Ecologically important corridor property acquired for forest protection and reforestation

   How did this come about?
During their project trip at the end of 2017, Michael Ott and Stefan Rother heard the   Chainsaws  of the lumberjacks. Pedro Mendez Tam, the owner of the lodge and himself a committed conservationist, asked Tropica Verde for help to prevent the deforestation of the forest. Unfortunately, we were unable to make a commitment due to a lack of funds.
In July of this year, Tobias Hauser from Mundologia in Freiburg asked us if we could help develop a joint project to_{offset the CO2 emissions} of his speakers’ trips. So we got in touch with Pedro again. He told us that the land had now been largely cleared. The owner, an elderly gentleman from Zarcero on the other side of the national park, now wants to sell his land as quickly as possible because he has been cheated out of his money by the loggers.

Although the Mundologia organization ultimately opted for a project in Brazil, we remained in contact with Pedro, as we saw the opportunity to implement an ecologically significant and high-profile reforestation project with scientific support.

Expert opinion
In order to evaluate the biological value and reforestation possibilities, we commissioned our forestry engineer Victor Esquivel Hernández to check on site whether the acquisition of the area really makes ecological sense and is in line with our project principles.

Victor’s report particularly highlighted the importance of the site as a biological corridor between the national park and adjacent wooded areas. Green soldier macaws are also regularly observed in this region, using the area as a resting place on their flight to the south of Costa Rica. The high ecological importance of the property and its reforestation was clearly confirmed in this report.

Should we get involved?
The space and the opportunities arising from its purchase are convincing:
Tropica Verde sees the acquisition of the land with scientifically supported reforestation and forest protection as a high-priority core element of its conservation work in the medium term and as an essential contribution to active nature conservation in Costa Rica. In conjunction with accompanying educational measures, all of Tropica Verde’s main objectives are covered.
For the practical implementation of the protection and a reforestation project, we have a direct neighbor in Pedro, who already has his own experience with reforestation on his property and who also offers a good place to stay in the immediate vicinity of the area and the Braulio Carrillo NP with his lodge, which is run in the spirit of sustainable tourism. Pedro is willing to help monitor the reforestation as well as organize training events together with local nature conservation groups. We can also use Pedro’s connections to EARTH University.

Our lawyer with the sellers during the property transfer

Purchase of the finca

4 days ago, on 10.12.2018, all the necessary papers were signed –  The finca is ours! Tropica

Verde is over the moon! Even our lawyer couldn’t help but grin. With Pedro’s help, we got a new property in record time and can now get started 🙂

The name for our new finca was also found relatively quickly:
Reserva Kinkajou. The name comes from the fact that Martin and Stefan (two of the founders of Tropica Verde) have been traveling in Costa Rica over the last few weeks and have already seen several of these wrapped bears (lat.: Potos flavus), which are called Kinkajou in Spanish, in the area. So signs were diligently painted and put up:

WELCOME TO THE RESERVA KINKAJOU !

Dr. Stefan Rother and Dr. Martin Scholz painting the signs for the Reserva Kinkajou

Support our efforts to pay off the property, protect it, conduct scientific research and educational activities, and give species like the Green Soldier Macaw (ara ambiguus) a new home!

Photos: © Stefan Rother – Faunity