| The country's astounding richness in its wildlife and | | | | the USA average, combined with their tiny |
| biodiversity makes a Costa Rica vacation an | | | | environmental impact, which is 75% smaller than the |
| experience to remember and the nation's commitment | | | | United States' per person equivalent. |
| to its natural riches have made the country a world | | | | Costa Rica has become well known throughout the |
| leader in environmental protection and conservation. | | | | world for its excellent level of environmental protection. |
| But now it seems that Costa Rica's record has made | | | | Almost one third of the country has been protected by |
| it more than a natural sanctuary for threatened wildlife, | | | | a system of national parks, conservation areas and |
| but a world leader in global happiness too. | | | | natural reserves. |
| A study by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) | | | | Some of the most popular protected areas include the |
| which links countries' environmental protection to the | | | | World Heritage Site of Corcovado National Park which |
| happiness of their citizens has named Costa Rica as | | | | is famous for its mangrove swamps, tapirs and |
| the greenest and happiest country in the world. | | | | macaws, the beautiful beach-side Manuel Antonio |
| The study, called the Happy Planet Index, compares | | | | National park, and Tortuguero National Park, a favorite |
| the natural resources that each country consumes | | | | nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. |
| with their happiness and quality of life. The report | | | | In a separate recent survey the country was voted |
| combined ecological impact with other factors including | | | | the number one Latin America travel destination thanks |
| life expectancy and life satisfaction to calculate which | | | | to its astonishing range of national parks protected the |
| country is the most "happy" overall. | | | | world's biggest concentration of exotic, and often |
| According to the Happy Planet Index, Costa Ricans | | | | endangered, animal species ranging from poison arrow |
| have the highest life satisfaction in the world, thanks to | | | | frogs, green leatherback turtles, the resplendent |
| their long life expectancy which is slightly longer than | | | | quetzal and the jaguar. |