Pura vida.

Would you find it enticing to live in a country that has temperatures of 15 to 30°C year round? Would you consider living in a country situated between two continents, with coastlines so close to each other that easy access is available to both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea? What if there was such ecological diversity that recreational possibilities included fishing, hiking, jungle exploring, white water rafting, and bird watching? Suppose there were added bonuses: the inhabitants were warm and friendly; primary education for both sexes was obligatory and free; neutrality had been declared in perpetuity; and no armed forces existed. Is this paradise? Is it a place of pura vida (pure life)? Does such a country exist and, if so, can something so good last? Yes, this country of good living actually exists and can be found in Central America. The country is Costa Rica, a relatively small country with a population ofjust over 3 million people and an area of around 51,000 square kilometers. Scenic natural beauty is everywhere from the extensive coastlines to the strength of the central mountain ranges. Nearly every type of ecosystem can be experienced there; volcanoes, rain forests, jungles, white water, dry forest lands, and beaches are all found in Costa Rica. There is beauty here, no doubt about that, but the wealth the country possesses goes even deeper. Untold wealth lies in the biological diversity that can be found there. Within its narrow borders are an estimated 4% of the terrestrial biodiversity of the world. The difficult question is whether a place so captivating can last after human intrusions. Is it possible to preserve the natural beauty, maintain the current level of biodiversity, and still provide for the desirable and inevitable economic growth? Fortunately, Costa Ricans (Ticos as the inhabitants prefer to be called) have come to appreciate their wealth and have sought ways to preserve it. The country, in fact, holds one of the world's best conservation records, boasting that one-quarter of the country is under some form of official protection in the form of national parks or biological reserves. Awards have included the Cantico a Todas Las Criaturas-"Song to all Creatures"-award given by the Rome-based Franciscan Center for Environmental Studies and the first environmental award presented by the American Society of Travel Agents. In 1992 Costa Rica was named the most environmentally conscious country in the world by …