The University of Georgia Costa Rica 2014-2015 Sustainability Report UGA Costa Rica 2014 - 2015 Sustainability Report | Page 11

As a nation, Costa Rica is
a noteworthy example of
environmental restoration
and regeneration and
striking a balance between
environmental, economic,
and social needs.
taken towards protecting its
natural capital reserves. The Food
and Agriculture Organization’s
Forest Resources Assessment
estimates the country as a whole
has rebounded to about 50%
forest coverage.
Such a committed protection
of forested land has been made
possible in part by the tourism
industry, which is one of Costa
Rica’s largest sectors and
continues to flourish in regions of
particular ecological importance,
notably Monteverde. Revenues
from nature-based tours and ecolodges help solidify conservation
and development efforts. As a

30%

Thirty percent of the land on the
UGA Costa Rica campus is used
as farm and pasture land.

nation, Costa Rica is a noteworthy
example of environmental
restoration and regeneration
that strikes a balance between
environmental, economic,
and social needs making it
an ideal locale to establish a
campus rooted in principles of
sustainability.
The UGA Costa Rica (UGACR)
campus is nestled in the
Monteverde region of the
Puntarenas Province in

northwestern Costa Rica. Due
to its geographic location, the
Monteverde region receives a
steady supply of clouds and
moisture that support an
abundance of flora and fauna.
On a smaller scale, UGACR is
housed within the San Luis
Valley, which includes the small
communities of Alto (Upper) and
Bajo (Lower) San Luis. The two
agrarian, mountain communities
primarily cultivate coffee and
dairy products and together

Ally Hellenga
Ally is a senior at the University of Georgia who is studying public
relations. Ally’s passion for sustainability began after she studied
abroad in Costa Rica in the summer of 2014. In order to expand her
knowledge and passion for sustainability initiatives, she began
interning at the UGA Office of Sustainability.

Ethan Trotz
Having graduated in 2015 with a B.S.E.S. in Environmental
Economics and Management from the University of Georgia’s
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Ethan is now
attending law school at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

2014 – 2015 Sustainability Report

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