Georgia Hannock
January 20, 2022
Palm oil
While Palm oil production is unethical in terms of sustainability, it is an extremely valuable commodity, as the global palm oil market is predicted to reach $55.2 billion by 2026. Palm oil is the cheapest and highest-yielding vegetable oil crop, and it is found in almost every ingredient list for processed foods. Agricultural production is a large part of the economy in the Osa Peninsula, so the high demand for palm oil makes it an attractive crop for farmers in that region. Even though palm oil is profitable on the global market, farmers on the Osa are seeing very little profit for the amount of labor required to harvest palm oil fruit. There are also many risks associated with palm oil plantations as they are a monoculture and are susceptible to disease.
Research and Markets. (July 19, 2021). Global Palm Oil Market Report 2021: Market to Reach $57.2 Billion by 2026 – U.S. Market is Estimated at $11.9 Billion, While China is Forecast to Reach $11.7 Billion by 2026. GlobeNewswire News Room. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/07/19/2264586/28124/en/Global-Palm-Oil-Market-Report-2021-Market-to-Reach-57-2-Billion-by-2026-U-S-Market-is-Estimated-at-11-9-Billion-While-China-is-Forecast-to-Reach-11-7-Billion-by-2026.html
Beggs, Emily. Morre, Ellen. (June 2013). “The Social Landscape of African Oil Palm Production in the Osa and Golfito Region”. Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Stanford University. https://inogo.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/African%20palm%20social%20landscape%20INOGO%20June%202013.pdf
Ecotourism
The Osa Peninsula is known for being one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and ecotourism has brought many conscious visitors to this spot to enjoy its beauty while having a minimal impact. Tourists traveling to the Osa to support the conservation of biodiversity are also supporting residents and their small businesses. The support towards the local economy, as well as support towards sustainable initiatives in the region. Conscious tourists stay in eco-lodges run by locals, visit farms that practice sustainable agriculture, and support other ecotourism-based businesses that are both benefiting the local economy and the surrounding environment.
Hunt, Carter & Durham, William & Driscoll, Laura & Honey, Martha. (2015). Can ecotourism deliver real economic, social, and environmental benefits? A study of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 23. 10.1080/09669582.2014.965176
Cacao
Cacao farming in the Osa Peninsula has a long history, and cacao production can be practiced sustainably, allowing for it to be an interactive business that is supported by ecotourism. The biodiverse rainforests are ideal for cacao cultivation. Cacao seeds are very valuable and are used as currency by the locals, but some organic cacao plantations have been able to sell cacao seeds on the global market, and offer ethically sourced cacao that can be sold and processed into chocolate.
Cacao & Organic Farm. Osa Experience Costa Rica. http://www.osaexperience.com/package/chocolate-tour/
Cherney, Madeline del Toro. “Costa Rican cacao economy: an ethnographic study of social justice observed.” Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table, spring 2009. Gale Academic OneFile, https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA216682606&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=1556763X&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=vol_oweb
Vanilla
Vanilla is another valuable commodity that is grown in the Osa. It aligns with the conservation in the Osa Penninsula because the vanilla vines are found in forests. The Osa is the perfect climate for vanilla to grow, and the vine plays an important role in the rainforests. Vanilla harvesting is an important economic activity for locals because it is so profitable in the global market, and it is another economic incentive for land conservation on the Osa.
Watteyn, Charlotte & Fremout, Tobias & Karremans, A. & Huarcaya, Ruthmery & Bolaños, Jos & Reubens, Bert & Muys, Bart & Azofeifa-Bolaños, José. (2020). Vanilla distribution modeling for conservation and sustainable cultivation in a joint land sparing/sharing concept. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339751683_Vanilla_distribution_modeling_for_conservation_and_sustainable_cultivation_in_a_joint_land_sparingsharing_concept
The Unexpected Values of Vanilla. (June 14, 2017). Osa Conservation. https://osaconservation.org/unexpected-values-vanilla/
Timber
Timber plantations and timber extracting have been economically viable for the Osa for a long period. The Osa Peninsula has valuable timber resources that have been sold on the global market. However, harvesting timber does not fit the sustainability values of the Osa, and conserving forested land has proven to be more economically, environmentally, and socially viable. However, some forests are still being cut down for timber because it is profitable. Because of the harm that residents face due to deforestation, timber harvesting from the Osa Peninsula has dramatically decreased from the market.
Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Ecotourism. Vascular Plants of the Osa Peninsula Costa Rica. http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/projects/osa/ecosystemservices/