Costa Rica is located on an ithsmus which connects North and South America. At approximately 9 degrees north latitude, the country is located very close to the Equator. The close proximity to the Equator places Costa Rica within the global band of rainforests.

Costa Rica is home to over 9,000 named species of plants. This extraordinarily high number of species is due to the varied terrain. The country actually has 12 distinct climate and life zones. Each of these zones is home to unique flora and fauna as well as wildlife.

The various climate and life zones contain mangroves, which protect the coastal lowlands. Rainforests in various climate zones provide homes for numerous species of wildlife as well as provide large quantities of oxygen. Trees in the Costa Rica cloud forests are generally shorter and more heavily stemmed than in the rainforests. These trees are often covered with various mosses and epiphytes. The ever present fog collects on the leaves of these plants and then drips to lower plants, eventually reaching the ground. The soil in the cloud forest is generally rich and boggy with large amounts of humus and peats.

There are nearly 1,500 species of orchids in Costa Rica. This number includes the Cattleya Skinneri, which is Costa Rica's national flower. The Cattleya Skinneri is a popular flower in Costa Rica, and many homes are adorned with them. Unfortunately, this has led to the flower becoming endangered. Protective measures are currently being lobbied to protect these beautiful flowers from extinction.

Over 900 species of trees have been identified in Costa Rica. Though clear cutting has been a problem for many years, recent legislation has ensured that the protection of Costa Rica's natural resources is a top priority. Now, over 25% of the land in Costa Rica is protected by MINAE and SINAC.

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