Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support over this last season, where Earthwatch Teams continued with tree surveys and night-time frog studies, and Globalworks and Windsor Mountain Teams helped with infrastructure, trailwork, roadwork, drainage & erosion control. Big thanks to the Globalworks Team that helped the staff at Las Casas with Hurricane Dean preparations. Puerto Rico escaped damage, but watched satellite images of Dean growng into a Category Five as it moved through the Caribbean and slammed into Mexico. Our best wishes go out to all those severely impacted by Dean.
Please sign our Guest Book to ensure you continue to receive the newsletter alert.
|
| |
EARTHWATCH |
 |
|
 |
Thank you Earthwatchers for all your diligent efforts in collecting the data that we need in order to complete our tree research and biodiversity study. This year also saw two family teams and a teen team at Las Casas.
. |
|
Two papers are currently under review and soon to be published.
More about the Research Mission |
 |
 |
 |
Damien Garcia, gave classes in leaf printing; Ivonne Reveron gave classes in jewellery-making using natural twines and seeds;
3t gave classes in palm weaving to create extra rain protection for the dining room; Andrés gave a class on the history and structure of Latin Music. |
| |
|
GLOBAL WORKS |
|
Brian Difeo, Director of Global Works programs, Puerto Rico, organized three teams of teenagers to spend five days each at the project. Work involved establishing the foundations for a new bunkhouse, making a bridge to cross the main river on the Ethnobotanical trail, step building, gardening and roadwork. |
 |
|
|
Deconstruction of the old shack. . Global Works teenagers start the dig for the foundation. |
 |
|
 |
Since 1990, Global Works has been providing exceptional community service and cultural exchange programs around the world for teenagers and young adults. Global Works Puerto Rico has been working with Las Casas de la Selva since 2004, and is active in Vieques and a land rescue community in Vega Alta.
3t & Andrés take a moment to give Happy the duck a swim in the rainwater
that collected in the foundation trench!
|
 |
 |
|
Thanks to Jorgé & David Rodriguez for their assistance in the dig. |
|
|
 |
 |
Cutting & making the rebar forms.
Concrete work begins.
And boy, the teams of Global Works teenagers showed us how many hands could make light work of cement mixing. |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
Gracious thanks to Tita Torres, who has been working with Globalworks for several years. She worked with the teams, keeping a sharp eye on block placement and levels.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Thanks to all the team leaders from Globalworks, who strive to encourage all the teenagers to push themselves a little further, no matter what tasks they are involved in. And at Las Casas, we were blown away by the energy and enthusiasm of everyone. |
|
 |
|
 |
| Above, the bench makers, who learnt the difficulty of making a no wobble bench. |
Below, continuing on our Ethnobotanical trail, GW helped to make this bridge, under the leadership of Raul Rosado, and worked on more trail clearing. |
 |
|
 |
WINDSOR MOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL |
|
Teenagers from Windsor Mountain International spent five days at the project, working on building steps on steeper areas of the Ethnobotanical trail.
|
LEARN TO GROW, GROW TO LEARN
Thank you Raul for leading the Bridge-making crew. Raul and Ivonne's organic gardens are flourishing and at present they are hosting well-attended workshops where everyone learns how to grow fruits and vegetables. Groups are welcome. Please contact Raul for more details on workshops, and organic garden design consultations for your home. |
 |
BIOLOGY SEMINAR SERIES
Department of Biology – University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez |
 |
|
 |
| East meets West: In an effort to attract scientists to participate, or carry out their own research studies at the project, 3t and Andrés gave a slideshow presentation on the west coast. In the Mayaguez University auditorium, over thirty people attended the talk, and discovered more about our little-known project on the east coast. The presentation detailed the tree research and biodiversity studies that have been carried out at Las Casas over the last 6 years, with a brief summary of results. New and continuing scientific objectives were also outlined. |
| Thanks to: Dr. Jose A. Mari Mutt, Dr. Adrianne G. Tossas, & Dr. Dimuth Siritunga, (top left). |
|
|
Joe Sarquilla, (Environmental science major), and Molly Robertson spend nearly three months here every year, as Investigators on Earthwatch Expeditions.
Their beautiful jungle casita is now available to rent for short term stays. Contact 3t for prices and availability. |
 |
Los Tabonucos |
|
Inside |
 |
|
 |
| |
|
TRAVELER'S REPORT |
 |
Historian Jorge Nieves, right, gave a stunning visual, digital presentation to a gathering at Las Casas detailing recent travels to Europe and Egypt.
Salsa teacher, Miguel Alejandro, left, inspires confidence in all who participate in his stomping dance classes at Las Casas de la Selva. |
 |
|
3t is currently exhibiting her recent tryptic, "Eye On The Rainforest" at a hot new vegetarian restaurant in Caguas, Sattva.
Briony Plant, trapeze artist & extreme circus performer flies in from Europe, volunteering at Las Casas for 6 months.
|
 |
| |
VOLUNTEERS:
Thank you for your help when we needed it! |
|
|
 |
Ashley Merz, (biological anthropology student) worked enthusiastically in all areas of the project, including Earthwatch and Globalworks. |
Teté, leather, wood artist, helped with log sawing. |
Denise, artist, also helped on log sawing and data.
|
Sustainable Forestry
Rare Exotic Hardwood currently available: Blue Mahoe Lumber and products.
You can now pay securely online
Support our Sustainable Enterprises.
Thanks to everyone who has shown their support by buying our products.
We appreciate your continuing support.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Artist: Ron Phillips
Sensuous bowls
& Sushi serving platters
in Blue mahoe
|
 |
Support our enterprises, let us know what you would like us to make for you in Blue Mahoe. We need your support.
|
 
|
Blue Mahoe Lumber and
Turning & Carving
blanks available.
Secure online payment available.
Other forest products |
|
 |
|
 |
Love from the Forest... Sierra, Andrés and 3t
250 original images & original soundtrack by Andrés Rúa
Tropic Ventures at Las Casas de la Selva, Puerto Rico has a Google Video!!
Original images of the biodiversity of the rainforest, what we get up to out here, with original soundtrack. Take twenty minutes to sit back, have a glass of wine, tea, coffee, turn up the sound and dim the lights!http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5874896502085020087
(For $5.00 great resolution, projected or big screen showings, on CD, send an email to 3t, and your address,
and pay online securely. Enjoy!
|
WishList :
Woodworking power tools, or hand tools,
Pole Saw, Pruning tools, Forestry Equipment, and Safety Gear, Lathe, 16" DrumSanding Machine, Carving tools,
Soil-Tiller,
Woodworkers/Artists who want to come, stay, and make items from Blue Mahoe,
your used Movies/Documentaries on DVD,
Festive Lights (always appreciated!). |
THANK YOU!
Raul Rosado, Ivonne Reveron, Magha Bhayali, Larry Robertson, Haddy Torres,
Maria Benedetti, Miguel Alejandro, Damien Garcia, Hector Melendez, Jeffrey Flores, Juanita & Andrés, Santtos & Chila, Luis Santiago, Felix Melendez, José Guilfu, Richard Petty.
Earthwatch Institute (for supporting our research operations and for funding our Satellite Broadband Connection this year)
Photo Credits: 3t Vakil, Brian Difeo, Briony Plant, Andrés Rúa, Sally Silverstone, Molly Robertson. |
www.eyeontherainforest.org
|
