Trees with swelled trunks and no true age rings are common in the tropics. This

1
Trees with swelled trunks and no true age rings
are common in the tropics. This makes
measurement of diameter very difficult, and
limits age and annual productivity estimation to
user perception or rare long term scientific
observation.
2
Mountains and moisture sugar cane, beans, coffee
and other crops have replaced formerly dense
tropical cloud forests
3
Coffee plantation adjacent to area with
abandoned shade trees--a wood resource
4
Living fences--a wood resource
5
Palm fronds
Cacao
Coconuts
Nonwood products from trees
6
The climate, soil, and diversity of Costa Ricas
habitats supports a diversity of available fruits
year-round. (February)
7
Cashew tree, an important nut crop
8
Sloths in native habitat attract ecotourists. In
Costa Rica, ecotourism accounts for a
substantial foreign income that offsets some the
cost of conservation.
9
Sloth in cecropia tree
10
Ecotourism is big business for the small-scale
entrepreneur. Buses are air-conditioned and
comfortable. The U.S. is a major source of
business, but tours in Spanish and German exist
as well.
11
Field guides, trained by area naturalists and
scientists, are bilingual, often assisted by a
driver, explain the natural history of the
region, its flora, and fauna.
12
Tortuguero, looking over the Atlantic.
Accessed only by boat or plane
Near Carara BioReserve, on the drier Pacific
side
Tours frequently include a stop at a roadside
eatery, serving family-style regional dishes
13
Carara Biological Reserve 1999 Visitors Native
(gray), Foreign (red)
3000
2000
1000
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Visitation is greatest in dry season
(Jan-April) 3 to 6 times more from foreign
countries than from Costa Rica
14
Weaverbird nests
Birdwatching
15
Howler monkeys arrrgh arrrgh arrgh Diet
generally opportunistic, primarily leaf eaters
16
Baby howler monkey and its mother
17
Edge of banana plantation. Boat transport common
near the Carribean Coast
18
Cattle are sometimes part of plantation
management
19
Soursop, a minor fruit crop (for yogurt).
Plastic used extensively to limit bug/sun
damage, also for bananas
20
Plastic from banana plantations invades water
travel routes along the canals, affecting
tourist views
21
Gates are common in most towns--to protect homes
and vehicles from minor thievery.
22
Human labor dominates crop production bananas
being transported to the processing plant
23
Bananas dipped in water/chemical solution to
eliminate pests, diseases. Worker safety not as
structured as in the U.S.
24
Bananas placed in boxes, and set on pallets for
shipping
25

Arenals volcanic soil from 1960s lava flow, now
colonized by orchids and other species
26
Hot springs at Arenal
(above) road to Arenal.Volcano (below) active
lava flow
27
Paradise just below the Arenal Volcano. Tabacon
Lodge a hot springs resort
28
Wetlands and Wildlife at CATIE, Turrialba