Restoring Forests in Guatuso, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Sleeping two-toed sloth, he will come back if we plant it

Project Summary:

This project will return to native forest 15 hectares (37 acres) by planting 15,000 trees on old pasturelands. The project will increase mobility and habitat for wildlife and raise local awareness by providing employment, nursery opportunities and hands-on education for area residents. Working with six different landowners the project will return to forest an area from which the flora and fauna have been absent since the land was deforested between 1960 and 1990. At least 1,000 trees per hectare of more than 110 native species will be planted.

Figuring the land out at Enrique Gomez’s farm, Katira, Guatuso

Enrique Gomez property, imagine this dead forest restored!

Enrique Gomez property, another view of his 2.5 acres of pasture

Funding Amount:

$29,016.00

Donation Options:

$16 – pays wages of one worker/day for planting and preparing the land
$20 – will pay for 40 of the native tree seedlings to be planted
$32 – will pay two Maleku workers for one day for planting and preparing the land
$48 – pays three workers for one day of fence building to protect the trees
$100 – will pay for 200 of the native tree seedlings to be planted
$160 – pays the wages of all 10 planters for one day’s work of land preparation and planting
$250 – pays for 500 meters of the fencing necessary to protect the newly restored forest
$1160 – pays for one of the quarterly maintenance cleanings

Carlos Luis Arias Chavarria, owner of 5.5 hectare pastureland to be reforested

What is the problem:

Between the years 1961 and 1992 the Guatuso area, which includes the Maleku indigenous communities, lost over 90% of their tropical, humid forests. The lands were deforested for cattle farming and cultivation of crops. It has caused a change in the climate to the west, where less rain now falls and stripped the indigenous people of forest resources to live their traditional lifestyle. The use of herbicides and pesticides has caused the rivers to be contaminated and consequently the aquatic and terrestrial life is fighting to survive.

Part of the 5.5 hectares Arias family farm to be restored to forest in Katire, Guatuso

Carlos Luis’s and his son, Juan Carlos Arias’s pastureland

15 hectares of native tropical forest will be recovered that were lost in the past 4 decades. “Restoring Forests in Guatuso” will return 15 hectares of Maleku ancestral lands back to native forest, subsequently helping to mitigate climate change by sequestering and storing a minimum of 230 metric tonnes/year, recuperating lost habitat and forest resources that the Maleku and other local people depend upon for their traditional lifestyle. If you plant it, they will come.

Griselda Sioni Gomez Ocón, a French teacher, at her ½ hectare farm to be reforested

Potential Long-Term Impact:

The 15,000+ trees will remove over 230 metric tonnes/year of CO2 from the atmosphere, as a result the landowners will receive carbon offset payments for the next 30 years on the farmlands they sacrificed to be restored to forest. In addition the project will offer employment for local workers and provide local families an opportunity to create tree nurseries. LRFF buys the trees at planting time as an incentive to the landowner creating a lasting appreciation for their vital forests.

Jeffrey Lacayo Blanco and Roberta, figuring out how much fence will be needed

Jeffrey’s farm to be reforested at Palenque Sol, Maleku Reserve

Quote:

“My father is quite old now and he has always dreamt of reforesting the pastures when he retired from dairying.”  Juan Carlos Arias, participant in the project with all of he and his father’s farmland

Property of Angelo Cruz Marin, ½ hectare, in Palenque Sol, Maleku Reserve

Personnel:

Roberta Ward Smiley

CEO and Founder

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!!

Links:

Something To Be Proud Of

Starting the New Year Off Right

2011 – Thank You, Look What You’ve Done

Nothing But Progress

To contribute to this project you may make a tax-deductible donation online at the following link:

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

Please see the following Appendices I and II

• Appendix I– Budget for “Restoring Forests in Guatuso”
• Appendix II – Loss of Forest Cover from 1961 – 1992, Maleku Reserve