Nature: Guardians of the Wild- How Perspectives Shape Species' Fate by Anne-Marie Mascaro

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.  One man’s loss is another man’s gain.  

The literary landscape is riddled with metaphors and aphorisms reminding us that perspective is everything.  And when it comes to conservation approaches, perspective can mean the difference between life and death.  

Consider most of India for example, where cows are revered and protected as sacred beings. Contrast that with America, where they are reduced to commodities, shaped into burgers and passed through a drive-through window for instant consumption.  A mere change in perspective, and an animal’s fate is transformed.

From one corner of the world, monkeys might seem undeniably cute. But in another part of the world, how cute is that same monkey after it raided crops crucial to survival? And what if you grew up believing that certain animals, like the Aye-aye—an elusive, nocturnal lemur from Madagascar, were dark, evil creatures bent on casting spells? These fear-driven cultural superstitions have played a role in pushing the Aye-aye to an endangered status.

Despite these difficult realities, I ventured off to study primates in graduate school, fueled by a blind optimism.  I was convinced that with enough passion, determination, and the right marketing approach, we could change the fate of an entire species.  I still believe this, but now the feeling is more nuanced and informed.

Under desk lamps in dusty libraries and after hours spent leafing through peer-reviewed articles, absorbing insights from experts, I discovered that conservation was a simple, singular word capturing something far more complex.  Deeply intricate substories existed beneath the surface of things. Different interests, perspectives, and values shaping political, economic and cultural landscapes were at play.  And all these combined perspectives changed the fates of animals and the wild ecosystems they live within.    

I remember once asking a professor, “Why can’t we just stop palm oil production and save the orangutans?” The harsh reality is: many governments actually incentivize companies to clear land for palm oil—sometimes cutting down trees with orangutans still clinging to them.  The issue isn’t harvesting resources; it’s the reckless, unsustainable methods—burning, bulldozing, and destroying habitats—that turn profit into devastation.  

Wildlife and ecosystems aren’t optional.

All primates for example - like the capuchin monkey found in Costa Rica, and orangutans found in Indonesia and humans everywhere – play their role in preserving the planet’s habitability.  For example, non-human primates are seed dispersers, allowing global forests to regenerate and help sustain all life on earth.

Wild primates may seem plentiful in Costa Rica, but their abundance can be misleading.  On a global scale, many are endangered.  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) compiles a list of species that are threatened worldwide.  Costa Rica’s Geoffrey’s spider monkey and the Central American squirrel monkey are both endangered while the mantled howler monkey is considered vulnerable. All species of orangutans are critically endangered.  Collectively, habitat loss, fragmentation, hunting, electrocution from power lines, disease, legislation, cultural views and the pet trade contribute to this.

To understand why some primates in Costa Rica and Indonesia might be in peril, let’s uncover a few layers of information.  It’s important not to feel powerless about their fate and to instead understand what we can do to secure it.  Costa Rica is a prime example of how practices can be turned around.  

Why is Costa Rica seen as a world leader in conservation whereas areas of Indonesia like Sumatra and Borneo where the orangutan live, are not?  What are these regions of the world doing drastically differently from each other?  At one time, Costa Rica faced a deforestation crisis, with forest cover dropping from 70% in 1940 to less than 30% by 1987 due to unsustainable logging and agricultural expansion. It has since become a pioneer in banning and reversing deforestation through strong government action and incentives. Could this be a model for other countries to follow? Clearly new laws, incentives and initiatives can be enacted if we’re willing to consider ourselves guardians of the wild.  

Culture and Law – Contrast and Compare

Both Indonesia and Costa Rica are some of the most biodiverse places on earth.  Costa Rica has often demonstrated a commitment to environmental protection both in policy and practice.  Conservation is considered part of a core national strategy.  In fact, Costa Rica’s 1994 constitutional amendment guarantees the right to a healthy environment.  Protected areas are a cornerstone of culture here, with many parks benefiting from eco-tourism, which helps fund their upkeep. Environmental issues are consistently prioritized by successive governments.  Instead of viewing nature as a resource to exploit, it’s a source of sustainable income. Rinse and repeat.

