Project Summary:
This project will be our first land acquisition opportunity contributing to the recuperation of Maleku ancestral territory. The farm is 38 hectares, priced at $330,000* which includes 24 hectares of primary forest, 14 hectares of pasture being reforested as part of the Rio Sol Biological Corridor project, and an ancient, functioning water source that supplies water to all the Maleku communities below. The reforestation of this land in December will help to increase the level of the aquifer and therefore provide more water to these communities who are currently experiencing a water shortage, which is partly due to the lack of forest. The farm is also home to the Suita Palm, used by the Maleku to build roofs for their houses.
*$330,000 buys the land. An additional 2% is needed ($6600) to cover the costs of running the project.
Pasture land on the farm that is to be restored to native tropical forest.
The divide between pastureland and primary forest, all this is to be reforested
The problem:
90% of the Maleku were massacred in the 1800s for rubber trees. The tribe went from over 6000 to less than 600, robbed of their ancestral lands. In 1976 the Costa Rica government decreed 3000 of the original 60,000 hectares as Maleku territory. The lands haven’t been returned. LRFF with the Maleku are seeking donors to buy back the ancestral lands from non-indigenous owners, restoring two-thirds to forest. The Maleku depend on the forest for housing, food and medicine. This forest provides water and building materials.
The Suita Palm used by the Maleku people to make roofs for their houses.
How the project solves the problem:
By purchasing the farm, we will be restoring 14 hectares of Maleku ancestral lands, conserve 24 hectares of primary forest, bringing it back to health after the cattle incursion, increase the aquifer levels to provide potable water for the Maleku communities, and begin the recuperation of their territory for their use.
The primary forest on the farm, Marvin showing us his special tree
Potential Long-Term Impact:
The acquisition of this farm and subsequent ones will draw attention and the Costa Rican government will finally implement the 35-year-old decree for the Maleku ancestral lands. The Maleku will have free use of the land. The Costa Rican govt. gives legal residency to people investing a minimum $60,000 in the country, i.e. land, business, etc. A donor or 6 donors could buy this property and all receive permanent residence. The land will be for the Maleku‘s permanent and free use but not abuse.
We hope to restore all the land to natural, healthy, native tropical forest
such as this part of the property
Personnel:
Roberta Ward Smiley
CEO and Founder of La Reserva Forest Foundation
As project leader Roberta oversees all phases of LRFF’s forestry projects. She is administrator for the projects, paying participants and performing inspections. She founded LRFF in 2005. Everything she knows about the importance of tropical forests she has learned first-hand in the forests of the world’s tropic with 25 years experience in native forest restoration and preservation
Coordinator of the Local Council of Biological Corridors Lake Arenal-Volcano Tenorio
Consultant and liaison for Maleku Tribal Council
Liaison for LRFF United States
Daniel Spreen Wilson
Project manager and LRFF Treasurer
Daniel has 25 years experience in native, tropical forest restoration and preservation. He manages the seedling nursery at La Reserva, identifying Mother trees for seed collection, identification of tree species and ensures that the nursery contains a wide variety of tree species (70+ native species). Daniel is in charge of the work crews who do the hole digging, planting and tree maintenance.
Portland State University – Accounting major
Active member of the Local Council for Biological Corridors Lake Arenal-Volcano Tenorio
Jimmy Acosta Elizondo
Field Director
Jimmy is 100% Maleku and an important member of the Maleku. He speaks, writes and reads fluent Maleku and Spanish. He is also director of his family’s tourist project receiving hundreds of international tourists monthly. He is an expert on tropical plants and trees and the medicinal uses of these. He brings to this project and all LRFF forestry projects innovative ideas on planting, maintenance and employee management techniques.
LET’S GET PLANTING!!
Please contact us for more detailed information about the property at roberta@lrff.org and ………………..
LET’S GET PLANTING!!
Links:
To contribute to this project you may make a tax-deductible donation online at the following link:
U.S. tax deductible nonprofit number EIN# 26-3595528
Or you may contact us at either of the following addresses or telephone numbers:
La Reserva Forest Foundation
117 E Winston St. #302
Los Angeles CA 90013
La Reserva Forest Foundation
Apartado 63-5710
Tilaran, Guanacaste
Costa Rica, Central America
Telephone: (011) 506-8856-2977
