Costa Rica
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In 2020, Costa Rica had 2.63 Mha of natural forest, extending over 51% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 3.60 kha of natural forest, equivalent to 5.75 Mt of CO₂ emissions.
Explore interactive charts and maps that summarize key statistics about forests in Costa Rica. Statistics – including rates of forest change, forest extent, drivers of deforestation, and deforestation and fire alerts – can be customized, easily shared and downloaded for offline use.
Primary Forest loss in Costa Rica
From 2002 to 2023, Costa Rica lost 29.8 kha of humid primary forest, making up 11% of its
total tree cover loss
in the same time period. Total area of humid primary forest in Costa Rica decreased by 2.0% in this time period.
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'2302.0k4.0k6.0k8.0kha0255075100%

  • Area of tree cover loss within 2001 primary forest extent

  • Percent of 2001 primary forest area extent remaining

The methods behind this data have changed over time. Be cautious comparing old and new data, especially before/after 2015. Read more here.

2001 primary forest extent remaining | >30% tree canopy
Tree cover loss in Costa Rica
From 2001 to 2023, Costa Rica lost 279 kha of tree cover, equivalent to a 7.1% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and 148 Mt of CO₂e emissions.
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'2306.0k12k18k24kha

The methods behind this data have changed over time. Be cautious comparing old and new data, especially before/after 2015. Read more here.

2000 tree cover extent | >30% tree canopy | these estimates do not take tree cover gain into account
Annual tree cover loss by dominant driver in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica from 2001 to 2023, 3.0% of tree cover loss occurred in areas where the dominant drivers of loss resulted in
deforestation
.
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'2306.0k12k18k24kha

The methods behind this data have changed over time. Be cautious comparing old and new, data especially before/after 2015. Read more here.

2000 tree cover extent | >30% tree canopy | these estimates do not take tree cover gain into account
Location of tree cover loss in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, the top 2 regions were responsible for 51% of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2023. Puntarenas had the most tree cover loss at 74.4 kha compared to an average of 39.8 kha.
2000 tree cover extent | >30% tree canopy
Components of net change in tree cover in Costa Rica
From 2000 to 2020, Costa Rica experienced a net change of -91.8 kha (-2.4%) in tree cover.

  • Stable forest

    3.50 Mha

  • Gain

    57.9 kha

  • Loss

    150 kha

  • Disturbed

    214 kha

The loss total is different from annual tree cover loss, as this data was created using a different method and forest definition. For gross or annual loss information, please see the tree cover loss widget.

Disturbance represents areas that experienced both loss and gain between 2000 and 2020
Tree cover gain in Costa Rica compared to other areas
Tree Cover in Costa Rica
As of 2000, 74% of Costa Rica land cover was tree cover with >30% canopy density.

  • Tree Cover

    3.91 Mha

  • Other Land Cover

    1.20 Mha

Datasets available here (Tree Cover 2000/ 2010 and Tropical Tree Cover 2020) use different methodologies to measure tree cover. Read our blog for more information.

2000 tree cover extent | >30% tree canopy
Location of tree cover in Costa Rica
Natural forest in Costa Rica
Weekly Fire Alerts in Costa Rica
Cumulative Fire Alerts in Costa Rica
Tree cover loss due to fires in Costa Rica
Integrated Deforestation alerts in Costa Rica
Fire alerts in Costa Rica
Historical Fire Alerts in Costa Rica

  • Primary forests

  • Tree cover loss

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