CATIE Contributes to Costa Rica’s National Reforestation Plan: A Strategic Vision Toward 2050
A strategic effort to restore forest leadership and secure sustainable wood production.
Costa Rica is taking an important step to strengthen its forest sector and CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) played a key role in the recent workshop to design the National Reforestation Plan for Sustainable Wood Production to 2050.
For decades, the country’s investment in productive reforestation declined, reducing competitiveness and creating a significant wood deficit. Today, the national vision aims to reverse this trend through a long-term strategy that calls for:
Establishing at least 4,000 hectares of new forest plantations every year
Modernizing the wood industry
Improving traceability systems
Strengthening business-oriented silviculture
Generating new opportunities for rural producers and value chains
Aligning the forestry sector with Costa Rica’s climate and sustainability goals
A central contribution from CATIE focused on knowledge management, highlighted as a foundational pillar of the plan. Sustainable reforestation requires robust scientific evidence, technical training, innovative silvicultural practices, updated information platforms and decision-support tools that empower producers, technicians, students and policymakers.
“Our participation reaffirms CATIE’s commitment to an innovative, competitive, and science-based forest sector. A country that invests in trees invests in its future—through employment, rural development, national industry, climate solutions and community well-being,”
CATIE will continue collaborating with national institutions, producers and international partners to ensure that reforestation becomes a renewed driver of economic, social and environmental growth. This joint effort reflects Costa Rica’s broader vision of building resilient landscapes and sustainable value chains across the country.
The Tropics Foundation proudly supports initiatives that strengthen tropical ecosystems and rural livelihoods, amplifying the impact of institutions like CATIE throughout the region.
Edited by: Estefanie Ramírez Brenes.
📧 estefanie.ramirez@catie.ac.cr
Written by: Karla Madrigal P.