Essay Sample on Costa Rica: Nature, Peace and Historical Events

Introduction

Costa Rica is one of the countries, which is known by many people because of it's lushly nature with beautiful sandy beaches as well as the peaceful political environment that is admired by many people. It is important to note that there are various historical events that the country has undergone that has enabled for the development of the country (Jimenez et al., 2016). Despite involved in the Civil war in the past that led to the dissolution of the country's armed forces, the country has evolved to be one of the most peaceful countries with stable economy Among the Central American nations.

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Historical Events that Shaped what Costa Rica

For Costa Rica as a nation to be branded various glorifying names such as the paradise of peace and heaven on earth, there are numerous historical activities that the country undertook to help in shaping the Nation as a whole. Several past events can, therefore, be said to have developed Costa Rica to be a good country that it is today (Evans, 2010). First, the small country in Central America embraced diversity and consolidates all the cultures. It is from Costa Rica that we can learn that a biodiversity nation is one that experiences a high level of development. After the Second World War, Costa Rica was able to collect itself, and the resources that it has to pull together in building the nations resulting in the beautiful Costa Rica that we see today.

Costa Rica has a consolidated constitution that prevents the country from going in any Civil war. Costa Rica after going in Civil war in 1948 after the sitting president declined the defeat, they decided to come up with a constitution that bar the country from undergoing any civil war. As a result, the country has remained peaceful since then thus, spiking the political development and creating an enabling environment for economic stability. Furthermore, among the Nations in Central America, Costa Rica is regarded as the center of all the cultures (Evans, 2010). Consolidating all the cultures as one the country has made significant progress in the development.

A vibrant blend of culture consists of the indigenous heritage and the Spanish due to colonial influence. The official language is Spanish, but a more significant population speak English to allow everyone to feel at home in the Nation. Another historical event that has shaped the Nation making it be what it is today is the Democracy in the country today. Costa Rica provides for the true definition of Democracy in the whole world. There is no discrimination in any sector, and the country is driven by the equality that is enjoyed by everyone despite the place of Origin. When we view back to the campaign of the Great American leaders such as Martin Luther concerning the American dream, it can be confirmed that American Dream has been realized in Costa Rica since the country is discrimination free, full of freedom, and Democracy is the pillar that helps in shaping the Nation.

Environmental Issues of Costa Rica

In the 1980s issues of environmental degradation in Costa Rica began to strike interest as they intensified due to the emergence of more severe issues that affected the country's economic and political climate. One of the leading environmental problems that Costa Rica experienced is the massive cutting down of trees the act of deforestation took place mainly because the country's population was growing and people required land to settle in as well as land to carry out agricultural activities and cattle ranching. This also happened due to the high demand for timber and fuelwood. Deforestation resulted in soil erosion and the loss of soil fertility, which in turn affected the economy of the country. As the economy majorly depends on the growth and production of tropical agricultural products such as coffee, bananas, and sugar.

The country has also experienced several political disputes with its close neighbours over some of its environmental features like the San Juan River and the Northern part of the Calero Island which is also located in the same river. The dispute is said to have caused ecological impacts on the country, and it is possible that some of the damage caused then is irreversible. The state also experienced one of the prolonged drought seasons in recent years, the rainy season delayed and the country only got to experience very little rain. This condition prompted the country's president then to declare it a state of National emergency, due to this epidemic. Therefore, the country's agricultural production was affected which also led to downfall in the country's economy as well.

Another environmental issue that Costa Rica faced and is still facing is air pollution; this problem is propagated by the massive growth of industries and also the high automobile traffic in the country. The industries emitted a lot of carbon dioxide into the air causing depletion of the ozone layer which in turn causes unexpected climate changes and thereby by affects the country's economy by interfering with the agricultural production. The great use of pesticides in the country has also contributed to the issues of air pollution. The agricultural chemicals used in farming also have been causing pollution in the water sources due to soil erosion in some cases; this is, therefore, another environmental issue Costa Rica. The contaminated water has affected the populations who do not have access to safe drinking water causing diseases to them and hence affecting their productivity and performance in economic activities. These issues have caused a lot of havoc in the country's political scene and also led to political instability in the past, the Costa Rican government has however put in policies to deal with these environmental issues in the country.

Current Environmental Policies of Costa Rica

There are several goals that the organization that Costa Rica have in conserving the environment. For instance, the country aspires to achieve an atmosphere, which is free from carbon dioxide by 2012. Furthermore, the country needs to move to the use of totally free energy. To achieve all these goals, the country has put forward various policies that will ensure that the environment is conserved effectively (Hunt et al., 2015). Some of the strategies include chemical emission control policies. Some industries still emit chemicals and Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is making the environment to be unfit. This may hinder the country from achieving the goal of being the world most beautiful environment. The policies will ensure that the industries that are emitting these chemicals and carbon dioxide are assisted in getting the clean energy that they can use to prevent contamination of the environment.

Another policy that has been put in place in Costa Rica is the policy to embrace clean technology in the country. Costa has put to use various clean technology that is used to reduce the effects of global warming in the country (Hunt et al., 2015). For instance, the country has sought to use hydropower, geothermal power, and wind power. The clean technology policy provides a way through which the state can eliminate the various agents that may impact on the environment. In so doing, Costa Rican government has sponsored many students in studying clean energy such as hydropower and geothermal power among other clean technology to help in changing the country.

There are as well the environment sustainable development policies. Costa Rica has done great in conserving the environment, and now it is essential that they sustain the environment development (Tietenberg & Lewis, 2016). In so doing, the country has put in place the Environmental Performance Index, which can be used to help the country to monitor the progress of the environmental policies. The government of Costa Rica had experienced the effects of deforestation and has as well come up with a policy in ensuring that they conserve the environment to achieve their goals. The government has put in place the government agency that addresses environmental impacts. SETENA, which stands for National Environmental Technical Secretariat has enabled in carrying out careful processes to assess the environmental effects by giving proper services and enhancing decision-making.

These policies put together with help in shaping Costa Rica to be what it is today. Through the implementation of the mentioned policies fully among other policies, the country is growing close to achieving their goal, which is to have a clean environment, clean from the carbon dioxide. Costa Rica is likely to continue being the best in environmental conservation as it has ever been.

References

Evans, S. (2010). The green republic: A conservation history of Costa Rica. University of Texas Press. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NckTGXhHZgQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=History+of+costa+Rica&ots=83qFxBPj5l&sig=yhpjqXY5VmGsat2utiz6vk0mZlQ

Hunt, C. A., Durham, W. H., Driscoll, L., & Honey, M. (2015). Can ecotourism deliver real economic, social, and environmental benefits? A study of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(3), 339-357. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669582.2014.965176

Tietenberg, T. H., & Lewis, L. (2016). Environmental and natural resource economics. Routledge. https://content.taylorfrancis.com/books/download?dac=C2015-0-78850-4&isbn=9781315523965&format=googlePreviewPdf

Jimenez, A., Monroe, M. C., Zamora, N., & Benayas, J. (2017). Trends in environmental education for biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica. Environment, development and sustainability, 19(1), 221-238. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-015-9734-y