surfeco 30 Jan 2008No Comments 296 views Print Email

  Green, surf

Costa Rica has become one of the most famous surfing getaways in the world. Witch’s Rock, Ollie’s Point, Tamarindo are some of the few amazing surf spots to check out. Don’t forget about Pavones, which on a big day, has the world’s longest left ride. In Costa Rica you can catch amazing waves, sit on your board in 80-degree water, all the while facing a sandy beach surrounded by tropical rainforest trees.
This place seems almost too good to be true…and it was, until in the late 1940’s Costa Rica started clearing rainforests to make land that could be used to grow agriculture. With the increasing flow of tourists into main towns of Costa Rica, more trees are being cleared for real estate offices, large shopping malls, and gigantic 5-star hotels on the beach.

Everyday 200,000 acres of tropical rainforest are burned down throughout the world for the same reasons stated above. This is why scientific experts are claiming that all of the world’s tropical rainforests will be gone in less than 40 years. The deforestation not only gets rid of the “lungs of the planet,” which are saving us from carbon dioxide rocketing to extreme heights, but also, clearing the trees will destroy homes to one-quarter of all of the species on Earth.

What is being done about this massive deforestation? Well there are a few companies like Nature Conservancy and Arbor Day Foundation that are trying to replant trees while also attempting to negotiate with governments to stop giving farmers money to destroy trees and grow crops. However, most people are completely unaware about what is going on in the rainforests all over the world. Tourists and surfers alike see the beautiful sandy beaches that reach from the warm water to the tall trees, yet the true deforestation goes on deep in the jungle where it goes un-noticed and is too hard to regulate.
However, don’t despair, there are things that can be done to help out and it is still not too late. A local surfer of San Diego, California has taken the approach to bring environmental awareness to her surf school participants, while also donating the profits form the class to save acres of rainforest in Costa Rica. Torrey Trust, the CEO of Surf eCo, was shocked to see acres of rainforest clear-cut, while on her second visit to Costa Rica. She combined her passion of surfing with her passion to help out the environment and hopes to save over 1,000 acres by 2010. On the Surf eCo website (http://www.sdsurfeco.com) you can find a short movie Trust filmed during her last trip to the rainforests of Central and South America, along with alarming facts about deforestation, and tips on how to help out – one of them including Greening your Lifestyle.
While Costa Rica may be the tropical surfer’s paradise today, the deforestation of rainforests can completely alter the image of Costa Rica. Next time you get out in the water to catch a wave, think about what you can do to help out. Every little step makes a huge difference.