The study looked at deforestation in the Atlantic Zone of Costa Rica. They used old aerial photos to track changes in forest cover over time. They found that deforestation increased over the years, especially along rivers and on fertile land. In the 1960s to 1970s, more forests were cleared due to new settlements, banana plantations, and roads being built. By the 1970s to 1980s, most of the remaining forests were cleared quickly because only small patches were left. Fertile soils were cleared the fastest during this time.