Written by Tara Doyle, WWF’s Specialist of Media & Exterior Affairs

© Tara Doyle / WWF-US

On a latest journey to Costa Rica, I had the chance to interview Marco “Tex” Fallas, a Pure Habitat Adventures information with over 30 years of expertise main wildlife excursions.  

Q: What adjustments have you ever witnessed in Costa Rica because you began main excursions within the Nineteen Nineties?

A: Ecotourism has reworked this nation in the very best method. I’ve seen cattle farmers transition their land into personal preserves stuffed with native timber and wildlife. The federal government responded to the financial incentive by increasing nationwide parks. This led to over 50% of Costa Rica’s land being protected. Because of this, the variety of chicken species recorded in Costa Rica has grown from 827 to over 915.

As for giant cats like jaguars, pumas, and ocelots, individuals now shield them as a substitute of looking them. The nation has additionally put numerous effort into creating organic corridors. Again then, forests have been fragmented: there could be a nationwide park subsequent to a cattle ranch, then a personal protect subsequent to extra farmland or palm oil plantations. Within the final 20 years, individuals have began connecting personal preserves with nationwide parks to create essential corridors for wildlife.

Aerial perspective of forest strip running through a large area of farmland

Aerial picture of wildlife corridors bisecting pineapple plantations in Tortuguero. © Tara Doyle / WWF-US

Q: How has tourism affected Costa Rican locals?

A: Earlier than tourism turned central to our economic system, we have been principally rising and exporting fruit. Again then, most locals didn’t work together with guests or profit straight from ecotourism income. However now, so many extra households are concerned within the business. They’re working small companies like personal preserves, eating places, eco-lodges, and present retailers with handmade artwork. There’s an actual connection occurring between the locals and vacationers, and that’s one cause why our nation is such a particular place to go to. Costa Ricans discover what number of vacationers are carrying binoculars and cameras – it’s clear they’re coming to our nation to see wildlife.

Collectively, we’ve got shifted our mindset from deforestation to reforestation, with over 20% of former cattle farms being restored into biodiverse forests for wildlife viewing. Sloths, monkeys, toucans, and plenty of different species are getting their habitats again. 

A colorful bird (resplendent quetzal) with green, red, and white feathers sits on a tree branch.

Picture of a male resplendent quetzal in Monteverde. © Tara Doyle / WWF-US

Q: What do you see as the best menace to the way forward for Costa Rica’s biodiversity?

A: I fear about actual property improvement, particularly alongside the coastlines. These builders need their properties to have the very best views, however they find yourself disrupting the paths of untamed animals like sea turtles, tapirs, and ocelots. Extra properties imply extra roads, and people roads can lower off the creeks and rivers that function water sources for wildlife.

I’m additionally involved about unethical tour corporations utilizing digital gadgets to name species. You should use an app to imitate chicken calls throughout mating season, as an illustration, and if individuals are doing that every one day lengthy, the birds gained’t get sufficient relaxation. We’d like accountable tour operators who respect wildlife and keep away from disrupting their pure cycles.  

Q: How can guests inform if a tour firm is working ethically? 

A: Search for excursions with small group sizes, ideally lower than 10 individuals. Your tour information ought to at all times respect an animal’s area and encourage the visitors to take action as effectively. It’s essential to not get too shut or too loud throughout a tour as a result of it can stress the wildlife. That’s why numerous nationwide parks, together with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Organic Protect, are utilizing staggered schedules to reduce the variety of individuals on a path at one time. As sure areas grow to be extra standard, it turns into much more essential to cut back the stress on the atmosphere. 

A accountable tour operator also needs to present and require reusable objects like water bottles and luggage, as a substitute of single-use plastic. We’ve already decreased litter and plastic air pollution throughout the nation, however should you see a chunk of trash on the seaside or path, please take a second and choose it up. It’s a simple method we are able to all assist to maintain Costa Rica lovely. 

A vibrant red-eyed tree frog with green and blue markings clings to a branch at night,

Picture of a red-eyed tree frog at evening in Arenal. © Tara Doyle / WWF-US

Q: How has your work formed your worldview and your values?

A: I grew up with an inherent love and respect for the pure world, which I discovered from my grandfather. He was a farmer, and generally a boa constrictor would eat one of many lots of of rabbits we have been elevating. As a substitute of killing the snake, my grandpa would catch it and launch it again into the forest. I requested him why, and he mentioned, “As a result of it has the identical proper to reside as you and I.” That message caught with me.

Even when the snake comes again, that’s okay as a result of we’re sharing this world with it. I do know many individuals who labored within the logging enterprise, and I’ve seen them change out their chainsaws for a pair of binoculars. They’ve grow to be tour guides, and now they work to teach guests about nature and our position in defending it.

A photo of the expedition leader smiling with a camera tripod in his hand

Picture of Marco “Tex” Fallas, Expedition Chief since 1997. © Pure Habitat Adventures