Head in the Sky, Feed in the Mud
2008-2009 Lecture Series, Institute at the Golden Gate
Presented in collaboration with Conservation International

The Costa Rica Success Story: The Mouse That Roared
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Vice President, Conservation International

Costa Rica Provides a pioneering example of how a government and society can, with bold policies and investments, reverse environmental decline. As Costa Rica's former Minister of Environment and Energy, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez guided the development of policies that recognize the tremendous economic value of Costa Rica's ecosystems and resulted in income being paid to people who commit to conserving forests and watersheds for the benefit of all society. The "Payment for Environmental Serivce" concept is gaining global attention as one of the solutions to climate change.