COSTA RICA / CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE

Planting trees as 'living fences' and feeding cattle local grasses are some of the strategies used by Costa Ricans to reduce the carbon footprint of their farms, in a united effort to mitigate global warming. Some farmers receive money for planting trees in their coffee fields as part of a carbon financing project supported in part by the World Bank. WORLD BANK

 

Description

STORY: COSTA RICA /CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE
TRT: 2:03
SOURCE: WORLD BANK
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SPANISH/NATS

DATELINE: RECENT

Shotlist

1.Med shot, cow
2.Med shot, cow eating grass
3.Wide shot, cow grazing in front of hills and grasslands
4.Med shot, cows grazing
5.Wide shot, cows grazing and eating grass
6.Close up, farmer’s face with cattle in background
7.Wide shot, farmer watching over cattle
8.Animation of climate smart techniques
9.Med shot, cattle walking around in pen
10.Med shot, farmer herding cattle
11.Med shot, farmer watching over cattle
12.Close up, farmer watching over cattle
13.Med shot, cows in pen
14.SOUNDBITE (Spanish)Jose Leon Vargas, Rancher:
"Yes, we can see the economic benefits. It also gives me personal satisfaction that comes from having a relationship with the environment."
15.Wide shot, cows grazing on hill
16.Med shot, farmer carrying fodder in crate
17.Med shot, farmer dumping fodder into pen
18.Close up, cows eating fodder
19.Med shot, cows grazing on hill
20.SOUNDBITE (Spanish)Carlos Gomez, Dairy Farmer:
"In this community and this farm, many producers use environmentally sustainable practices that lower our costs by using local resources."
21.Close up, cow eating fodder
22.Wide shot, farmer bio digester
23.Med shot, farmer working fuel pipes
24.Med shot, farmer in kitchen lighting stove
25.Close up, kitchen stove
26.Med shot, farmer cooking in kitchen
27.Close up, hands working on cheese
28.Close up, farmer cutting cheese
29.Wide shot, farmer washing horse
30.Med shot, Costa Rican flag

Storyline

Forty years ago hungry cattle deforested an entire region of Costa Rica.

Now these same hills are covered with trees and healthy pastures, a testament to Costa Rica’s decades-long commitment to agriculture that protects the environment and reduces global warming.

Jose Leon Vargas runs his cattle ranch with this commitment in mind. Fences are made from living teak trees.

Forest ecosystems absorb carbon dioxide and protect native wildlife.

Water comes form naturally maintained springs.

Nutrient-rich grass protects against soil erosion and feeds his livestock.

For Leon Vargas and other farmers and ranchers in Costa Rica… climate-smart practices are not just good for the planet – they make economic sense.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish)Jose Leon Vargas, Rancher:
"Yes, we can see the economic benefits. It also gives me personal satisfaction that comes from having a relationship with the environment."

Twenty years ago dairy farmer Carlos Gomez spent a chunk of his profits on grains and fodder. Now he mostly feeds his cows grasses he harvests on his own land.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish)Carlos Gomez, Dairy Farmer:
"In this community and this farm, many producers use environmentally sustainable practices that lower our costs by using local resources."

Even cow manure is put to use. It’s collected in this contraption. It’s called a biodigester. Manure goes in … and with water and time … it captures methane.

Gomez uses the fuel to operate the equipment he needs to make cheese … and a line runs to his house to provide fuel for cooking and heating water.

Another savings.

Gomez says he and his neighbors believe in climate-smart agricultural processes because they make economic sense … and because they’re proud that Costa Rica is considered a world role model.

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Production Date: 5 December 2013
• Creator: WORLD BANK
• Subject Topical: DEVELOPMENT FINANCE; NATURAL RESOURCES; ENVIRONMENT; ENVIRONMENT
• Geographic Subject: COSTA RICA
• Corporate Name: WORLD BANK
• MAMS Id: U131205c