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Our Partners and Associated Projects
Our Partners
Applied
Ecological Services (AES)
Steve Apfelbaum
17921 Smith Road
P. O. Box 256 Brodhead, WI 53520
Tel 608.897.8641
http://www.appliedeco.com
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Specialists in the scientific restoration, development, and preservation
of natural and designed systems, AES is staffed by a multidisciplinary
team of botanists, wildlife biologists, wetland scientists, prairie
and ecosystem restoration specialists and scientists, that manage
approximately 100 projects per year. A variety of consulting and contracting
services allows AES to provide complete, turnkey design/build services
for any ecological restoration project, or to work "by the task"
to meet project objectives. AES is leading our watershed restoration
and migratory bird habitat restoration work in Guanacaste, Costa
Rica.
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Brinkman
& Associates
Reforesteation Ltd
Dirk Brinkman
520 Sharpe Street
New Westminster , BC, V3M 4R2 , Canada
Tel 604.521.7771
http://www.brinkmanforest.com
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Brinkman is Canada 's oldest and foremost reforestation company
and operates silviculture, sustainable forest management and reforestation
projects worldwide. "To be known as the best in forest renewal,
worldwide" is their vision, toward which they work by providing
land managers with world-class services for sustainable forestry success.
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BARCA
Brinkman & Associates
Reforestation Central America
Apdo. Postal 80-6300
Parrita, Puntarenas Costa Rica
América Central
Tel 506-779-9534
http://www.barca.ca
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BARCA was founded as a subsidiary of Brinkman &
Associates Reforestation Ltd. Over a decade ago and has been providing
FSC certified management to high value tropical hardwood plantations
in Central America. Through outstanding planning, development and
silviculture services, their projects have become recognized as model
plantations. BARCA has developed a strong team of local technicians,
forepersons and trained workers and they are helping us plan and implement
our Reforest Teak "Ecological Reforestation" program in Nicaragua.
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Leaders from the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment, National University of Costa Rica and National Park Service have helped us develop watershed-based strategies to restore pastures with forested lands including an innovative strategy to employ the Costa Rican Plan de Manejo (regional land use plan) process to facilitate watershed-based land use planning. Costa Rica's national parks and wildlife refuges
are managed by the Ministerio de Ambiental y Energia (MINAE) and account
for 25.58% of the national territory. The National Parks System supports
the country's progressive environmental policies and investment in
sustainable ecotourism, which have been praised as a model for other
countries. Costa Rica recently announced its commitment to become
the first carbon neutral country. Reforestation and restoration in
and around national parks will be key to their strategy. |
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Reforest Teak's reforestation and manufacturing partner Diamond Teak is the largest exporter
of high quality teak furniture in Costa Rica and supports sustainable
development through community-based reforestation and manufacturing.
They have been researching and developing new and innovative reforestation strategies, including mixed species systems, that enhance the biological
health of tropical hardwood plantations.
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The Earth Partners, LLC (TEP) is a development company dedicated to the
reduction of climate change emissions through the restoration of
damaged ecosystems. TEP projects are designed to create cost effective,
real and verified greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. TEP devises and employs
robust performance based methodologies that facilitate the highest
quality science-based conservation and ecosystem restorations globally
available.
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Our Associated Projects
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Proyecto Nandamojo – Nandamojo watershed, Guanacaste,
Costa Rica – is the umbrella project whose goal it is to restore
the ecology and revitalize the economy of a 25,000 acre watershed.
Projecto Nandamojo works to re-perennialize the Andamojo River and
expand and restore the mangrove estuary at the interface of the River
and the Pacific Ocean. This is being accomplished through many related
efforts that are working toward a model for sustainable development,
including El Centro Verde, Pueblo Verde and Finca Lagunita. We believe
that through diverse, ecologically responsible business ventures,
that incorporate local customs and knowledge, it is possible to improve
the health of this wet-dry tropical ecosystem, while simultaneously
creating a new economic model for rural development. |
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El Centro Verde (ECV) – Paraiso , Costa Rica
- is a non-profit institute created by Tom Peifer in 1996 to teach
and inspire ecological literacy and sustainable solutions to the next
generation of earth stewards. ECV (translated as The Green Center)
has developed methods and educational programs around managing farms
and forests while making the best use of energy, water and other resources.
Today, the Center offers individualized college internships, workshops
and courses, local outreach and education programs promoting sustainable
development, and conservation development consulting services. |
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Pueblo Verde – Paraiso, Costa
Rica - is an emerging green residential community that will be located
on land next to El Centro Verde. The vision is for a sustainable and enjoyable community
and a model for healthy land development through active consideration
of the three Es of sustainability: Ecology, Equity, and Economy. Pueblo Verde is
ideal for hands-on homeowners and activist investors, individuals looking
for more than a tropical tract home. We aspire to create a community which
helps promote a new agenda, leaving a softer footprint for life in our
valley, in the region and ultimately, on the planet. |
Restoration of Mangroves and Dry Tropical Forests
Project - The Nandamojo watershed, Costa Rica - has been awarded
a Migratory Birds Grant by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The initiative
aims to protect and monitor use of important Neotropical migratory bird
habitat.It will restore and manage test acreage of mangroves, dry tropical
forests and diversifie hardwood plantations. Additionally the project
will conduct research, monitoring, and community education activities.
Under the management of our partners, Applied Ecological Services and
El Centro Verde, we are acquiring conservation easements on lands within
the watershed to develop restoration plans for the area working with local
communities.
Tierra Pacifica (TP) – Junquillal,
Costa Rica - is a distinct development of environmental estates overlooking
Playa Junquillal and the Nanadamojo magrove estuary. The goal of the initiative
is to balance a high standard of living with innovative environmental
design strategies. The development features innovative storm water management
and water conservation, reforestation, and organic farming plus unrestricted
views, a community center with pool, Jacuzzi, a gym with yoga studio,
and walking trails through land of which 40% is reserved for protected
areas. Our vision is to build a community of interesting, thoughtful people
who are looking to embrace a lifestyle with environmentally friendly values.
Finca Lagunita - Junquillal, Costa Rica
- is an organic farm located within Tierra Pacifica land. It is applying
15 years of permaculture and agroforestry development from El Centro Verde,
and applying it to a commercial farming project. Managed and operated
by locals, the farm is both integrated into the Tierra Pacifica development
and the local community providing restaurants and households with fresh,
organic produce, eggs, chicken, and aquaculture-grown fish and shrimp.
World Wildlife Fund Leatherback Program
– Playa Junquillal , Costa Rica – is led by biologist Gabriel
Francia, and aims to work with the local community to generate alternative
income sources in an effort to stop the poaching of leatherback turtle
eggs, shells and meat. Poaching provides a small supplement to locals'
income, and has devastating effects on the turtle populations. Francia
has developed activities that include educational programs in local schools,
turtle nest rescue efforts organized for volunteers and tourists, and
the construction of a turtle hatchery. |
