Exploring the potential of sound management of forest and tree resources on cattle farms located in tropical dry forest of Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Abstract

The main objetive of this research was to contribute to a better understanding of the cultural, economic, social, political and biophysical factors underlying land use trends in the dry forest zone of Costa Rica, aiming at the identification of economically viable options to increase forest and tree cover.A main conclusion from this research, it was found that farmers are not interested in investing in forest and tree resource management. Farmers demand a payment for the presence of forest cover on their farMON they demand 11 US for every one percent increase in forest and tree resource cover.However, at initial stages, forest and tree resources can have positive effects on grasses cover with externalities to cattle production. Therefore, payments should begin where tree and grass trade-off start. It is not well defined when this trade-off begins therefore, more resources on defining the biological relation between trees and grasses is necessary.