Costa Rica's Forests Rapidly Disappearing, Threatening Biodiversity and Ecosystems.
The researchers used satellite images to study deforestation in Costa Rica from 1986 to 1991. They found that in 1991, about 29% of Costa Rica was covered by forests, with 30% of that protected. Over the five-year period, 2250 km2 of forest was lost, with a deforestation rate of about 450 km2 per year. The Tropical Moist Forest and Premontane Moist Forest areas were hit hardest, with forests almost completely gone. This shows that deforestation in Costa Rica is happening at a rapid rate, threatening the country's rich biodiversity.