Hi everyone! My name is Jared and, as you can probably tell, I am traveling on the Costa Rica Plus3 trip. Preparing for the trip has so far involved gaining a basic understanding of the Costa Rican government, economy, environment, and way of life. A major theme of most topics surrounding Costa Rica is sustainability. So far, I know Costa Rica is an incredibly environmentally conscious country that prioritizes sustainable practices. This has positively influenced my perception of the country, as I view their focus on sustainability to be very noble and responsible.
After a quick google search, I found a couple examples of the sustainable practices implemented in Costa Rica. First, Costa Rica has designated roughly 25% of the country as preservation land that is protected by the National System of Conservation Areas. This helps to ensure the safety of the biodiversity and wildlife in Costa Rica. Also, protecting this land keeps it from being used for manufacturing or other processes that create waste, while simultaneously improving the air quality. Second, the country mostly utilizes reusable energy. In fact, over 99% of the energy consumed in Costa Rica is reusable. Funding from the government and private companies put towards both hydroelectric and geothermal energy production has made this possible.
Overall, the country-wide focus on sustainability makes our trip to Costa Rica even more exciting. I am looking forward to getting in-country, experiencing a new culture, and taking in new scenery.