National Parks - The national parks of Costa Rica had their beginnings in a section of the 1969 Forestry Protection Law. Since then, Costa Rica has established a system of 39 national parks and biological reserves which cover 1,514,683 acres, an equivalent to 15% of its total land area. These parks and reserves protect the nation's most outstanding natural and cultural assets. Vast and beautiful wilderness areas offer protection to most of the 205 species of mammals, 850 species of birds, 220 species of reptiles and 160 species of amphibians that have been recorded in the country. Also protected are the over 9,000 species of vascular plants that have been identified to date. These plant species account for almost 4% of the total number of plant types known to exist in the world. The protected areas are also important conservation sites for almost all of the diverse natural habitats of Costa Rica. Some of these habitats are deciduous forests, mangrove swamps, rain forests, herbaceous swamps, cloud forests, oak groves, coral reefs, riparian forests and swamp forests.
Exceptionally important are areas such as nesting beaches for endangered sea turtles, island roosting sites for pelicans, frigate birds, and rare habitat types such as the Middle American dry forest, are protected as well. The system of national parks and reserves also contains numerous areas of geological interest, from active volcanoes and thermal springs to caves and scenic landscapes with cascading waterfalls. In addition, important historical and archaeological sites found within the park system include battlefields and Pre-Columbian settlements.
Due to Costa Rica's commitment to protecting its remarkable biological richness and diversity, it has become an international center for scientists, naturalists and tourists wishing to study and admire the lush tropical American flora and fauna.
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