Despite the overall positive context, species and habitats still face threats. Reflecting on education, outreach, and laws that are enforced are critical components that can’t be overlooked. Vigilance is required to continue along a positive trajectory.

In contrast, Indonesia does not embrace the same level of political will favoring sustainable environmental practices. In 2019, a controversial Omnibus Law raised concerns among environmentalists for weakening environmental protections in favor of business development. Despite revisions, it remains a contentious law. 

Land Use

Governments of Indonesia and Costa Rica take different approaches to the heated topic of land use. Over 25% of Costa Rica’s land is protected in the form of national parks, wildlife refuges, or reserves. It boasts one of the highest ratios of protected areas in the world with a culture and regulatory environment aimed at uphold ing the standard. Global averages are considerably lower. Indonesia has  approximately a varying 18% of its land area protected formally, and enforcement of these protections is weak. It has tried to turn the tide on deforestation and empower local communities through community-based initiatives from Indonesia’s Forest Stewardship Council, but land disputes and conflicts with business interests often complicate these efforts.  

Indonesia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law (2009) and Forest Law (1999) aim to address widespread illegal logging and land conversion, but enforcement efforts around those laws are weak. A complex mix of local, regional and national governance often leads to conflicting land-use policies with many regional governments prioritizing economic growth over environmental protection.  This controversial dynamic inarguably endangers diverse ecosystems.

Money, Money, Money

In 1997, Costa Rica launched the Payments For Environmental Services (PES) program to incentivize landowners to protect the environment. Funded by a fuel tax, carbon credits, and international donors, the program compensates landowners for reforestation, conservation, and sustainable land use. Thanks to this system, Costa Rica has successfully reforested areas with an approach that unites the government and citizens in conservation efforts.

Indonesia has a Payments For Ecosystem Services scheme, where Forest Stewardship Council-certified community forests receive direct payments from partner organizations for watershed and carbon services. However lack of clear guidelines as to how the system works and lack of enforcement render it less effective than it could be.  The pervading atmosphere is one that pits the needs of its residents who depend on the forest, against the region’s needs for profits.  As we’ve all heard in recent years, significant sums of money come through palm oil, logging and mining businesses, with wealth achieved at the cost of deforestation.  

Hope On The Horizon

Conservation progress has been made in Indonesia, with efforts to reduce deforestation in the Leuser Ecosystem and Kerinci Seblat National Park. Responsible ecotourism can be a renewable income source there, benefiting many.  Gunung Leuser National Park is home to 10,000 plant species, nearly 600 bird species, almost 100 amphibians and reptiles, and 200 mammal species, including orangutans.

And in 2024, Costa Rica created Cielo Verde National Park -covering over 50,000 acres of cloud and lowland rainforest-to protect endangered jaguars, howler monkeys, and scarlet macaws.  Educational efforts and financial goals through ecotourism co-exist simultaneously, without destroying the environment or profitability.

Even if people don’t care about primates, trees, or lesser-known species, they care about their own future. And the rain forest is well known to house secrets to longevity and health. The tropical noni fruit, found in Indonesia and Costa Rica, shows promise against cancer, while frog venoms from both regions may offer anti-AIDS and anti-cancer benefits. Could the promise of medical breakthroughs inspire action to protect these species—and ourselves—through laws, activism, and education?

With so much at stake for all those involved, and with more than one way of doing things, perhaps other countries could make room for one more aphorism:

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change. 

Anne-Marie Mascaro is a freelance writer and founder of Monkeyfriendly.com, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects scientists and non-scientists to collaborate on wildlife projects. She launched an educational initiative bringing wildlife education to local schools in Costa Rica. Want to get your school involved? Email: info@monkeyfriendly.com