reforestation - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-28T09:52:50Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/reforestationPlant a tree, be eco-minded when you travel at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/plant-a-tree-be-eco-minded-when-you-travel-at-playa-nicuesa2015-06-19T19:27:22.000Z2015-06-19T19:27:22.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008971896,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008971896,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008971896?profile=original" /></a>Costa Rica is a small country with a big success story in reforestation.</p><p> </p><p>The Central American nation <b>was nearly devastated by deforestation</b> by the early 1980s. Now more than 30 years later, <b>over 52 percent of Costa Rica’s land is covered with forest</b> between national parks, private reserves and wildlife refuges.</p><p><b>Costa Rica’s</b> <b>progressive reforestation and environmental protection</b> earned the country the accolade of being named the <b>third best <a href="http://www.dualcitizeninc.com/global-green-economy-index/" target="_blank">Green Country in the World</a></b> in the <a href="http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf" target="_blank">2014 Global Green Economy Index</a>™ (GGEI).</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296601079,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="300" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296601079,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296601079?profile=original" /></a>In <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/getting-here/" target="_blank">southern Costa Rica</a> on the <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/costa-rica-2/nicuesa-lodge-honors-golfo-dulce-in-costa-rica-on-world-oceans-day/" target="_blank">Golfo Dulce</a> (“Sweet Gulf”), <b>eco-friendly <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/" target="_blank">Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a></b> is doing its part to <b>help <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/our-philosophy-of-sustainability/carbon-footprint-campaign/" target="_blank">reforest Costa Rica</a></b>. The Costa Rica eco-lodge <strong>protects 95% of their 165-acre rainforest property</strong> in an undeveloped and natural state. They <b>began a</b> <b>reforestation program in 2010</b> to slowly <b>remove the cacao trees</b> – from the <b>former cacao plantation</b> where the lodge is built – that were infected by the fungus <i>Moniliophthora roreri</i>, or “frosty pod rot”. Instead, they are <b><a href="http://costarica-information.com/nature/plants/plants/trees" target="_blank">planting trees native to Costa Rica</a> and the local area</b>.</p><p> </p><p><b>Planting native trees</b> helps re-establish the <b>biological corridor for animals</b> between the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parque-Nacional-Piedras-Blancas/227176070684454" target="_blank">Piedras Blancas National Park</a> and the <b>Golfito Wildlife Refuge</b> that border either side of Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge.</p><p> </p><p>Nicuesa Lodge guests can <b>take part in the reforestation program by planting a tree</b> when visiting. <b>Guests who plant a tree during their stay at the lodge</b> receive a <b>thank you certificate</b> that includes a photo of the person planting the tree, their name, and the description of the tree planted with the scientific and common names.</p><p> </p><p>So far, approximately <b>150 trees have been planted by hotel guests and staff</b>: species like <b>Cortez Amarillo</b> (<i>Tabebuia</i> <i>ochracea</i>, Gold Trumpet tree), <b>Roble de Sabana</b> (<i>Tabebuia rosea</i>, Pink Trumpet tree), <b>Cenizaro</b> (<i>Samanea saman</i>, Rain Tree), <b>E</b><b>spavel</b> (<i>Anacardium excelsum</i>, Wild Cashew tree), and <b>G</b><b>allinazo</b> (<i>Schizolobium parahyba</i>, Brazilian Fire tree), among others. <b>Trees are obtained by donations and seeds</b> harvested naturally from the forest.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008972656,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008972656,original{{/staticFileLink}}" height="255" alt="9008972656?profile=original" /></a>“Last year, we accepted a donation of 50 Cenizaro starter trees from the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT). We also collect seeds from the forest on our property, germinate them and grow seedlings, which we then plant in an area we set aside for reforestation,” explained Natalia Solis, Sustainability Coordinator at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. “This project invites and involves our guests to be part of a change that helps our environment and also helps offset the carbon emissions generated during their journey and visit to the lodge.”</p><p> </p><p>Besides planting trees when you <b>stay at</b> <b>Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge,</b> you can reduce the ecological impact on the planet generated by your trip by <b><a href="http://www.fonafifo.go.cr/home/investments/carbon_calculator.html" target="_blank">purchasing carbon credits</a> that will be used to reforest land elsewhere in Costa Rica</b>. The program supported by Nicuesa Lodge is with the <b><a href="http://www.fonafifo.go.cr/home/index.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica National Forest Financing Fund</a></b> <a href="http://www.fonafifo.com/" title="FONAFIFO"><b>(FONAFIFO)</b>.