Reforestation Rio Peje

Background Information

Costa Rica made a decision parallel to the establishment of The National Park System 20 years ago of reversing the trend of deforestation of its territory. The base of the program is an incentives to plant trees which covers the cost of planting the trees and pay for the first 5 years of maintenance.

The program has been supported by a tax on fuels and hydroelectric energy production, as well as the sales of environmental services to some European countries. The program has been very effective. Today there is a net increase in the forested area every year, and the country is already using the product of this project.

Today much knowledge has been obtained regarding the best species in relation to types of soils and climates, and altitudes in our very diverse country.

Regarding species for the tropical rain forest regions, most of the research has been done at the well known La Selva, The Organization of Tropical Studies biological station right next to Rio Peje.

For 20 years now, a collection of native species have been studied, seeds selected and even trees cloned. A selection of about 5 species has been chosen as the best species to be used for commercial plantations in the tropical humid areas.

The Magsasay project

Rio Peje is our farm of 1500 Acres, located next to the Braulio Carrillo National Park at 6 miles from our Adventure Center . We hold 3 main farming activities: cattle breading, black pepper production and reforestation. Nevertheless our vision is to be a sustainable, ecologically balanced operation, were eco tourism will play an important role, as the underlining and principal activity in 5 more years.

In view of our stated vision, it is very important to recuperate grazing areas and its progressive transformation into forested areas; we hope visitors will supply the short term cash flow to accomplish the change.

We truly believe forest production is a natural activity for this area of Sarapiquí with hillside topography, and lots of sun and mainly rain and warm year round. Growth rates of biological life are only second to the coral reefs in the tropics and a high density of plants is essential to maintain a healthy soil and the right ecological balance.

In 1995 we decided to start a reforestation project designed and supervised by FUNDECOR (www.fundecor.org) and has been qualified for the Green Seal under the umbrella certification by the Forest Stewardship Council ( FSC) under SGS Qualifor Certification.

We started the project with 300 acres, which at the time was the largest project in Sarapiquí, with two exotic species: Melina, Gemelina arborea , and Teak wood Tectona grandis and; and four native species of trees: Cebo, vochissia guatemalensis , Botarama vocchisia ferruginea , Pilón, Hieronima alchornoides and Roble Coral Terminalia amazonica

The exotic variety Gmelina and teak wood are fast growing good quality woods which will improve the cash flow of the project and the 4 other species with varying growth rates and quality of wood, planted according to the quality of soils and topography.

The planting system is to crowd the trees to establish a competition for light and obtain a fast growth in height of trees up to a point were diameter rate of growth slows down, which happens from 4 to 6 years after planting. At this point half of the trees are taken down to allow light to penetrate and continue the high growth rates, now by growing diameters.

The thinning of trees is usually a process were most of the trees are left to rot on the soil. Pozo Azul has been using these young trees, after chemical treatment in construction of its own facilities as the Pozo Azul Dairy a very simple and open structure of 2500 sq ft, the restaurant and reception complex as well as many other minor structures.

During 2005 we will retake the planting of trees, with 150 acres, this time the project will take into account the needs of certain animals and provide food and harbor for some birds like the great green macaw.