Costa Rica has two major forest types that currently cover almost half of the countries life zones, tropical moist and tropical wet. Originally Costa Rica was covered by a 99.8% natural forest and by 1977 was reduced to just 31%. Most of this deforestation had occurred since the 1950's (Hartshorn, et al.1982). A study done by the Center on Sustainable Development (CIEDES,1998) indicates the rate of deforestation between 1986 and 97 had declined to an average of just 1% a year (Sanchez-Azofeifa, et al. 2000).
             A tropical moist forest mainly consists of evergreens and canopy trees, 40 - 50 meters tall with mostly wide crowns. These trees are generally branch less for the first 25-35 meters. The sub canopy trees such as palms trees grow to about 30 meters and are abundant except in lower cooler areas. The under story trees range from 8-20 meters tall and often have long drip tip type leaves. The shrub layer mostly consists of dwarf palms and broad leafed herbs. The ground layer is mostly bare with scattered ferns with some woody lianas and epephyes ( Hartshorn et al. 1982).
             The tropical wet forest contains the most forms of life species in Costa Rica. There are two major wet forests in Costa Rica on the northeast and one in the southwest. This type of forest is mainly tall multistatial, evergreens. The canopy trees in these regions are45-55 meters tall and with a round umbrella-shaped crowns (Hartshorn et al.1982).? These trees also are brachless the first 30 meters up. The sub canopy trees are generally 30-40 meters tall with round canopies and slender trunks. The twisted and crooked trees of the under canopy are 10 -25 meters tall with conical crowns. The shrub layer is mostly dwarf palms and some broad leaved herbs ranging from 1.5-2.5 meters tall ( Hartshorn et al. 1982).
             At the time of the Spanish Conquests, Arch Bishop Thiel estimated that there were about 27,000 Indians in the Costa Rica region, other estimates fig...