RESERVA KINKAJOU

Buffer zone at Braulio Carrillo National Park

Protection of an important biological corridor and primary forests

In 2017, Tropica Verde became aware of the deforestation of primary forest near the village of Horquetas de Sarapiqui, north of San José. Even though deforestation could not be stopped immediately, an important, partially deforested buffer zone of almost 40 hectares on the border with Braulio Carrillo National Park was acquired in two stages in 2018 and 2019.

The area also forms a biological corridor between two primary forests. This makes the area particularly important for the preservation of biodiversity and its reforestation through targeted planting from the in-house tree nursery and natural succession.

Habitat for the great white macaw, shy cats of prey and rare amphibians

The Reserva Kinkajou, for example, serves as a habitat for the Great Soldier Macaw(Ara ambiguus) on its seasonal migrations from north to south. The reason for this is the presence of important forage trees such as the rare monkey pot tree (Lecythis ampla). Tropica Verde has placed these fodder trees under protection and is planting other important rainforest trees such as the forest almond tree (Dipteryx panamensis), titor tree (Sacoglottis trichogyna), kapok tree (Ceiba petandra) and the sandbox tree (Hura crepitans) on cleared areas. You can find interesting information on such trees at Plantaciones Edelmann, for example. Between 2018 and 2022, small groups of birds were spotted regularly and increasingly, screeching loudly as they flew into the trees of the Reserva. An important observation in relation to the remaining macaw population in Costa Rica of only around 500 individuals. The Reserva Kinkajou is also home to a wide variety of mammal species such as tapir, small anteater, spider monkey, wraparound bear, ocelot and puma, as well as numerous amphibian and reptile species. And the dawn provides a unique symphony of countless bird calls.

Many insects, such as this leafhopper, are excellently camouflaged

Planning for the protection of the Great Soldier Macaw at Yatama Lodge. Understanding the flight paths of birds is important in order to establish further protected areas.

The Reserva Kinkajou was established in 2019. The Tropica Verde team, Pedro and the locals are delighted.

The Reserva Kinkajou always offers animal surprises. After the night walk through the area, the rare pygmy anteater greets us at the entrance gate of Yatama Lodge. Apparently took a short nap before the exhausting nightly insect hunt.

Wrap bear - namesake for Reserva Kinkajou

Kinkajou Nature Reserve

Aerial view at the edge of the Kinkajou Nature Reserve. On the left you can see part of the young reforestation and next to it the wooden hut, which may be converted into an environmental education center. We leave the unwooded areas on the right to natural succession. In the background, the primary forest protected by Tropica Verde extends as a buffer zone to the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Partner

Our partners at the Reserva Kinkajou include Pedro from the Yatama Ecolodge and Alex from the Centro Científico Tropical (CCT). They are the local key players behind the success of this Tropica Verde project.

Nursery

Over 700 trees of various species are waiting to be planted in 2021. Tropica Verde project coordinator Stefan Rother and forest engineer Victor Esquivel are delighted with the healthy growth of the seedlings, which were germinated from collected seeds.

WHAT DOES TROPICA VERDE DO?

Reforestation of the fallow pastures on the Reserva. Tree seeds were collected with local plant experts

collected on site

grown in our own tree nursery and planted out as seedlings in the grounds. Regular checks and maintenance will be carried out until 2025 (this work can be supported by your donation, for example).
Close cooperation with local conservationists such as the neighboring Pedro Mendez Tam, who actively supports us in the reforestation and conservation of the forest. The nature lover runs the Yatama Ecolodge in the immediate vicinity. Tropica Verde also participates in a neighborhood network founded in 2022 to protect an area of more than 1000 ha.
An existing old wooden house on the edge of the Reserva is to be converted into a science and education center in the near future.
As the macaws show nesting behavior on the Reserva but there are no suitable forest almond trees with sufficiently large tree cavities, the establishment of some artificial nesting aids is planned for 2023.
In 2022, a scientific bachelor thesis supported by Tropica Verde was completed, which examined the mammal fauna in relation to the different forest types. The work revealed a great diversity of species even in the newly created secondary forests and showed the negative influence of fragmentation by cattle pastures.

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...

Interview: What it was like as a volunteer in Costa Rica

Apr 13, 2024

Would you like to know more about volunteering at Tropica Verde? Then you’ve come to the right place! Our volunteers Bastienne and Freya talk about their experiences in Costa Rica

Can the Great Soldier Macaw still be saved? – Interview with Stefan Rother

Apr 13, 2024