Costa Rica Forest Information and Data

According to the U.N. FAO, 51.0% or about 2,605,000 ha of Costa Rica is forested, according to FAO. Of this 23.9% ( 623,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Costa Rica had 241,000 ha of planted forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Costa Rica lost an average of 2,050 ha or 0.08% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Costa Rica gained 1.6% of its forest cover, or around 41,000 ha.

Costa Rica's forests contain 238 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Costa Rica has some 1511 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 6.9% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 6.6% are threatened. Costa Rica is home to at least 12119 species of vascular plants, of which 7.8% are endemic. 9.3% of Costa Rica is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

2011 Update

In May 2011, Sassan Saatchi of Caltech's Jet Propulsion Lab and colleagues published a paper in PNAS with new carbon stock estimates for global tropical forests.

Forest definition (canopy cover %)	10% tree cover	25% tree cover	30% tree cover
Forest Area (M ha)	4	3	3
Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C)	333	255	235
Belowground forest carbon (Mt C)	93	71	65
Total forest carbon (Mt C)	426	327	300
Average Carbon Density (t C/ha)	102	105	108

M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values

Costa Rica Environmental profile | Costa Rica pictures

The following contains data relating to forest cover in Costa Rica

Previous version of this profile (2009)

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Deforestation | Primary forest | Planted forest | Forest designation | Forest ownership | Growing stock | Carbon stock | Disturbances affecting forest land | Removals | Removals Value | Employment | Forest policy | Human resources | Revenue | Agreements | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

Home  What's New  About  Rainforests    Mission    Introduction    Characteristics    Biodiversity    The Canopy    Forest Floor    Forest Waters    Indigenous People    Deforestation    Consequences    Saving Rainforests    Amazon    Borneo    Congo    New Guinea    Sulawesi    REDD    Country Profiles    Statistics    Works Cited    For Kids    For Teachers    Photos/Images    Expert Interviews    Rainforest News   Forest data    Global deforestation    Tropical deforestation    By country    Deforestation charts    Regional forest data    Deforestation drivers  XML Feeds  Pictures  Books  Education  Newsletter  Contact

