How is Global Warming Affecting Costa Rica?

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The participants at the United Nations climate change conference now in progress in Copenhagen, Denmark  are world leaders hoping to formulate a plan to protect our planet by  combating  global  warming.

How is this “run-a-way climate change” affecting Costa Rica?  How is this global warming affecting Costa Rica? Scientist are saying that Coastal residents of Costa Rica could face a significant sea level increase possibly up to  three to  six feet which would inundate many of the existing beach properties which hold concessions in the maritime zones.  And the  port city of Puntarenas could be under water.

This information is from two scientist who have been studying sea level measurements and sea temperatures taken over the past one hundred and thirty years.  They are Martin Vermeer of Helsinki University of Technology, Finland and Stefan Rahmstorf of Potsham Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany. Mr. Rahmstorf  states “ Since 1990 sea levels have been rising at .13 of an inch , twice as fast as the average over the 20th century" .  "If this rates remains constant the sea levels would rise 13 inches in the 21st century."    "But, the warmer the earth temperatures, the faster the sea levels rise due to the melting of the ice in the Antarctica and in Greenland."

Costa Rica is affected in another way by global warming.  Costa Rica has a very large population of frogs, and  several species have contacted a fungus which has killed them.  Scientist speculate that global warming is the reason for this fungus.  One example is the beautiful golden toad which lived in the rain forest of Monteverde.  Today this  golden toads today cannot be found anywhere in Costa Rica.  And other species of frogs in Costa Rica are in danger of contacting this fungus.

What can Costa Rica do to combat global warming?   Scientist state  the most important thing is to preserve its valuable rain forest.  And Costa Rica has made great strides in accomplishing this.  Twenty per cent of its land surface is set aside for protection and conservation in the form of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. But Costa Rica wants to do more.  The working farmer  needs to clear more land for pastures for his cattle, meaning he has to cut down trees.  This farmer would be willing not to cut trees  but what can he do to make money to take care of his family?  There has to be some type of monetary compensation to this farmer to preserve these valuable  trees which will absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere thus reducing  green house gases which contribute to global warming.  These are the kinds of ideas and proposals circulating in the Conference on Climate Change today in Copenhagen.

The Poison Dart Frog of Costa Rica

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Did you ever wish for a beautiful orange colored frog for a pet?  Well...you don't want this one.  He is very poisonous!  His name is Poison Dart Frog.  And no,  he will not turn into a prince.

There are seven species of poison dart frogs in Costa Rica.  They are found in the tropical lowland rain forest  such as in the east central part of Costa Rica called Sarapiqui.  Often these poison dart frogs are found in the water soaked leaves of the bromeliads high  up in the rain forest canopy.  They are small, very beautiful frogs and come in many colors of red, green, blue, orange, and a combination  of blue and black or red and black.  They are active during the day, eating ants and termites.

The poison dart frog has only one predator that is the snake which has a natural resistance to the frog's poison.

Indigenous tribes in Columbia used it's powerful venom for centuries to tip their blow guns when hunting so the frog became known as the poison dart frog.

The golden poison dart frog has enough poison to kill 20,000 mice, if he could ever find 20,000 mice at one time and ate them all at once, he would be the dead one.   Now, are these frogs poison to humans if they are touched?  Yes, some of these frogs are very harmful if touched.  Moral of that story..don't touch the frog.  You will get  severe nausea and vomiting and require immediate medical attention.  And where do you find a doctor is the jungle?  There are other species of these frogs which are not so harmful if touched (comforting thought)  but we don't know which ones they are,  so don't touch any of them.

From the poison in these frog's skin medical researchers are working on a medicine to treat slowed nerve and muscle system disorders.   So, some day your life may be saved by a frog.

This beautiful photograph of the poison dart frog was taken by Scott Wilkinson.    You can see more of his beautiful Costa Rican wildlife photographs  at  www.scottwilkinson.com

Or:  www.sapotours.com/gallery.aspx