Plant Trees in Costa Rica
Travel involves substantial carbon fuel emissions that affect global warming, but you can help offset these effects by making a donation to tropical reforestation efforts in Costa Rica. All donations go directly to the Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico (Climate Change Friendly Program), where 1 tree is planted for every $10.
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Reforestation Education
Rios Tropicales
Help Costa Rica Reforest
MAKE A DONATION
“A single tree in tropical zones fixes an average of 1 to 2.2 tons of
carbon during its 20 to 30 years growth.”
Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico - Climate Change Friendly
Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico is a reforestation initiative born out of concern for the impact of climate change around the world. The organization began planting trees in Costa Rica in 2007. They have planted over 30,000 native trees in degraded areas of Costa Rica and an additional 7,000 trees in other areas of Central America. The program works in alliance with multiple institutions in Costa Rica, including the Tropical Science Center and National University of Costa Rica. Their reforestation efforts focus on planting native trees in biologically sensitive areas: watersheds, biological corridors, and other priority areas for the enrichment of biological diversity.
Tropical Reforestation and Carbon Offsets
Once almost completely forested, the country of Costa Rica saw vast clearings of land during the 1970s and 1980s to create cattle pastures for beef exports. With one of the worst rates of deforestation in Latin America, by 1990 only 21% of the country remained forested. However, with ambitious environmental policies and commitment, Costa Rica has become the only tropical country to radically reverse the effects of deforestation, doubling the amount of forest in just two decades.
Reforestation in the tropics is a powerful means of carbon offset because the trees grow quickly, and carbon offset measures can have a relatively rapid effect. According to the Tropical Science Center and Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico, a single tree in tropical zones fixes an average of 1 to 2.2 tons of carbon during its 20 to 30 years growth. If two trees are planted, the fixation time for the same amount of carbon is cut in half.
Unfortunately, travel-related activities often produce substantial greenhouse gases. According to a United Nations report on Climate Change and Tourism, “Carbon dioxide emissions from the [tourism] sector’s transport, accommodation and other tourism activities are estimated to account for between 4 and 6% of total emissions [worldwide].”
For most travelers, air travel produces the vast amount of carbon emissions. Therefore, the largest component of a traveler’s carbon offset calculation is based on from where they are traveling.
Suggested Tree Donations for Carbon Offset of Round Trip Flights
From Trees
Canada 2
United States 2
Mexico 2
Central America 1
South America 2
Europe 4
Japan 6
For simplicity’s sake the Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico estimates that 1 tree planted in Costa Rica will offset 1 ton of carbon over a 20-30 year period. The fixation rate, however, can range up to 2.2 tons of carbon over the same period. If two trees are planted, instead of one, the sequestration time for the same amount of carbon is cut roughly in half. The donation is for contributions to tropical reforestation efforts in Costa Rica. The donation will be added to your Anywhere Costa Rica itinerary. All donations are paid in full to the Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico.
Want a more accurate estimate?
If you are interested in achieving a detailed carbon emissions estimate, there are many carbon offset calculators available throughout the web. Using one of these calculators is a great idea if your air travel to Costa Rica involves multiples legs, as airplanes burn a significant amount of fuel during take-off.
MAKE A DONATION
“A single tree in tropical zones fixes an average of 1 to 2.2 tons of
carbon during its 20 to 30 years growth.”
Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico - Climate Change Friendly
Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico is a reforestation initiative born out of concern for the impact of climate change around the world. The organization began planting trees in Costa Rica in 2007. They have planted over 30,000 native trees in degraded areas of Costa Rica and an additional 7,000 trees in other areas of Central America. The program works in alliance with multiple institutions in Costa Rica, including the Tropical Science Center and National University of Costa Rica. Their reforestation efforts focus on planting native trees in biologically sensitive areas: watersheds, biological corridors, and other priority areas for the enrichment of biological diversity.
Tropical Reforestation and Carbon Offsets
Once almost completely forested, the country of Costa Rica saw vast clearings of land during the 1970s and 1980s to create cattle pastures for beef exports. With one of the worst rates of deforestation in Latin America, by 1990 only 21% of the country remained forested. However, with ambitious environmental policies and commitment, Costa Rica has become the only tropical country to radically reverse the effects of deforestation, doubling the amount of forest in just two decades.
Reforestation in the tropics is a powerful means of carbon offset because the trees grow quickly, and carbon offset measures can have a relatively rapid effect. According to the Tropical Science Center and Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico, a single tree in tropical zones fixes an average of 1 to 2.2 tons of carbon during its 20 to 30 years growth. If two trees are planted, the fixation time for the same amount of carbon is cut in half.
Unfortunately, travel-related activities often produce substantial greenhouse gases. According to a United Nations report on Climate Change and Tourism, “Carbon dioxide emissions from the [tourism] sector’s transport, accommodation and other tourism activities are estimated to account for between 4 and 6% of total emissions [worldwide].”
For most travelers, air travel produces the vast amount of carbon emissions. Therefore, the largest component of a traveler’s carbon offset calculation is based on from where they are traveling.
Suggested Tree Donations for Carbon Offset of Round Trip Flights
From Trees
Canada 2
United States 2
Mexico 2
Central America 1
South America 2
Europe 4
Japan 6
For simplicity’s sake the Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico estimates that 1 tree planted in Costa Rica will offset 1 ton of carbon over a 20-30 year period. The fixation rate, however, can range up to 2.2 tons of carbon over the same period. If two trees are planted, instead of one, the sequestration time for the same amount of carbon is cut roughly in half. The donation is for contributions to tropical reforestation efforts in Costa Rica. The donation will be added to your Anywhere Costa Rica itinerary. All donations are paid in full to the Programa Amigable con el Cambio Climatico.
Want a more accurate estimate?
If you are interested in achieving a detailed carbon emissions estimate, there are many carbon offset calculators available throughout the web. Using one of these calculators is a great idea if your air travel to Costa Rica involves multiples legs, as airplanes burn a significant amount of fuel during take-off.