</a></p><p> </p><p></p><p><b>Stay at a real Costa Rica eco-lodge</b></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008892857,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008892857,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008892857?profile=original" /></a><b><a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/exotic-destination/" target="_blank">Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a> opened in April 2003</b> as one of the <b>first true <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/costa-rica-2/does-real-eco-tourism-exist-in-costa-rica/" target="_blank">eco-lodges in Costa Rica</a></b>. Operating now 12 years, Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge holds the <b>highest rating</b> in the <b><a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/our-philosophy-of-sustainability/" target="_blank">Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program</a> (CST)</b> by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT). Playa Nicuesa recently received the important <a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/costa-rica-2/costa-rica-eco-lodge-named-cleanest-beach-country/" target="_blank">Ecological Blue Flag Award</a> for the fifth time for having one of <b>Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches</b>. Additionally, <strong>Nicuesa Lodge is working to be certified a <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/our-philosophy-of-sustainability/carbon-footprint-campaign/" target="_blank">Carbon Neutral Business</a>, and the lodge supports the <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/our-philosophy-of-sustainability/ngos-we-support/" target="_blank">Osa Campaign</a> and the Nature Conservancy</strong> that protects the Golfo Dulce and Osa Peninsula region.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/costa-rica-eco-lodge-rates-packages/" target="_blank">Contact Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a> to visit the unique <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/activities/" target="_blank">nature and adventure travel destination</a>.</p><p> </p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>Costa Rica leads world in protecting forestshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/costa-rica-leads-world-in-protecting-forests2013-05-27T20:49:36.000Z2013-05-27T20:49:36.000ZDanny Solano Alvarezhttps://tripatini.com/members/DannySolanoAlvarez<div><p style="text-align:justify;">Tropical forests cover 15% of the globe's surface and capture 25% of the carbon present in the atmosphere. These healthy forests play a critical role in curbing climate change. They "breathe" CO<sub>2</sub> from the atmosphere and store it in trees and soil; in fact, roughly half of the world's terrestrial carbon is stored in forests, according to the international organization <a title="Conservation International" href="http://www.conservation.org/where/north_america/costarica/Pages/costarica.aspx" target="_blank">Conservation International</a>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ECO-05.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ECO-05-300x201.jpg" alt="Costa Rica is the only tropical country to substantially reverse deforestation" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4842" title="Costa Rica is the only tropical country to substantially reverse deforestation" align="left" height="201" width="300" /></a><a class="zem_slink" title="Costa Rica" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.93333333333,-84.0833333333&spn=10.0,10.0&q=9.93333333333,-84.0833333333%20(Costa%20Rica)&t=h" target="_blank">Costa Rica</a></strong> is the first, and so far the only, tropical country in the world that has reversed a decades-long process of deforestation (dropping from 85% forest in 1940 to 35% forest by 1980), <a class="zem_slink" title="Conservation International" href="http://www.conservation.org" target="_blank">Conservation International</a> reports. It was the first country to set a goal to be <strong>carbon neutral by 2021</strong>, and by many estimates it will be the first to realize this goal. By protecting forests instead of destroying them, Costa Rica is leading the global effort to mitigate climate change, Conservation International states.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">According to satellite imagery taken in 2005, Costa Rica had 2,391,000 hectares of total forest area, or about 46.8% of the land. By <strong>2010</strong>, however, that figure was reported <strong>up to 51.02% forest</strong>, according to a <a title="World Bank report 2012 on Costa Rica forestation" href="http://www.tradingeconomics.com/costa-rica/forest-area-percent-of-land-area-wb-data.html" target="_blank">World Bank report</a> published in 2012. Approximately <strong>25% of Costa Rica's territory is protected</strong> in national parks and private reserves.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Costa-Rica-01.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Costa-Rica-01-300x216.jpg" alt="Toucans are part of Costa Rica's amazing & varied biodiversity" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4843" title="Toucans are part of Costa Rica's amazing & varied biodiversity" align="right" height="216" width="300" /></a>Costa Rica is known as a <strong>"bridge of biodiversity"</strong> because it has flora and fauna from both North and South America. Trees are usually the largest most obvious element of an ecosystem. We need to conserve and plant trees not only for the oxygen they produce and carbon they store, but also for the ecosystems they create and biodiversity they protect. Costa Rica maintains a very high percentage of <a title="Information on Costa Rica's forests & biodiversity" href="http://reforestcostarica.com/Deforestation.php" target="_blank">biodiversity</a> (5%) on the planet relative to its landmass size. It has more than 1,511 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, 6.9% of which only exist in Costa Rica, and 12,119 vascular plants, 7.8% of which are endemic.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Costa-Rica-Osa-Peninsula.