Footprints4ourFuture: A Crowdfunding Campaign for Sustainable Reforestation and Job Creation in Costa Rica

Snapshot Solution

by Gamze Akarsu, Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)

A Lush Landscape of Diverse Green Trees in Costa Rica

Giancarlo Pucci, PNUD Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, the "Footprints4ourFuture" (Huella del Futuro) crowdfunding campaign was launched by BIOFIN and spearheaded by the Vice-President, raised 1.7 million US dollars to reduce unemployment exacerbated by COVID-19, while restoring ecosystems and reforesting vulnerable public-owned lands. With the approval of the first incubation program in Costa Rica for sustainable tourism in indigenous areas, "Raíces" by the Sustainable Development Bank's Governing Council, in total US$ 577.5K mobilized; including US$ 168.5K for the 2022 edition of Raíces, US$ 345K for the CRE-C Program, and US$ 64K for the portfolio of sustainable tourism in Biological Corridors. The program is seeking to mobilize funding through planting and/or restoration of 200,000 trees and 5 years of their maintenance, monitor its implementation, systematize learning and institutionalize the financial mechanism.

Last update: 16 May 2023

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Context

Challenges addressed

Land and Forest degradation

Loss of Biodiversity

Ecosystem loss

Infrastructure development

Lack of access to long-term funding

Lack of alternative income opportunities

Changes in socio-cultural context

Lack of public and decision maker’s awareness

Unemployment / poverty

Scale of implementation

Local

Subnational

National

Ecosystems

Agroforestry

Rangeland / Pasture

Tropical evergreen forest

Pool, lake, pond

River, stream

Wetland (swamp, marsh, peatland)

Area-wide development

Connective infrastructure, networks and corridors

Green roofs / Green walls

Green spaces (parks, gardens, urban forests)

Theme

Biodiversity mainstreaming

Species management

Ecosystem services

Sustainable financing

Gender mainstreaming

Geodiversity and Geoconservation

Protected and conserved areas governance

Cities and infrastructure

Food security

Health and human wellbeing

Sustainable livelihoods

Infrastructure maintenance

Indigenous people

Local actors

Traditional knowledge

Protected and conserved areas management planning

One Health

Outreach & communications

Forest Management

Tourism

Water provision and management

Location

Costa Rica

Central America

Impacts

The Huella del Futuro #Footprint4ourFuture program seeks to mobilize resources so that groups, organizations, and individuals can continue their work and increase their impact. Program is aiming to promote:

Carbon capture
Protections for water resources
Biodiversity conservation
Enhancement of scenic beauty
Food supply
Job generation and entrepreneurial opportunities
Approximately 157 direct jobs during the first 5 years

To date, there have been several positive impacts demonstrated:

Mobilization of US$1.7 million for reforestation and ecosystem restoration projects in Northern Costa Rica
Successful implementation of the Footprints4ourFuture initiative, achieving 94% of its initial target
Creation of green jobs and reduction of unemployment exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
Support for women in charge of reforestation efforts at the community level, benefiting 139 women and 121 men from vulnerable rural communities in Northern Costa Rica
Approval of the "Raíces" (Roots) program, the first incubation program for sustainable tourism in indigenous areas in Costa Rica
Mobilization of US$577.5K for various sustainability initiatives, including Raíces and the CRE-C Program
Introduction of protected area fees that could generate over US$3 million in new revenue, fully earmarked to the country's protected area agency (SINAC)