Ecobreves – Expansion of Environmental Services

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SAN JOSE, Feb 4 2001 (IPS) - The Costa Rica government is to reinforce its Environmental Services Program with the help of a donation from Germany totaling nine million dollars, earmarked for 43,000 hectares that are currently in private hands, announced Elizabeth Odio, minister of environment. Through this project, the government pays landowners for the services provided by maintaining their forests intact, including the production of oxygen and water.

Based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Costa Rica hopes that in the near future industrialized nations will invest in protecting forests here as a way to curb global warming.