The Sustainable Way to Pave Paradise (and the Tropical Destination That Nailed It)

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Photo Courtesy of Josh Linnes

According to WWF, cattle ranching is the main cause of deforestation in every Amazon country and, as a consequence of that, 340 million tons of carbon are emitted into the atmosphere on a yearly basis. To put this in perspective, cows are practically pushing the rainforest away. This reminds me that every time I think of a paradisiacal land, may it be in the Amazon forest or in another rainforest, cattle farms are greatly contributing to its destruction.


When I focus on such worrying data or, in general, every time I truly realize how the hand of man has, once again, found creative ways to devastate and waste natural resources, I get a feeling of emptiness. Apocalyptic images take over my brain and hope becomes a distant memory. This is a dramatic trait that has always characterized me. I stress; I stress hardly and deeply. I'm an over worrier. Sometimes, to distance myself from the negative thoughts, I look at the positive side of things, I try to understand if anything has ever been done, or can be done, to improve reality.


Heartfelt and Conscious Building


Are all entrepreneurs completely oblivious to what could happen in the aftermath of their money hunt? Are they at all interested in ethically facing whatever environmental challenge will come their way before they simply give in to the easy path of destruction? In other words, is anybody passionate about preserving, when making money?


The answer to the last question seems to be yes.


After over a century of deforestation, since it declared its independence from Spain in 1821, Costa Rica (and especially Nosara) was mainly used as a huge cattle farm. The first to realize the importance of protecting this location from ranches was Mr. Alan Hutchinson, an American entrepreneur and a builder with a vision. With his "American Project," in the early '70s, Hutchinson started a long and not always simple path of conservation of Nosara's natural habitat. The man was interested in building beautiful homes that would draw foreigners to invest in this distant lovely shelter, but he quickly realized that without an effective plan to maintain the beauty (and the health) of the place, Nosara would, soon enough, lose all of its value.


Many years have gone by since Hutchinson stepped foot there, but Costa Rica continues to promote environment preservation.


The REDD Desk underlines how "the current National Development Plan [in Costa Rica] makes [made] 'environment and land-use planning' one of the four national priorities for 2010-2014 and states that environmental protection should be a motor of development."


The Place to Be


For those who are not familiar with Costa Rica and its breathtaking towns, Nosara appears to now be an emerald land surrounded by sparkling beaches that attract surfers, tourists, yoga enthusiasts and families of expats. This location is, in fact, home to two bilingual schools, Del Mar Academy and the HSB Academy, and to The Nosara Yoga Institute.


The combination of good developmental plans along with the friendliness of its residing community has made Nosara a charming alternative to Western destinations when it comes to raising children. Amenities such as good food, farmers markets and outdoor recreational activities seem to really be a major magnet for North American families. Because so many have already decided to move here, paving the way (literally and metaphorically) for those who plan to do so in the upcoming years, it looks like this flourishing city will soon go through a second real estate boom, after the post 2006 stagnant situation.


If you're looking for a tropical new home and if you're environmentally conscious, then Nosara happens to be the right spot for you. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.












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