Reforestation at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve in Costa Rica: Maintenance

Reforestation at Cloudbridge

Bridging a Costa Rican Cloud Forest

Step 4: Maintaining the trees.

Jaul sapling and the encroaching grass after 45 days

The first few months of a tree's in-the-ground life are crucial. In the rainy season, from July to November, the grass and weeds grow quickly and can overwhelm the baby trees if left unattended, as the picture suggests. Not only must there be a clear circle (rueda) around the sapling, but also the ground must be free of encroaching roots. Within two months, a dose of fertilizer must be added with a specially prepared 10-30-10 mixture for root development. Fertilization should continue through the first three years, taking care to change the formula once the trees have reached 50 centimeters in height.

Clearing a circle around a cipres sapling

Clearing is required at least once every 4-6 weeks. This is done by machete. It takes about two weeks of hard work by 3 to 4 people to clear the ruedas around all the saplings. In the picture, Victor clears the grass around a cipres.

Meal for an insect

Saplings must be watched for insect attacks; some end up like this one. The culprit is probably leaf-cutter ants. Herbivores of this kind can sometimes be discouraged by wrapping tape around the bole. The ants, encoutering a foreign surface, may get confused and turn back.

Some trees require special care. Cedro Dulce (Cedrela tonduzii) is vulnerable to a pest called "mariposa" (hypsiphyla grandella), a worm of sorts which bores into saplings under two years old. Mixing them in among other trees, as we have done, seems to have deterred the pest. They need regular inspections to avoid infestation. In case of infestation, a special "poda" (pruning, see below) must be performed immediately to cure the tree or lose it. Mulching the baby trees by covering them with leaves and organic matter can also deter any infestation. After two to three years, the danger of infestation has passed.

At year one, the Cipres trees (Cupressus lusitanica) will need special maintenance referred to as the “poda” when the lower branches are trimmed to within 45% of the entire tree height.

Stakes mark the young trees and provide support against winds

It's difficult to keep track of the young trees among the encroaching undergrowth, so they are marked with stakes. These stakes or estacas were cut from the surrounding bush. We have also used fence posts, as the farm's barbed-wire fences were dismantled, and the thin bamboo that grows in clumps on the forest's edge. The stakes serve the additional purpose of support for the growing trees when strong winds sweep the mountainside. On the other hand, like everything here, if you stick it in the ground, it grows!. Hence the stakes have to be trimmed or turned lest they shade the trees.

Step 5: Monitoring progress.

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