Every year, the Pacuare brings over 450,000 tourists to its waters (Buckner 4). Almost all tourists experience the river by kayaking or rafting, and because the average rafting or kayaking trip costs 150 dollars, the Rio Pacuare is a huge environmental and economical asset to Costa Rica (Rachoweiki 158). Currently the Rio Pacuare is under pressure. A hydroelectric dam is to be built on the Pacuare. In 1994 a plan was laid out to have the dam done by the end of the century. Officially the dam is still to be built, but environmental opposition has slowed the process (Buckner 3). Not only will the dam hurt the country economically; it will hurt it environmentally by denying certain animals access to the water and making living in the water inhospitable for many species of aquatic life.

             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 Toads hopped in abundance in the boundaries of Monteverde. Monteverde was the only place in the world where Golden Toads could be seen. Because Monteverde was the only location where the toads could be found and because they hopped around in such abundance, the Golden Toad became the mascot of Monteverde. But then in 1989, no Golden Toads were seen. No Golden Toads have ever been seen since 1989 (Davis, Solomen, Berg 828). Scientists can only believe that the toads went extinct due to increased air pollution that killed the frogs as gas exchange occurred through their moist skin (Rachoweiki 234).