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Costa Rica man reaches into tree leaves
2021 Winner
Protect
and Restore Nature

Republic of Costa Rica

Country:
Costa Rica
Nominated by:
,
,

In the 1990s, the vast forests of Costa Rica were devastated by unregulated exploitation. But Costa Rica’s government had a plan to save them.

Their Story

The results were extraordinary. By compensating Costa Ricans to plant trees and restore ecosystems, its forests doubled in size, flora and fauna thrived, leading to a boom in ecotourism that has injected $4billion to the economy. 

Since winning the 2021 Earthshot Prize to Protect and Restore Nature, Costa Rica continues to be a leader driving the global environmental agenda, signing an extension of its marine reserves into law which has increased its protected marine area from 3% of its ocean territory to the High Ambition Coalition target of 30%. 

This prompted the Bezos Earth Fund to provide additional grants totalling $30M to support organisations working in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama to strengthen the Eastern Tropical Marine Corridor at the UN Oceans Conference.

The Earthshot Prize’s recognition of Costa Rica has driven significant global media coverage, celebrating the country as a ‘green leader’.

And in addition, through The Earthshot Prize, Costa Rica has been able to partner with fellow 2021 Finalist Restor who will track thousands of small payments for Ecoystem Services Reforestation Projects and the total new forest cover being achieved by Costa Rica. This will enable ever-smarter national policy decisions on reforestation, enhanced performance of the individual reforestation projects, and will empower Costa Rica to easily demonstrate its progress in meeting its COP26 reforestation pledge.

Connect With REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA

Other Finalists in Protect & Restore Nature

Learn About the Earthshots

Protect
and Restore
Nature
2021 PRIORITIES

Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now. Drawing inspiration from the concept of moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand to talk about the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announced the Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.

  • Paying environmental stewards and improving land rights
  • Using agricultural commodity markets as a lever to reduce harm
  • Increase yields in biodiverse, regenerative agriculture
Learn more about this earthshot

Clean Our
Air
2021 PRIORITIES

Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now. Drawing inspiration from the concept of moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand to talk about the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announced the Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.

  • Paying environmental stewards and improving land rights
  • Using agricultural commodity markets as a lever to reduce harm
  • Increase yields in biodiverse, regenerative agriculture
Learn more about this earthshot

Revive Our
Oceans
2021 PRIORITIES

Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now. Drawing inspiration from the concept of moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand to talk about the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announced the Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.

  • Paying environmental stewards and improving land rights
  • Using agricultural commodity markets as a lever to reduce harm
  • Increase yields in biodiverse, regenerative agriculture
Learn more about this earthshot

Build a
Waste-free
World
2021 PRIORITIES

Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now. Drawing inspiration from the concept of moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand to talk about the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announced the Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.

  • Paying environmental stewards and improving land rights
  • Using agricultural commodity markets as a lever to reduce harm
  • Increase yields in biodiverse, regenerative agriculture
Learn more about this earthshot

Fix Our
Climate
2021 PRIORITIES

Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now. Drawing inspiration from the concept of moonshots, which since the moon landing in 1969 has become shorthand to talk about the most ambitious and ground-breaking goals, Prince William announced the Earthshot Prize: an ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.

  • Paying environmental stewards and improving land rights
  • Using agricultural commodity markets as a lever to reduce harm
  • Increase yields in biodiverse, regenerative agriculture
Learn more about this earthshot
The Earthshot Prize