Lessons in Sustainable Development: Monteverde, Costa Rica

Abstract

in August 2006, 16 Boston College students spent three weeks traveling throughout Costa Rica seeking to understand how the country has developed economically while preserving its rainforests and biodiversity. Many of the answers were found high in the hills of the country's continental divide in Monteverde where conservation and "ecotourism" have made possible an innovative model for development: a model built upon the combined efforts of private entities, government agencies, and international partners. It is a model that is reflective of the trends at play nationwide. This paper examines not only Costa Rica's current approach to sustainable development through the lens of Monteverde but also its difficulties within the present model and the challenges ahead based on competing visions for the future.