Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [198]
The body of evidence supporting these claims is astounding, and consists of everything from court testimonials to recorded data on imports and exports. Officially, most fast-food companies maintain that they are in favor of rainforest preservation, and that they do not use hamburger meat of foreign origin in their products. However, although imported beef is only a small portion of the total meat consumed in the USA, this accounts for a significant percentage of Central American beef production. One documented problem is that when Central American beef arrives at a US point of entry, it is often marked as ‘US inspected and approved,’ which disguises the origin of the product. Furthermore, since the meat in a single burger can be derived from multiple cows, it’s difficult to verify that a product is in fact free of foreign beef.
As a consumer, it’s virtually impossible to ensure that you’re not eating beef that’s been raised on recently deforested areas, aside from boycotting the major fast-food retailers. In late 2007 Costa Rica approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement (Cafta), which took effect on January 1, 2009. The law reduced tarriffs on beef exports. Several fast-food companies have started adopting healthier menus (though much of this is attributable to recent declines in profits). In the meantime, researchers in Costa Rica are hard at work investigating the natural processes of reforestation.
The 345 sq km of Parque Nacional Guanacaste are much more than a continuation of the lowland habitats found in Santa Rosa. In its lower western reaches, the park is indeed composed of the dry tropical rainforest characteristic of much of Guanacaste, but the terrain soon begins to climb toward two volcanoes – Volcán Orosi (1487m) and Volcán Cacao (1659m). Here the landscape slowly transitions to the humid cloud forest that’s found throughout much of the highland Cordillera de Guanacaste. This habitat, which is similar in function to Parque Nacional Carara, provides a refuge for altitudinal migrants that move between the coast and the highlands. Thus the national park allows for the ancient migratory and hunting patterns of various animal species to continue as they have for millennia.
However, this ecosystem is more the domain of biologists than tourists (admission is by reservation only), and there are three major research stations within the borders of the park. In addition to observing animal migratory patterns, researchers are also monitoring the pace of reforestation as much of the park is composed of ranch land. Interestingly enough, researchers have found that if the pasture is carefully managed (much of this management involves just letting nature take its course), the natural forest will reinstate itself in its old territory. Thus crucial habitats in the national park are not just preserved, but in some cases they are also expanded.
For information on visiting the park, contact the ACG headquarters (2666-5051; admission US$10, reservations required) in Parque Nacional Santa Rosa.
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Sights & Activities
Hiking trails in the national park are among the least developed in the entire country, and are principally used by researchers to move between each of the stations. It’s advisable to talk to the staff before setting out on any of the hikes, as infrastructure in the park is almost nonexistent. If you have a relevant background in biology or ecology, volunteer positions are available,