Saving Costa Rica Costa Rica is an Eco-tourist’s paradise. The country holds some of the most beautiful rainforests and rivers in the entire world. The lush habitat of Costa Rica also supports some of the most expansive and diverse flora and fauna in the world. The area of Costa Rica contains over 1000 species of trees, 8000 species of flowering plants, 200 species of mammal, including the beautiful but elusive jaguar, and over 800 bird species, nearly one-tenth of the world's total species of birds (Burnie 25). Tourism is Costa Rica’s number one industry. Last year, tourism brought in over 600 million dollars, which represents about 30% of Costa Ric