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| Reforestation
at Finca Tranquila II
by
Ann Hawkinson, KSTR Volunteer summer, 2002 |
Finca Tranquila II sapling & landscape /Mary Kline |
A large reforestation project is underway on the Tranquila II farm
near Narajano in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. The land
was at one time razed or clear-cut for cattle grazing by a previous
owner. Cattle ranching, which is responsible for large-scale deforestation
in Costa Rica, is ecologically harmful because grazing causes soil
compaction, soil erosion and nutrient depletion of the grazed lands.
The new owners (Scott Herrington, Anne Pope and Tania Muniz) recognized
the importance of protecting the rainforest and contacted Kids Saving
the Rainforest, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the
rainforest. This project is significant because it greatly extends
the Titi Monkey Corridor providing habitat and food for the critically
endangered Titi Monkey. The new owners have set aside 50 hectares
for 18,000 rainforest trees to be planted. At this moment, only
10 hectares with 2,500 trees have been planted with help from KSTR.
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KSTR forestry engineer, Lissy Rivera was responsible for
planning and coordinating the reforestation projects. This includes
analyzing the soil, evaluating the topography and microclimate in
order to select the appropriate trees for each specific site. She
assisted further in giving technical recommendations as to the planting
and care of each tree. |
Finca Tranquila
II stream w/ Lissy Rivera, KSTR Forestry Engineer / photo by Mary
Kline |
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KSTR is grateful to the new owners
of Finca Tranquila II who could have used this land profitably for
grazing. Instead each tree is carefully planted and nurtured
by hand for several years. Employees are hired and paid by the owners
to help take care of the trees, weeding and carefully tending them.
The location, the type of each tree and the name of each person
who has donated the tree are carefully marked and recorded. The
owners have spent many long hours working out the many details with
KSTR. It is a difficult and time-consuming process. |
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The small trees that have been planted
are Espavel (Anacardium exelsum), Roble Sabana (Tabebuia rosea),
Cortez Negro (Tabebuia impetiginosa), Iguano (Dilodendron
costaricensis) and Guayaba de mono (Posoqueria latifolia).
These species were chosen because they are native to the area,
providing food and habitat for the Titi Monkeys. Several of
these species are endangered themselves, so using them for
reforestation will support their regrowth in this area. In
addition, some of the trees have flowers and fruit that also
attract insects, another important part of the Titi Monkey’s
diet. Rapid growth rate and easy adaptation to the site were
also factors in the selection process.
These trees were purchased from a small
women’s collaborative called The Association of Women of the
Establishment Pirris, in Parrita. It is a group of 10 women
of low economic resources who are struggling for a better
life for themselves and their families. Kids Saving the Rainforest
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the rainforest
and educating people around the world about it.
(kidssavingtherainforest.org) |
Finca
Tranquila II mature tree/ Mary Kline |
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