Title

Ecotourism as a driver of forest conservation on small farms in Costa Rica

Alternative Title

El ecoturismo como conductor de la conservación de los bosques en las fincas pequeñas en Costa Rica

Creator

Sarah Owens

Files

Publication Date

December 2007

Abstract

Conservation of fragmented forest on private land is instrumental to long-term protection of tropical biodiversity. However, few incentives exist for small landowners to conserve. This study addresses ecotourism as an incentive for forest fragment conservation. Small farmers were interviewed to determine the extent of land in regeneration or protection and the ecotouristic activities on each property. The data suggest that a greater percentage of land is in regeneration on farms with small-scale tourism (20% + 10.1) than on farms with large-scale tourism (12% + 6.0) and no tourism (5% + 2.1; Kruskal-Wallis Test, H = 6.0673, p = 0.0481, N = 19). I conclude that of the farms employing tourism, three types of private property classifications exist: 1) land that would be conserved with or without tourism, 2) land whose maintenance benefits from ecotourism directly, and 3) land with tourism that is not ecological, but could still contribute to conservation. Each property type is addressed with a specific conservation strategy that could enhance long-term biodiversity protection in the Monteverde area. Este estudio aborda el ecoturismo como un incentivo para la conservación de los bosques fragmentados. Los pequeños agricultores fueron entrevistados para determinar la extensión de tierra en regeneración o protección y las actividades eco turísticas en cada propiedad.

Keywords

Ecotourism, Ecoturismo, Forest conservation, Conservacion de los bosques, Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Monteverde Zone, Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Zona de Monteverde, CIEE Fall 2007, CIEE Otoño 2007

Description

Student affiliation : Department of Biology, Occidental College Born Digital

Subject: topical

Ecotourism; Ecoturismo; Forest conservation; Conservacion de los bosques; CIEE Fall 2007; CIEE Otoño 2007

Subject: geographic

Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Monteverde Zone; Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Zona de Monteverde

Genre

Reports

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute MVI

Identifier

M39-00415

Recommended Citation

Owens, Sarah, "Ecotourism as a driver of forest conservation on small farms in Costa Rica" (2007). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 23.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/23