose to advertise ourselves to the world. Whether that is how we make our money, how we treat others or simply how we look.

Much like individuals, countries have their own identity. When the pride of many aligned, great things can happen and a common goal can be achieved. Fantastic parades can celebrate, votes can elect politicians and the changing of laws and attitudes can alter the reputation of a country for the better.

So how is the UK advertising itself to the rest of the world? What do we take pride in?

Our politics? Our industry? Our wealth? Maybe its just our TV shows?

Are we happy with that? Are you happy with that?

! PURA VIDA ! This is the battle cry of the Costa Rican people, in English it means ‘pure life’ or ‘life is great’, to live free and one with nature in a peaceful manner without war and destruction. This wholesome saying has been affectionately adopted by the Costa Rican people as a symbol of their love for and commitment to preserving their wildland. One thing is clear, Costa Rica takes pride in the beauty of their natural world and they are known globally for their stunning landscapes and biodiversity.

However, this nation was not always so well thought of. Where civil wars and deforestation for mass farming once raged across the land, today the nation is united and striving to become carbon neutral. In the race amongst many more developed and rich countries, Costa Rica is on track to win.

Since the 1980’s Costa Rica’s forest cover has increased by 41%, 25% of their land is made up of protected areas, and they are ranked number one on the happy planet index. So, how have they achieved this? A country with a GDP less than a quarter of our own! How have they succeeded where much of the globe has failed in the past? Simple, the pride of the masses for their wild world has driven changes in policy, laws and actions implemented by their government.

One example of this in action is the debates that surrounded the volcanic Cano island, located 17km into the Pacific Ocean off Costa Rica’s western coastline. Exposed to unique currents, it is rich with marine life and is often visited by Olive Ridley sea turtles, Manta rays and an array of shark species that feed on the medley of fish calling the waters home.

When deciding how best to utilise the island for income, a wealth of stakeholders argued for ownership. One idea was to build an enormous, private and all-inclusive hotel resort. Another was to give the island’s waters over to the fishing industry. Scientific researchers protested; they also had a vision for the land. They demanded the island be closed off to the public to prevent its pollution and destruction whilst urging that a small natural research facility should be built to aid in the understanding of the natural processes. The government had some difficult decisions to make.

When teased with the prospect of wealth from an already successful hotel chain, when offered the opportunity to supply productive waters to a profitable fishing industry and when promised improvements in local fishing stokes and world recognition from confident researchers, the government thought hard and turned their backs. They chose to designate the island as a biological reserve, encouraging tourism through scuba diving, snorkelling and hiking, whilst setting restrictive measures on the pollution and disturbance caused by the public. By not giving in to the promise of wealth the Costa Rican government had found a middle ground. Whilst maybe being less profitable in the immediate future, they had the insight to see the profit that capitalising on the natural world could have in the long term. Cano Island is now a tourism hotspot in Costa Rica and is known as one of the best Snorkelling sites, supplying jobs to local people as dive and snorkelling instructors.

But they haven’t stopped at reserves and tourism. The fishing bans that surround the island have made it a breeding ground for many aquatic populations. This means that an overspill of fish is now spreading from the island’s water to surrounding fishing grounds, increasing catches once again. They had started on a path that would slowly begin to reverse the past and heal their seas.

Once upon a time the now wildlife driven Costa Rica had been one of the leading ports in the shark finning industry. Once industrial fishing vessels began to over-fish Costa Rica’s waters, many of the local communities that relied on artisanal fishing for income began to fail and shark finning became more profitable. Much like the UK their waters were not only fished by their own people and much of the profit was lost to other countries. However, in 2012 Costa Rica’s government made shark finning illegal in the country’s waters. Their newly passed shark-finning policy stated that all sharks must be landed with their fins attached.

Being caught even with their fins still attached, although slightly better, may seem like a raw deal for the sharks of Costa Rica. However, there is method to this madness. Fishing laws passed to prevent overfishing have set limits of the weight of catches that can be brought to land and sold. In the past fishermen have been able to take bags of shark fins to be weighed on land after throwing the rest of the animal back to the sea. This new policy means that if shark finning is to take place, fisherman must bring the whole shark to land, greatly increasing catch-weight with few fins to sell. For fisherman, this is no longer a profitable practice and shark catches have declined. To pass this law was yet another step for Costa Rica in a more environmentally contentious direction.

Costa Rica brought their shark finning policy to the united nations; they ask the UN general assembly to now call on all nations of the world to land their sharks with fins attached.

A country with a GDP of less than one-quarter of our own is miles ahead of us in a race towards a better life for all. It turns out, money doesn’t buy happiness. Costa Rica is by no means a shining example of wildlife conservation. However, they have taken steps to exploit their environment in a way that benefits their people and wildlife.

The UK is at a crossroads with the rest of the world. The leaders of every country have escaped the clutches of a devastating catastrophe. Our economies have suffered, we have lost thousands and our industries may yet crash, but still, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we have the unique opportunity to RE-BUILD.

What will the UK choose to have pride in? More importantly, WHAT DO YOU HAVE PRIDE IN?

The pride in PURA VIDA

In this, the second of a three-part series on Costa Rica’s wildlife and conservation: Tamsin Harper discusses the fantastic example Costa Rica sets to the western world when it comes to wildlife conservation.