Help us to reforest your rainforest...

 

A sustainable finca

Finca MonteClaro, Pavones de Turrialba, Costa Rica, is a place where new solutions are found in order for local issues to be solved by sustainable development: ecological tourism, organic coffee plantations, social integration of local population and reforestation project.
This latter is being implemented in our 350 hectares of cultures and forests, with species from the humid tropical forest.

 

An ambitious reforestation project in Costa Rica

This project’s objectives are:
1. To rescue native tree species on the verge of extinction
     • Anacardium excelsum called Espavel or Cashew tree
     • Ardisia Revoluta called Tucuico
     • Bauhinia purpurea called Helmet deer or Orchids tree
     • Bursera simaruba called Indian naked or Red gum
     • Ceiba pentandra called Ceiba or Cheesemonger
     • Dipterix oleifera ou panamensis called Almond mountain
     • Garcinia intermedia called Jorco
     • Hyeronima alchorneoides called Pilon
     • Luehea divaricata called Zota caballo or Saint-Francis tree
     • Parmentiera cereifera called Candles tree.
2. To preserve forests and their fauna by creating connections between the different existing natural forests in order to establish an adapted forest cover.
3. To contribute to the creation of jobs fairly remunerated for the local population roughly affected economically speaking.

 

Offer yourself a tree by supporting it, or offer one to your family.

With only 25€* or around 30 US$*, finance the plantation and care for your little tree.
1. The little tree will have your name with its sowing date (less than one month after the deposit).
2. You will be able to follow the growing of your tree and of the forest it belongs to on the webpage ‘Your tropical forest’.
3. As an attestation of payment, you can download your
certificate of tropical tree supporter, with your name and the sowing date.
The supported trees are meant to be permanent and there is no way for them to be cut because of commercial reasons.

* The supported trees are bought without commercial objectives and the paid amount corresponds to the cost of care under greenhouse and of its posterior assistance.

To support your tree from now on, you can pay in a minimum of time with the Paypal system...

 

The native species in the finca

The treelike flora in Costa Rica is one of the most complex and one of the richest in the world. Indeed, about 2300 tree species (from 700 genders and 130 families) are to be found within only 51 900 km².
These figures have a higher meaning, when compared with other regions. For example; in the united states (excluding its tropical possessions), in a territories of just several squared kilometers there is barely 700 species of trees, on the other hand, in the hole European continent there around 3200 species of superior plants, when not only trees are included, but also other forms of life like herbs and bindweeds.
The species chosen for this re-forestation project all have a high interest for the local environment and are adapted to the zone of Turrialba.

• Anacardium excelsum (scientific name) or Espavel or Cashew tree (common name)

Cashew tree is the king of evergreen forests that are located along rivers. It is remarkable for its thick trunk and dense foliage. Berries are a rich source of food for wildlife. It is one of the largest trees in Central America, with its 45 meters high. It has white and yellow flowers, pink and cream, white or yellow, and as fruits, cashew nuts approximately 3 cm in diameter.

• Ardisia Revoluta(scientific name) or Tucuico (common name)

This tree is probably one of the 5th or 10th most complete ornamental forestry species in Costa Rica. A full open field and sun exposure, develops a striking conical glass, formed by a thick canopy of large leaves and bright. Also produces thousands of small white flowers and strongly scented, clustered in dense bunches, which in turn produce numerous small, fleshy berries red blood, and during certain times of year the foliage, flowers and fruits converge at the same time creating something like a live Christmas tree. Fleshy fruits are palatable only for some people, but for birds are absolutely irresistible.

• Bauhinia purpurea(scientific name) or Helmet deer or Orchids tree (common name)

This is a small shrubby tree, leafy top with spreading branches. Its smooth shaft, short contendencia multiple axes. The bark is smooth or finely fissured, dark gray. Alternate leaves are simple. long, leg-shaped animal (deer, goat or cow). Their flowers are large, showy, with five petals, four of them in two different pairs of the form, the fifth in the center, different color.

• Bursera simaruba (scientific name) or Naked Indian (common name)

This tree that can reach 30 meters high has white or yellow flowers which attract a lot of pollinating agents like bees without sting, flies, ants, beetles… After getting fertilized, the flowers and fruits reach a more than 9 mm size within less than a week and during 8 months, before they mature and disperse. The fruits are eaten by monkeys (Cebus capucinus, Ateles geoffroyi) and some squirrels like the ‘Sciurus variegatoides’. In popular medicine, the infusion of its bark is used to cure stomach ulcers, but one has to be very careful and not boil it frees tannins which can imply serious blood issues.

• Ceiba pentandra(scientific name) or Ceiba (common name)

It is the national tree of the Guatemalan Republic. The Mayas adored this tree because they believed that it would maintain the whole universe united. This belief would be shared by every single person who would be contemplating one of these giants, which can be until 80 meters high and 4 meters large. A single branch can be bigger and larger than most tree species. It is easy to recognize it because of its straight and cylindrical trunk covered with smooth bark and huge vines. It is the only pan tropical tree species which naturally grows in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
However and sadly the Ceiba trees can be considered like the forest whales since they are often the target for human greed and the prime material for construction. From one of these trees you can obtain thousands of cubic inches. It is also known as a carbon catching species.

• Dipterix oleifera ou panamensis (scientific name) or Almond mountain (common name)

This tree can reach a height of 50 m and a diameter of 1.5 m, a reddish brown bark, smooth leaves with a dark green on the upper surface and grayish green on the underside. The flower is pink and hermaphrodite. The fruit is a pod short, 6-8 cm long, thick, hard, laterally compressed and oval. Seed, toasted, can be eaten as dried fruit. Wood, strong and flexible at the same time can be used in heavy construction. Tree of great importance for wildlife (up to 60 species of birds, mammals, insects, and other toucans and orioles), eat fruit and seeds. The green macaw, endangered species, nests in its branches. For this reason, the use of this tree is legally restricted in Costa Rica.
In Central America, it occurs naturally in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, and South America, in Colombia.

• Garcinia intermedia (scientific name) or Jorco (common name)

This little tree is 5 to 12 meters high and has dense, green foliage. They are one of the vestiges of the magnificent forests which covered the central valley of Costa Rica a few centuries ago. They produce exotic and sweet fruits which are rich in fibers and vitamins. They are used for confectionery. However, these trees are hard to find and there are still a lot of efforts to do to refrain this species from disappearing.

• Hyeronima alchorneoides (scientific name) or Pilon (common name)

From an ecological point of view, this tree is very important as it provides a lot of species of mammals and birds with food and foliage. It can be found in the medium stages of the jungle. This tree only presents one type of flower which color goes from white to yellowish green. It is a big tree: about 50 m high and 1.5m large.

• Luehea divaricata (scientific name) or Zota caballo (common name)

This tree can reach 20 meters and is a characteristic of humid and low areas, along creeks, rivers, ponds. Its leaves have anti-inflammatory properties used in popular medicine.

Copyrights Photos : Atamari, Wibowo Djatmiko, Rolando Pérez, Louise Wolff, E-190, cds.ed.cr, Jorge Vallmitjana.

• Parmentiera cereifera (scientific name) or Candles tree (common name)

The 'Candles tree' is very right and can reach 15 m high. Starts producing fruit very quickly that seem long thin yellow candles. The fruit and seeds are edible. People planting this tree as an ornamental plant so special about the appearance of this fruit. When ripe, it falls to the floor where uncertain vertically, forming thousands of tealights planted around the tree.

 

Don’t hesitate to come and visit our finca and our eco-touristic projects.

• More information on reforestation & Co2 capture in the Finca Monte Claro...