RESERVA FINCA CURRÉ

Protecting the primary forest on the Caribbean coast

Urban sprawl and land speculation threaten remaining primary forests

On the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, tourism has developed more and more since 2010, with the result that road and building construction, deforestation and fragmentation of intact forest areas have taken on enormous proportions. In addition, small forest plots are for sale everywhere, where retirees and emigrants are creating their own little paradises – at the expense of previously intact 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.

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 the 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.

Strawberry frog from the poison dart frog family

Sloths are typical inhabitants of the Caribbean coastal rainforest. Here, as so often during a nap....

The fishing toucan can be heard from afar in the morning and heralds the start of the day.

The Ameiven lizard uses every ray of sunlight on the dark forest floor, as little light penetrates the treetops

Stefan Rother in front of a huge, more than 500-year-old kapok tree on the Finca Curré

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 supplemented by local environmental education for Caribbean and indigenous schools through our project partner ACBTC.

News about this project

Review of the year 2023: How our projects developed

Apr 13, 2024

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

Apr 13, 2024

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

The Lapa Verdes are doing great!

Apr 13, 2024

There is a lot of great news from the Lapas Verdes (Great Soldier Macaws): 1. in Tortuguero we could observe that macaws regularly flew to the beach to visit the beach almond trees. This is now a significant source of food. 2. at the height of Limon, deep in the...