sentences:  The permit system is one of many possible factors contributing to a decline in thatch use in Costa Rica but should not be considered independent of other social and economic factors.Research conducted during the Laurentian University field course indicates that there has been a drastic shift within the past few decades in regards to the use of "Manicaria saccifera" as roofing material for dwellings.Even though there were some obvious advantages to using the "Manicaria saccifera" for thatch, such as its durability and its ability to help cool down a building as well as being waterproof, many locals were actually moving away from using the palm as roofing material.