Be a Tropical Forest Hero

The climate emergency affects everyone's life.

In addition to the use of fossil fuels, deforestation represents a high risk to the health of the planet, since trees allow us to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One of the solutions that must be implemented immediately is the care of forests: sources of life that, in addition to reducing carbon in the atmosphere, maintain the planet's balance. Natural ecosystems influence the carbon cycle. The planet's forests and mangroves are responsible for absorbing and releasing carbon to and from the atmosphere.

WHY ARE TROPICAL FORESTS IMPORTANT FOR MITIGATING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY?

Tropical forests are essential to protect the planet's environmental balance: they maintain fertile soils, retain rainwater to feed water sources, are home to biodiversity of fauna and flora, provide raw materials to produce food, as well as medicines. Another of the main functions of tropical forests is to generate oxygen, while absorbing carbon dioxide.

According to the FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), of all the forests and ecosystems of our wonderful planet, the Tropical Forest is responsible for emitting approximately 20% of the total carbon emitted annually. What does this mean? Here are 3 reasons why Carbon is essential for life on earth:

• It is structural: all living organisms on earth are made of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon atoms. Carbon is the cellular structure of trees, plants, animals, humans.
• It is responsible for photosynthesis: photosynthesis is the respiration process of plants and some bacteria and serves as a transfer of carbon between living things. This process generates oxygen, indispensable for life.
• Carbon flows between the atmosphere and ecosystems: through the carbon cycle, a constant flow of carbon is promoted between soil, water and atmosphere.

Protecting the Tropical Forest and all ecosystems is vital to mitigate the climate emergency.

TROPICAL FORESTS IN COSTA RICA

The United Nations (UN) has called on countries and governmental entities to curb greenhouse gas emissions and restore the natural exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and the earth. Costa Rica has accepted the call and has committed to become a "carbon neutral" country by 2030. It is committed to offset the carbon dioxide emissions that are released with equivalent doses of oxygen so as to no longer contribute to global warming. On the contrary, the mission is to emit zero greenhouse gases and contribute to the conservation of natural environments. Mistico Park's environment is the tropical forest around the Arenal Volcano. This park is committed to protecting over 12,000 hectares of primary and secondary rainforest, which is home to thousands of species of flora and fauna. If you are curious about what endangered animals are in Mistico Park, you can learn about them here.

Protecting the forests and being part of the change is no longer an option, it is a responsibility as an inhabitant of the planet. Be part of the change by supporting conservation projects in the Tropical Forest in Costa Rica.

Sources of information: Global Climate Change NASA: Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) United Nations