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Costa-Rica-Osa-Peninsula.jpg" alt="Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula is being mapped aerially to see how much carbon is stored" class="alignright size-full wp-image-4845" title="Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula is being mapped aerially to see how much carbon is stored" align="left" height="177" width="235" /></a>In April 2013, a joint research project between Canada and Costa Rica sought to measure how much carbon is stored in Costa Rica's forests and to map the country's major forest areas. <a title="Mission Airborne Carbon 2013" href="http://www.geog.mcgill.ca/MAC13/" target="_blank"><strong>Mission Airborne Carbon 2013 (MAC-13)</strong></a> employed the use of a Canadian Twin Otter plane to fly over forest sites in Guanacaste, the Northern part of Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and the <a class="zem_slink" title="Osa Peninsula" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=8.55,-83.5&spn=1.0,1.0&q=8.55,-83.5%20(Osa%20Peninsula)&t=h" target="_blank">Osa Peninsula</a> in the South Pacific. The aircraft was equipped with two <strong>hyperspectral sensors (</strong>CASI y SASI), on loan from the <strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Canadian Space Agency" href="http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca" target="_blank">Canadian Space Agency</a></strong>, that measure the solar energy reflected by a form when it hits it. This is called "radiance", and by combining these data with the biomass, scientists learn what the potential of carbon capture and storage a forest has, according to the MAC-13 project.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The MAC-13 project, coordinated by researchers at the McGill University in Canada, is part of the <strong>United Nations Collaborative Program on <a class="zem_slink" title="Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reducing_emissions_from_deforestation_and_forest_degradation" target="_blank">Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation</a> in Developing Countries (<a title="UN-REDD program" href="http://www.un-redd.org/Home/tabid/565/Default.aspx" target="_blank">UN-REDD</a>)</strong>. Costa Rica is a <a class="zem_slink" title="United Nations REDD Programme" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_REDD_Programme" target="_blank">UN-REDD</a> partner country.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Trainforest-75.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Trainforest-75-300x226.jpg" alt="Deforestation, like this hillside in Guanacaste, accounts for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4846" title="Deforestation, like this hillside in Guanacaste, accounts for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions" align="right" height="226" width="300" /></a>Deforestation and forest degradation, through agricultural expansion, conversion to pastureland, infrastructure development, destructive logging, fires etc., account for nearly <strong>20% of global greenhouse gas emissions</strong>, more than the entire global transportation sector and second only to the energy sector, according to the UN-REDD. "REDD is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development," <a title="About the UN-REDD program" href="http://www.un-redd.org/aboutredd/tabid/582/default.aspx" target="_blank">UN-REDD information</a> states.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Nature Tours in Costa Rica</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Costa-Rica-M-Antonio-3.jpg"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Costa-Rica-M-Antonio-3.jpg" alt="Visit Costa Rica's national parks like Manuel Antonio on a Team CRT nature vacation" class="alignright size-full wp-image-4847" title="Visit Costa Rica's national parks like Manuel Antonio on a Team CRT nature vacation" align="left" height="184" width="274" /></a></strong>Explore Costa Rica's forests and biodiversity with Costa Rica travel agency <a title="Team CRT travel agency in Costa Rica" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Team CRT</strong></a>. The agency knows the best of the country, what to do and see, and they personalize it for you, designing your Costa Rica vacation to fit exactly what you want. Team CRT offers three exciting <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica Nature vacation packages" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/nature" target="_blank"><strong>Nature vacation packages</strong></a>: 7 Days – 6 nights <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica national parks nature vacation package" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/tour-package/costa-rica-national-parks-package" target="_blank">Costa Rica National Parks Delight</a>, 8 Days – 7 Nights <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica self-drive tropical nature vacation package" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/tour-package/8-day-self-drive-costa-rica-package" target="_blank">Costa Rica's Tropical Nature</a>, and 12 Days – 11 Nights <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica Tropical Marvels vacation package" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/tour-package/tropical-marvels-family-vacation" target="_blank">Tropical Marvels</a>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">From nature tours to <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica beach vacation packages" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/beach" target="_blank">beach destinations</a>, <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica adventure vacation packages" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/adventure" target="_blank">adventure tours</a>, <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica family vacation packages" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/family-vacation" target="_blank">family vacations</a>, <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica relaxation vacation packages" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/relaxation" target="_blank">relaxation vacations</a>, <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica honeymoon packages" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/honeymoons-and-weddings" target="_blank">honeymoons</a> and <a title="Team CRT Costa Rica golf vacations" href="http://www.costarica4u.com/category/touristic-themes/golf" target="_blank">golf vacations</a>, Team CRT delivers you unforgettable Costa Rica vacation packages.</p><blockquote><em>"People depend on nature for many things. A stable climate. Clean air. Fresh water. Abundant food. Cultural resources. And the incalculable additional benefits the world's biodiversity provides."</em> -- Conservation International</blockquote><p style="text-align:justify;">By Shannon Farley</p></div>