Rainforest Enrichment Program and Sustainable Forestry Program

Since 1984, valuable saplings such as Honduras Mahogany, Swietenia, Blue Mahoe, Hibiscus elatus, and a host of native timber trees have been planted in lines through the forest using hand-tools to minimize damage to existing soil structure. The soil flora and mycorhyzzae are left untouched. Approximately 41,000 trees have been planted to date, within 300 acres of the land. 

The Blue Mahoe trees are proving a very successful candidate for sustainable forestry here in the steep mountains of Puerto Roico. They have grown up rapidly with the combination of protection and competition afforded by the surrounding forest, and impact upon the ecology is minimal as careful monitoring and study has shown (EarthWatch Biodiversity studies 2000-2006, paper soon to be published in 2010). 

This line planting technique provides a viable alternative to landowners making potentially irreversible decisions that may involve destroying rainforest lands forever along with devastation of watersheds from erosion and impacts on the carbon cycle.

Comprehensive view of the Forestry Research Mission  
at Las Casas de la Selva

Trees of Las Casas de la Selva.