LA RESERVA FOREST FOUNDATION

SOLE TECHNOLOGY, ETNIES SHOES

 

Rio Sol Bio Corridor, Maleku Reserve, Costa Rica

 

 

Project Summary:

This biological corridor will restore the native forest along one side of the Rio Sol from 10 – 50 m. wide. It will return the forest that the flora, fauna and Maleku tribe depend upon for a full life. This Project is sponsored, in part by Sole Technology, makers of etnies Shoes. The 35,000 trees to be planted in the new corridor are etnies extremely generous contribution. “Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree”

 

Funding Amount:

$43,858.00 (see Appendix 1)

 

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 in the corridor
$32 – will pay two Maleku workers for one day for planting and preparing the land
$50 – pays for one unit of the transportation needed for the corridor project
$100 – will pay for 200 of the native tree seedlings to be planted in the corridor
$192 – pays the wages for all 12 planters for one days work preparing and planting the land
$455 – pays for 500 meters of the fencing necessary to protect the newly restored forest

What is the problem:

90% of the Maleku were massacred in the 19^th century for their rubber trees and their ancestral lands were taken. The Costa Rican government recognized 3000+ hectares as the Maleku territory in 1977 but 33 years later hasn’t compensated and moved the non-indigenous landowners off, the ones who deforested it for cattle farming (see Appendix 2). The Maleku will buy the 3000+ hectares from these landowners and restore 2/3 of it to the native forest they depend upon for housing, food and medicine. This corridor begins this forest recuperation process.

 

How will the project solve the problem:

This corridor is just the beginning of the larger project to recuperate the Maleku’s territory and restore 2/3 to native forest. By reforesting the Rio Sol the Maleku start to recuperate their original forests and territory and subsequently the resources their culture depend upon for survival.

Potential Long-Term Impact:

Connect 10 km of forest along Rio Sol. The 35,000 trees will remove over 450 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, the Maleku will receive carbon offset payments for their community development and employment working to restore their forests and culture.

Quote:

“These pasture lands belong to the non-indigenous ranchers. There are no trees on either side of the river here. Barbed wire crosses our path. We must stop the erosion and run-off of agrochemicals.”  Jahiro Cruz Silva, Fiscal, Maleku Tribal council

 

Personnel:

Roberta Ward Smiley

President and Founder

As project leader Roberta oversees all phases of LRFF’s forestry projects. She is adm. for the projects, paying participants & 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 w/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 families tourist project receiving 100’s 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!!