The creation of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve of the Tropical Science Center in 1972 marks a milestone in the region’s economy. The arrival of scientists and tourists to learn about the ecosystem has generated that its population sees an opportunity to improve their standard of living.This progress is evident through the arrival of more than 100,000 visitors to the reserve, allowing the locals to offer lodging and food services, becoming tour operators and thus generating a transfer ofThis progress is evident through the arrival of more than 100,000 visitors to the reserve, allowing locals to offer lodging and food services, thus becoming tourist operators and generating a transfer of their agricultural and livestock activities to the tourism industry and, in some cases, adding these activities to their agricultural and livestock activities and increasing their family economy.

Currently, all of the residents are related in some way to tourism, which is due to the creation of this protected area.