Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. A country profile of natural resource development and conservation in Costa Rica and the extent, causes, and probable consequences of environmental deterioration, is presented. After an initial summary of the report's main conclusions and recommendations, discussion is given to historical and cultural aspects, Indian populations, demography, nutrition and health, forests and forestry, wildlands, wildlife, coastal and near-shore marine resources, soils and land use, agriculture and cattle, water resources, energy sources, environmental contamination, environmental law, and related institutions.
Environmental deterioration is serious and worsening.
The best agricultural lands are being degraded by pervasive soil erosion and eliminated by sprawling urbanization. Extensive deforestation has nearly destroyed any potential for large-scale commercial forestry, while threatening the economic viability of hydroelectric, potable water, and irrigation projects. Further, the environmental consequences of the current, severe economic crisis will be profound and perhaps unpredictable.