Costa Rica: Forest Cover, 2010 Total Land Area (1000 ha) 5106 Total Forest Area (1000 ha) 2605 Percent Forest Cover 51 Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) 623 Primary Forest, % total forest 24 Other wooded land (1000 ha) 12 Percent other wooded land n.s. Costa Rica: Breakdown of forest types, 2010 Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 623 24 Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 1741 67 Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 241 9 Costa Rica: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010 TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 2564 2376 2491 2605 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -19 23 23 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -0.76 0.95 0.90 Costa Rica: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010 FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 2269 2173 2269 2364 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -10 -10 19 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -0.4 -0.42 0.88 Costa Rica: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010 PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 623 623 623 623 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 Costa Rica: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010 PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 295 203 222 241 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -9 4 4 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 -3.67 1.78 1.66 Costa Rica: Primary designated function (percent) Production Protection of soil and water Conservation of biodiversity Social services Multiple use Other None or unknown 14 11 24 4 15 0 32 Costa Rica: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent) OWNERSHIP PATTERN Public ownership Private ownership Other 45 55 0 PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Individuals Business entities and institutions Local, indigenous and tribal communities - - - HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS Public administration Individuals Business entities and Institutions Communities Other 100 0 0 0 0 Costa Rica: Growing stock in forest GROWING STOCK IN FOREST Total (million m3) Per hectare (m3) Coniferous (million m3) Broadleaved (million m3) % commercial species 272 104 - - - GROWING STOCK IN FOREST Total (million m3) Per hectare (m3) Coniferous (million m3) Broadleaved (million m3) % commercial species - - Costa Rica: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010 CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (million metric tons) 1990 2000 2005 2010 233 217 227 238 CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (per hectare in tons) 2000 91 ANNUAL CHANGE (1 000 t/yr) 1990 2000 2005 2010 -2 2 2 ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE (t/ha/yr) 1990 2000 2005 2010 n.s. n.s. n.s. Costa Rica: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005 FOREST FIRE 1000 ha % wild fire (not managed burn) 7 - EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE Insects Diseases Other biotic agents Abiotic factors Total (excluding fire) % of 2005 forest area - - - - - - Costa Rica: Trends in removals of wood products 1990-2005 INDUSTRIAL ROUNDWOOD Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) 1990 2000 2005 percent of which from forest 2005 1198 776 1006 75 WOODFUEL Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) 1990 2000 2005 percent of which from forest 2005 - 468 468 - Costa Rica: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005 Value of removals (million US$) Value per ha forest (US$) Industrial roundwood Woodfuel NWFP Total 178 - 24 - - Costa Rica: Employment in forestry 1990-2005 TOTAL (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - - - IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - 7 5 IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - - - Costa Rica: Forest policy and legal framework 2008 National forest policy (year): Yes (2000) Sub-national forest policy: No National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2001) Under revision National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1996) Sub-national forest law: No Costa Rica: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008 2000 2005 2008 # % female # % female # % female - - 1225 26 52 53 Costa Rica: Forest revenue and public expenditure on forestry 2005 Forest revenue Public expenditure (1000 US$) Domestic funding External funding Total (1000 US$) Operational expenditure Transfer payments Operational expenditure Transfer payments Operational expenditure Transfer payments 14 17 12 0 93 17 21 Costa Rica: Status of ratification of international conventions and agreements as of 1 January 2010 CbD: UNFCCC: Kyoto Protocol: UNCCD: ITTA: CITeS: Ramsar: World Heritage Convention: NlbI: [an error occurred while processing this directive] Costa Rica: Environment Environment - current issues deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Natural hazards occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes Costa Rica: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 4.41% permanent crops: 5.88% other: 89.71% (2001) Natural resources hydropower Costa Rica: Economy Economy - overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee and bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica is the only signatory to the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that has not ratified it. CAFTA implementation would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate. GDP - per capita $10,000 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 3.2% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 28.3%, services: 63.1% (2005 est.) Industries microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products Population below poverty line (%) 18% (2004 est.) Debt - external $3.633 billion (30 June 2005 est.) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.) Costa Rica: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 4,016,173 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 1.48% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 79.3 Percent rural (2003) 39.4% Median age (years) total: 26.03 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 2.28 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1% Largest Cities in Costa Rica Cities and urban areas in Costa Rica with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population San Jose Costa Rica 357600 1370800 Costa Rica: Infrastructure Telephones - main lines in use 1.132 million (2002) Telephones - mobile cellular 528,047 (2002) Roadways (km) total: 35,889 km paved: 8,075 km unpaved: 27,814 km (2003) Costa Rica: Health Life expectancy at birth (years) total population: 76.84 years male: 74.26 years female: 79.55 years (2005 est.) Infant mortality rate 9.95 deaths/1,000 live births HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) 0.6% (2003 est.) Costa Rica : References & Data Sources  Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005  Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005 & 2010) and the State of the World's Forests (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001)  Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.  Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.  RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.  World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site  The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund  With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com Select a Country or Region INDEX Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Caribbean Cayman Islands Central African Republic Central America Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Cote d�Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic DR Congo East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oceania Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Lucia Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South America South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States of America United States Virgin Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Vietnam Virgin Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Tropical rainforest information  World Rainforests  Rainforest Structure  Rainforest Biodiversity  Canopy  Forest Floor  Rainforest Waters  Indigenous People  Deforestation  Global Importance  Rainforest Conservation  Country Reports update soon  References  Deforestation Tables  The Amazon Rainforest update soon  The Congo Rainforest update soon  Deforestation in Brazil  Rainforest Images   Web mongabay.com Mongabay Rainforests Mongabay News Mongabay Photos