Rainforest Newz 12 Feb/Mar/Apr/May 2006

Las Casas de la Selva is pleased to announce a major upgrade to our research facility. We are now on a wireless internet connection. This is due to the generous sponsorship of the Earthwatch Institute.

It has been one of the coolest seasons at Las Casas de la Selva, with lowest temperatures dropping to 67 ºF, 19.5 º C.

Global Works renovate tree nursery
Gianni Salvador and Donna Lee were the group leaders for our first Global Works volunteers this year. Global Works strives to provide rewarding community service and adventure travel programs for students, fostering personal growth and promoting social and cultural awareness. In five days they helped to build a new roof for our tree nursery, create a new concrete soil bed, and helped to paint the bunk house. The old chicken shed was dismantled and the materials recycled into new tables for the nursery. Andrés Rúa organized a day collaboration for the group with Patillas High School, and the Global Works volunteers were entertained with a theater show, a volleyball, basketball match, lunch and an afternoon on the beach with the local students. We thank the staff and students at Escuela Superior Urbana de Patillas for their marvelous enthusiasm and efforts in creating a great cultural exchange.

Brian Difeo, Director of Globalworks Puerto Rico visited, and with Andrés Rúa, visited the Mayor's office in Patillas to coordinate activities with the town and Globalworks groups this coming summer. Potential projects include planting two hundred trees down the center of a renovated roadway.

Debbie Jacobs, Explorations in Travel
Debbie Jacobs traveled to Las Casas de la Selva this season, bringing two volunteer groups to spend the night in the forest. Jeff Flores took both groups out on an ecological tour in the day, and Miguel Alejandro gave a stomping salsa class on each trip in the evening. Priska Komaromi spent time teaching the art of palm leaf weaving.

Burlington College
Pete Shear brought students from Burlington College on a day trip, & the newly built bunkhouse, 'Hacienda 640', got a prime and coat of jungle green paint. Thank you for your efforts everyone.

Sustainable Tropical Hardwood: Blue Mahoe, Hibiscus elatus
Ron Phillips of The New Mexico Wood Turners Association has been making exquisite bowls from our Blue Mahoe. See here for pictures and ordering info.

Tree work
Andre Sanfiorenzo felled several tall pine trees along the road in April and May, assisted by Andrés Rúa. The trees, all over 60ft tall, were too close to the electric lines, with one leaning dangerously over el teatro. Andre has been our arborist for over a decade, and we treasure the enormous experience he brings to Las Casas; teaching the methods of tree climbing and felling, and about tools, safety, equipment, and ropework.

Documentary
Gregg Dugan is currently working in Barrio Marin Bajo, Patillas, finishing up a 35 minute documentary on four living generations of the Rua family. Early June, Dugan returns to Las Casas for the summer months, where he will work with the Earthwatch, Globalworks, and Windsor Mountain groups. His work in the Icaco Valley is on-going. Contact.

A chat with Frank H. Wadsworth
Frank H. Wadsworth & Elbert L. Little published “Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands” in 1964. On a recent visit to the botanical garden at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, 3T, Andres and Maxi were lucky enough to run into Frank Wadsworth. The book contains over 200 drawings of tree species and is an invaluable resource. Frank knows the research work of Las Casas through many years, and it was great to meet one of the authors of the book that we reach for first, regarding tree identifications.
Thank you Frank.

Mayaguez Tropical Agricultural Research Station
The Tropical Agriculture Research Station at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico is one of three tropical/subtropical research centers of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Thanks to Ricardo Goenaga, Research Leader/Plant Physiologist, for supplying us with ten Longan & four Mangosteen fruit trees.

Who has been staying in the rainforest?
Maximiliana Stalla spent three months at Las Casas, on an internship from Germany. Maxi is studying tropical forestry and experimented propagating Mahoe Hibiscus elatus seeds. Maxi also helped take care of our herb and vegetable garden. Rick Anderson spent a week at Lasa Casas, trailblazing. Rick has been involved with managing a forestry operation in the US and we hope that he will be working with our forestry project in the future. Reka & Priska Komaromi, helped in all areas of the project during their stay here. Thank you ladies.

Organic Gardens
Our gardens are currently providing us with lettuce, tomatoes, bok choi, habaneros, jalapenos, pimientos, celery, chives, spring onions, bird pepper (aji de gallina), wild ginger, fennel, dill, tarragon, lemongrass, rosemary, oregano, cranberry hibiscus, parsley, lemon-mint, mint, nasturshiums, calabasa, and fruits of the forest include papayas, guavas, bananas, & strawberries. Volunteer gardeners always welcome!

Raul Rosado organic agriculture expert, has been staying at Los Helechos (formally known as the saw mill) since early 2005, where he has set up an organic plant nursery and garden. Raul provides us with many delicious herbs and vegetables, and soil. With the help of Ivonne Reveron & Damian Garcia, Raul plants gardens in many urban areas & attracts a large clientele for his organic produce. Raul is always happy to teach volunteers who wish to learn by assisting in his nursey and making gardens. For more info on his future projects: Contact

Earth Day
Las Casas de la Selva joined with Frente Ambiental of Patillas and other local environmental organisations for an Earthday Parade in Patillas. Traffic was stopped for an hour as the parade wound through the town and leaflets were handed out on all aspects of environmental concern in the area including recycling. Thanks to Anita Pagan & Luis Francisco Baerga.

Las Casas de la Selva graciously thanks everyone who has helped the project in various ways, this season.
Earthwatch Institute for our Satellite Broadband Connection; Freddy Dempster, USA; Reka & Priska Komaromi, UK; Andrés & Juanita, Puerto Rico; Lucy, Foam Inc. Puerto Rico; Santtos Torres and Chila, Puerto Rico; Ron & Sandy Cline, USA; Mark Comolli, Forest World Group, USA; Teo Rodriguez, Direcway, Puerto Rico; Raul Rosado; Ivonne Reveron; Damien Garcia; Mr & Mrs. Vakil, UK
Photo Credits: Andrés Rúa, 3t Vakil

Dear Friends,