The captions of the photographs are extensions of the narrative essays in each chapter they present detail of the special places or animal species. In addition to providing photographs, Goodell and Saborío write knowledgeably about their subjects, breaking the fauna kingdom down into chapters on the birds (of course), as well as reptiles and amphibians, mammals, insects and spiders, and marine life, followed by the exotic plant life of this paradise. It is no surprise that birding captures the largest segment of ecotourism in the country, and given the preserved habitat and landscape, general conservation-oriented tourism also thrives here. Their names are exotic-Jabiru, Chachalaca, Aracari, Quetzal, and hundreds of others-and their vibrant plumage shines through on these pages. Given the tropical nature of the land, photographs of birds proliferate. The authors provide significant detail in their narrative to accompany the photographs, providing insight into the diverse regions of the country. A varied population of animals and plants thrive in the lush geography and microclimates of this part of the land bridge between North and South America. In fact, it is the largest protected area within any single nation in the world. Much of its land is contained within a system of national parks and reserves that make up twenty-five percent of the country’s landmass. The pair has created a photo essay of the wild places and wildlife of what they call “paradise.” The images presented inform that designation.īound by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, this country is tropical and mountainous. This rich, visual tour of the biodiversity of a remarkable land expresses loyalty to environmental conservation.Įlements of biogeography and biodiversity are captured in words and exquisite photographs to present a luminous biography of the Republic of Costa Rica in this book by Douglas Goodell and Marco Saborío.

Nature's Paradise by Douglas Goodell