Tourism is Costa Rica's number one industry. Last year, tourism brought in over 600 million dollars, which represents about 30% of Costa Rica's foreign earnings ("Re-evaluating" 21). Seventy-six percent of all tourists visit Costa Rica's National parks, and the number of tourists visiting annually is increasing each year (Burnie 25). Though revenues from tourism are increasing, many problems plague Costa Rica's environment, and inevitably the economy.

Costa Rica is currently rivaling Brazil for the highest deforestation rate (Frommer 24). Seventy-five years ago, three fourths of Costa Rica was covered by forest. Today, only twenty percent of the nation retains its original forest cover (Dreshner 23). Along wit

h habitat destruction comes extinction. According to the World Reasources Institute's report, Costa Rica is home to thirteen endangered birds, nine endangered mammals, and two endangered reptiles. All of these animals are harmed by habitat loss, or the increase of foreign species that follow dramatic changes in the countryside (Rachoweiki 26). Deforestation also causes erosion, which turns clear waters brown with the addition of mud and silt. Costa Rica has some of the most beautiful rivers in the world. In fact, the Rio Pacuare is called by three rafting magazines, "The fifth most beautiful river in the world" (Buckner 2). Without its clear waters, the Rio Pacuare will not be able hold that status.

Buckner, Alice. Saving the Pacuare. Costa Rica: Rios Tropicales, 1995.

Though pollution occurs throughout all of Costa Rica much of the pollution occurs on the coast, where large hotel chains are beginning to spring up. These hotel chains not only put pollution and trash into the water, but they also harm endangered sea turtle populations. The hotels have streetlights, entrance lights, and room lights, many of which must be left on all night long for the hotel chain to function (re-evaluating 21). When baby sea turtles hatch from eggs on the beach, they instinctively go toward light. (The baby turtles think that the light is the moon) Because they do not go to the water, they usually die of starvation, or they are eaten by predators (Rachoweiki 528).

Burnie, David. "Ecotourists to Paradise." New Scientist Mar. 1997:22-28.

Another problem facing Costa Rica is the pollution concern. Costa Rica was once a nation with only one major city, San Jose. All pollution came from San Jose, and the rest of the nation was left unpolluted. Today, more and more industrial cities are forming, creating pollution all over the nation ("Re-evaluating" 21). Pollution has already had devastating effects on Costa Rica's environment. Costa Rica's most visited park, Monteverde, has probably felt the effects of pollution the most. Prior to 1989, Golden

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Approximate Word count = 1390
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)