As environment and energy minister for Costa Rica, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez was a pioneer in the development of payment for ecosystem services. The idea is as commonsensical as it is visionary: ecosystems sustain life on Earth, and the people who care for them should be rewarded. Economic incentives to act as stewards of nature’s bounty give locals an attractive alternative to selling mineral and timber rights for short-term gain.

This groundbreaking strategy has helped Costa Rica conserve ecosystems that would likely have been pillaged for resources, and was among the policies that have allowed the country to become one of Central America’s strongest economies. Carlos was also a key player in the establishment of a multinational marine park and international efforts to eliminate bottom trawling and other unsustainable fishing practices. In his new role as CI’s regional vice president and director of Conservation International’s Mexico and Central America program, Carlos is expanding the reach of the conservation solutions he spearheaded in Costa Rica.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Multinational conservation: Carlos' experience forging multinational alliances and working in the international arena inform his unique perspective on the need for the world's nations to work in unison to conserve biodiversity.

Payment for ecosystem services: An expert in this system that serves the needs of rural communities while ensuring that the bounty of nature is preserved for the good of all, Carlos is involved in promoting the development and implementation of payment programs from Central America to Asia.

Conservation and economics: The visionary efforts of Carlos and those like him have helped transform Costa Rica’s troubled economy into one of the strongest in Central America while nurturing the country’s unique ecosystems. The lessons of Costa Rica's success story have applications worldwide.

Costa Rica: Its cultural and biological riches make Costa Rica a jewel among Central American nations. None have done more to ensure that the nation's natural wealth is preserved for future generations than Carlos Manuel Rodriguez.