Costa Rica

By Robert Blasiak for United Nations University (UNU)

At first, the story of Costa Rica's forests seems like a tragedy. In the 1940s, over 75 per cent of the country was covered in indigenous woodland, mostly tropical rainforest. In the subsequent decades, however, rampant and unchecked logging ensued as the nation's valuable forest resources were transformed into cash profits. By 1983 only 26 per cent of the country retained forest cover, and the deforestation rate had risen to 50,000 hectares per year.

At this point, something amazing started to happen. By 1989 the annual deforestation rate had dropped to 22,000 hectares per year. The figure dropped even lower to 4,000 hectares per year by 1994 and in 1998 the deforestation rate had dropped to zero. Today forest cover has increased to 52 per cent (double 1983 levels), and the government has set the ambitious goal of further increasing this figure to 70 per cent and achieving carbon neutrality by 2021.

Investing in Sustainability and Local Communities

Nature Air isn't satisfied with merely being the world's first carbon-neutral airline: by 2021, the company hopes to be "carbon-positive," actually taking CO2 out of the atmosphere. While the carrier is sourcing locally produced biofuels and using biodiesel to power its ground operations, the centerpiece of Nature Air's efforts is its ongoing purchase of carbon credits, which offer funds to Costa Rican landowners who have agreed to conserve the tropical forests of the Osa Peninsula. It's a corporate ethos that addresses global concerns by investing in local communities.

Nature Air has been awarded Travel + Leisure's Global Vision Award 2011 (Eco Travel Category). The award recognizes innovation in tourism, honoring those who provide "journeys that enrich the destinations you travel through."

Certified Carbon Neutral

Nature Air is a regional airline flying to 13 tourism destinations in Costa Rica, with 2 international routes to neighboring destinations of Managua, Nicaragua and Bocas del Toro, Panama. The airline gained international fame in 2004 when it took steps to become the world's first certified carbon neutral airline, by working together with the local Environmental Ministry to create a carbon compensation program through reforestation and conservation in the country's most bio-diverse regions. Since then, Nature Air has followed its pledge to compensate for 100% of the carbon emissions derived from fuel burned by its planes.

The Beauty of Sustainable Costa Rica (Greenloons TV)

Certified Green Rainforest Vacations for Families

Greenloons guides families to international rainforests that are inclusive of sustainable vacation opportunities. Its top five recommendations spanning the globe offer green eco adventures that are certified by leading third party sources. it's never to early to introduce children to the world's rainforests - covering less than two percent of the earth's total surface area but are home to 50 percent of its plants and animals. "Rainforests are disappearing at a rate of more than 56,000 square miles each year," says Irene Lane, Greenloons founder. "It's crucial for kids to learn about how important these environments are to their everyday lives".

Recommended Rainforest Vacations

Greenloons top rainforest destinations for families include: