Reforestation at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve in Costa Rica: Acquisition

Reforestation at Cloudbridge

Bridging a Costa Rican Cloud Forest

Step 2: Acquisition of trees.

Initially, because of our our limited experience and knowledge, we purchased saplings from high-altitude nurseries. We used the Instituto Technologico de Costa Rica in Cartago (Freddy Rojas) and Apa-Roble in Division (Jose Angel Cespedes R.). The trees from Apa-Roble, which lies at an altitude similar to that of Cloudbridge, included Cedrela tonduzii (Cedro dulce or sweet cedar), seen here in the garden of a neighbor, and a variety of saplings pulled from the jungle.

(In the second year, we experimented with saplings culled from the surrounding cloud forest on Cloudbridge. The leaves of these soon turned brown from shock, but most recovered within a few months. We also nurtured seedlings in a vivero, and even succeeded in growing native oaks directly from seeds planted on site.)

We used horses to carry the saplings on the final leg of their journey

The trees were delivered to San Gerardo de Rivas, then transferred by truck 2.6 km to the end of the road, at Casa Amanzimtoti. We used horses to carry the saplings the remaining 1 km to the Cloudbridge site. Each tree came in a little black plastic bag. Some did not make it.

Ulmus mexicana. Common name: elm or tirra

Some of the saplings, notably the tirras (elm, ulmus mexicana), were tiny. We feared they would not survive. We planted them anyway, and with diligent care almost all of them, like the one in the picture, were alive two months later. As long as they are cared for, small saplings seem to have as good a survival rate as larger ones.

San Gerardo schoolchildren plant robles (quercus rapurahuensis)

In the picture, children from the village school to come up and plant acorns of the oak species quercus rapurahuensis alongside the trail that leads to the Cloudbridge reserve.

Step 3: Planting.

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