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Tropical Forest Regeneration La Reserva Forest Foundation La Reserva Forest Foundation is a non-profit volunteer, educational and scientific charitable organization dedicated to the recovery and preservation of indigenous tropical rain forests in Costa Rica. It began nine years ago on a 100 acre dairy farm overlooking Lake Arenal, in the province of Guanacaste (north central) Costa Rica. In our early years we planted tree bridges to connect the few forest islands that remained on our farm, noting that animals could then move from one stand of trees to other forested areas without exposing themselves to predators on the ground. This inspired us in 1998, to allow forests to regenerate naturally on the entire property, creating a private forest reserve. Este sitio de web esta desponible en Español. La Reserva is dedicated to reversing the widespread conversion of tropical forest to farmland, recognizing that we are stewards of the natural world, not just its consumers. We call our work “oxygen farming” because forests produce oxygen and absorb CO2, thus helping to curb global warming. The critical importance of the La Reserva Forest Foundation project lies not only in its reversal of deforestation but also in its ability to create a hospitable environment for species forced out by over 80 years of farming and 20 years of real estate development. In this premontane wet tropical climate on the Continental Divide, the forest regenerates in as little as eight years, allowing biological corridors to quickly link former isolated patches of forest. These corridors provide necessary habitat for familiar species and welcome back species unseen in this area for generations. In addition, they offer opportunities for endangered species to thrive and migrate, thus enlarging the gene pool and reducing the dangers of inbreeding.
If you grow it they will come! Genuine forest regeneration is NOT tree farming, which is a monoculture for profit, where trees are clear-cut, leaving soils exposed to future deterioration. La Reserva’s natural regeneration philosophy has proven sound: our reserve now teems with more and larger families of Mantled Howler Monkeys, sloths and other forest mammals, dozens of species of reptiles and amphibians and over 150 species of tropical birds. As the forest grows and thickens, we are rewarded daily by the ever-increasing abundance of life, in this, one of the most biologically diverse corners of the planet. The La Reserva project proves that it is not too late to save tropical forests and the animals that depend on them. As our project grows, it will connect with similar projects in the tropics to create a healing green belt around the world. We are now concentrating on creating forest corridors through pastureland to connect isolated forest islands in adjoining areas of Tilaran to the southwest and look forward to expanding the ideology globally, as quickly as possible.
Save the earth by planting trees video about La Reserva at YouTube. LET’S GET PLANTING !
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We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness Sometimes the solution to poverty can be found with a little help - not by giving the fish, but by providing a rod to those in need. We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees. |
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©2007 La Reserva Forest Foundation. All rights reserved. Contact: Postal mailing address: |
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