The Beginnings: Costa Rica Eco Tourism, Teddy Roosevelt And The Matterhorn
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by: Victor C. Krumm
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Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 Time: 4:09 PM
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Like so many of life's greatest success stories, it began with an observation, so simple one wonders why nobody saw it earlier and so powerful it is still changing the world. It started with a unique man on a intriguing and beautiful mountain called the Matterhorn. The world's first eco tourist was Theodore Roosevelt and what we call "eco tourism" today leads thousands of people a year to a little gem named by Christopher Columbus five centuries ago: Costa Rica, the "rich coast."
About 20 years before he became one of America's greatest presidents, Roosevelt, always the inquisitive, went to Europe to climb the famous Matterhorn Mountain in Switzerland. He was distressed by what he encountered on the mountain or, more accurately, what he did not see.
The mighty Matterhorn Mountain was almost lifeless. There were no longer any wolves, bears, mountain goats or sheep, creatures of wilderness. Where once there had been abundant life there was now---silence.
Though the phrase "eco tourism" was nearly 100 years away from being coined, Theodore Roosevelt was the world's first eco tourist and in a very real way, he is responsible for today's eco tourism that brings thousands of people each year to Costa Rica.
How do Roosevelt and the Matterhorn relate to Costa Rica eco tourism? Perhaps more than you might imagine. From his observations at the Matterhorn, Roosevelt realized that unless vast tracts of land were set aside, relentless exploitation would ultimately lead to disaster. So, when he became President and, despite the powerful robber barons and vested interests who fought him, he was the first to set aside wilderness and parks---an incredible 230,000,000 acres---an extraordinary achievement for America and singular accomplishment for the world.
Teddy Roosevelt's singular vision led to the birth of eco tourism. Americans quickly demonstrated that they will gladly pay money to preserve wilderness and photograph wildlife---at least in the United States.
But, America's experience was one thing. It was wealthy and developed. Costa Rica was, seemingly, very different. Here was a place that in 1519 its Spanish Governor described "the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all Americas." Four and a half centuries later, now independent and free, most of its forests had been cut or burned to make farm land. Big (American) business dominated its primary product, bananas, and the country was almost completely dependent upon the export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products for its economic life. United Fruit Company controlled the banana market and its relations with Costa Rica were often stormy, sometimes icy. Then, in the early 1970s, prices for coffee collapsed during a glut of the product on the world market. The country's future looked bleak.
Of course, nothing in the world is predestined and from the economic crisis arose Costa Rica eco tourism. Challenge always breeds opportunity and, in a seemingly unlikely alliance, conservationists and business interests argued that sustainable development needed to be given a chance rather than simply continuing to exploit the country's rapidly declining resources. The government joined forces with conservationists and businesses and embarked on an ambitious experiment, ultimately setting aside nearly 25% of the country for parks and preserves over the ensuing years.
In the span of just 30 years, the results have been spectacular. While most countries were burning and cutting their forests, Costa Rica was reforesting. Today, there are 20% more forests than just 25 years ago. Birds and mammals are returning to places where they haven't been seen for a generation or more. Costa Rica has enthusiastically embraced sustained development, rejecting the siren's call of Big Oil by refusing off shore drilling for oil. Amazingly almost 100% of its electricity now comes from renewable, non-polluting hydropower and it is embarking on wind turbines for additional generation. Researchers from Columbia and Yale researchers now rate it in the top 5 of all environmentally sensitive countries on the globe.
It has been a spectacular reversal in fortune. The country has vaulted into the top position on the Happiest Place in the World Index even as Costa Rica eco tourism has soared. Sustainable tourism has lifted the economy while preserving its wonders. As it turns out, Columbus was exactly right when he named this place "the rich coast" or "Costa Rica." The Spanish governor was dead wrong when he described Costa Rica as "the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in Americas." And, Theodore Roosevelt, the world's first eco tourist, would smile in delight if he were here today.
Finally, we need to return to the Swiss Matterhorn, the place behind Roosevelt's sudden claritythat parks and preserves were essential to saving wildlife and Costa Rica's wise extension of that idea leading to today's incredibly successful Costa Rica eco tourism. There is irony here. Costa Rica is often called the "Switzerland" of the tropics but Switzerland could learn a lesson here. Costa Rica's mountains are filled with life. Indeed, one of every five species of plants and animals on earth are found here. Meanwhile, the Swiss have learned little and the magnificent Matterhorn remains silent because its life was exploited, not cherished.
Article Source :: Simply Articles
About the Author
About this writer: Victor Krumm writes from sunny Escazu. Visit his popular website about Costa Rica Vacationsand be sure to check out Retiring in Costa Rica.
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