RESERVA FINCA CURRÉ
Protecting the primary forest on the Caribbean coastUrban sprawl and land speculation threaten remaining primary forests
Tropica Verde has been protecting a unique primary forest, the Reserva Finca Curré, which is several hundred years old, in this rapidly developing region since 1991. Part of this forest has been integrated into the neighboring “Keköldi forest” of the local indigenous population. Keköldi is one of the indigenous communities of Cost Rica from the Bribri tribe. Today, Finca Curré, which covers almost 100 hectares, represents an important forest link – a so-called biological corridor – between the Keköldi area and the Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife reserve. Tropica Verde works together with COASTS to protect the sea turtles in Gandoca.
Biological corridors are particularly vital for larger mammals such as the tapir and jaguar. Jaguars, for example, have hunting areas of 50 – 100 km² in size and require connected forest areas. Such biocorridors are also extremely important for the genetic stability of animal populations, and not only in tropical rainforests. Poaching and illegal logging are unfortunately commonplace in the region today. The pressure on these coastal rainforests is high and only through neighborly networks, links with existing conservation reserves, continuous environmental education in schools and guided tours for nature lovers as well as the integration of committed local people does this type of forest with its high biodiversity have a chance of survival.
ASOGUABO: Guardian of the forest in the southern Caribbean
The region of the southern Caribbean of Costa Rica impresses with its enormous biodiversity: here you will find trees up to 300 years old and 50 meters high, beautiful year-round flowering plants, monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, green macaws and, on the coasts, mangroves and sea turtles, to name but a few. While the indigenous inhabitants and newcomers used to live in harmony with this nature, the threats posed by infrastructure, including road construction, have increased once again in recent years. Many local residents are fighting back!
Tropica Verde has been protecting the primary forest on Finca Curré since 1991 and is committed to cooperation between various stakeholders in the region. The owners of the land around Finca Curré joined forces with like-minded neighbors many years ago as “guardians of the forest”. The association ASOGUABO (Asociación de los Guardianes del Bosque) was then founded in October 2023. In total, over 200 hectares on these neighboring properties are under protection. And the number is growing.
You can find out more about ASOGUABO, the origins and development of the association in this report Southern Caribbean – the roads that separate the biological corridor
WHAT DOES TROPICA VERDE DO?
- The preservation of contiguous primary forest areas within the biological corridor supports regional biodiversity. Tropica Verde also supports scientific studies on biodiversity in the Reserva Finca Curré.
- Regular patrols are needed to protect the Reserva, which are carried out regularly by committed local partners. Gentle, sustainable tourism with expert guided tours by locals is also part of the concept, as regular presence in the area sends out important signals against illegal logging and poaching.
- The project is also supplemented by local environmental education in the sense of education for sustainable development for Caribbean and indigenous schools through our project partners ACBTC and the neighborhood association ASOGUABO – Guardians of the Forest with additional activities to raise awareness of the careful use of resources and adapted environmental techniques, including in ecotourism.
- We support ASOGUABO in a wide range of measures that are intended to lead to even more effective resource protection: Inventories of biodiversity and its threats using GPS and drones, tests of soils and water, development of plans for the most ecologically suitable reforestation and use, a tree nursery for ecologically adapted plant species.
- In order to link the Costa Rica-wide environmental education activities of our local partner organizations, Tropica Verde 2024 launched a cross-project education network.
News about this project
ASOGUABO: The roads that separate the biological corridor
Environmental education is a matter close to Tropica Verde’s heart – and therefore also to Ariana. Education in the sense of sustainable development is also an important component of our sea turtle project in Gandoca. Get to know our employee Ariana Oporta McCarthy and her motivation in this interview.
Review of the year 2023: How our projects developed
Cooperation, poaching and environmental education 2023 was a very intensive year in terms of our project work in Costa Rica. I've just returned from another 6 weeks in the country shortly before Christmas and have taken away many positive impressions from the...
We protect the rainforest – Our projects
Our new image brochure is ready. The newly designed brochure provides information about our projects and activities in Costa Rica. We hope you enjoy reading it! Link to desktop view Link to the mobile view
