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Wow! A quiet life in the jungle!
An incredible several months at Las Casas de la Selva, and this year we have already had 150 volunteers, (groups, and individuals), measure trees, identify lizards, frogs & vines, dig ditches, work on erosion control, blaze trails, build, paint, plant, compost, dance salsa, eat well, and hike. Importantly, everyone got to live in the rainforest, whether for a few days or few weeks and experience the songs of the forest, full moons, thunderstorms, heavy rains, and sunshiny days. We have loved sharing our home and way of life with everyone and cannot express enough appreciation. Special thanks to Earthwatch volunteers, who have helped us collect valuable scientific data (more), and to volunteers from all over the world, along with Globalworks, Carroll Community College, Eckerd College, & Windsor Mountain who come to help with all aspects of the project. Get involved. Please sign our Guest Book to ensure you continue to receive the newsletter alert.
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| April 09- Earthwatch Teen Team 2 - Fryeburg Academy |
June 09 - Earthwatch Team 3 |
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| July 09 - Earthwatch Teen Team 4 |
Aug 09 - Earthwatch Teen Team 5 |
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| March 09 - Eckerd College |
May 09 - Carroll Community College |
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| April 09 - Globalworks Team 1 |
July 09 - Globalworks Team 2 |
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| Aug 09 - Globalworks Team 3 |
July 09 - Windsor Mountain |
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| Feb 09 - UPR with Loretta Roberson-soil study |
March 09 - Presentation to DNR at Las Casas by 3t |
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| May 09 - Cooking Class by Veronica |
Land Explorations |
Scientific Research & Volunteer activities
The Liberation Study @ Las Casas de la Selva in 2009
In unmanaged secondary forest, trees tend to grow rapidly initially, but come to a point where overcrowding retards tree productivity significantly. Counteracting this eventual slow growth is a concern if formerly harvested forest land is to continue to be productive and economically beneficial. In the case of the Las Casas wet subtropical forest, such management can be of benefit to both unplanted secondary forest and the line-planted areas. At this project, the secondary forest is approaching a stage of recovery that could support sustained removals of useful timber from selected areas, and, moreover, the opportunity to develop silvicultural methods to improve the value of timberstands; techniques that increase growth rates and the amount of marketable wood produced, with minimal destruction of the local ecology.
In early 2009, five 20 x 30 meter plots were selected in an area of second growth forest on the Las Casas de la Selva property, within the line-planted mahogany areas. Plots were selected where there has been minimal success of the mahogany plantings, but other desirable crop trees at about 10-25 cm dbh are present, and in areas that were accessible by the forest road. All five plots have similar tree density and species composition. Three plots, named Wadsworth, Weaver and Gonzalez, were selected to have the liberation treatment applied to them. Gracious thanks to all three gentlemen pictured above for their support, encouragement and advice. The study continues.
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Other ongoing scientific studies at Las Casas de la Selva.
Lizard population survey, Vine Identification and Growth survey, Thinning Assessments.
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Patty Boyko - Vine Study |
Measuring vines |
Measuring vines |
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Lizard Study |
Lizard Study |
Norman Greenhawk - Lizard study |
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Liberation felling |
Pepé Montanéz helps |
Liberation |
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Thinning Study |
Thinning Study |
Thinning Study |
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Roadwork |
Milling Mahoe |
Building bridges |
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Sun Nursery |
Frogwall by Casey & Jamie |
Casey & Jamie |
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Palmweaving classes w 3t |
Jewellery making classes w Ivonne |
Chainsaw Training w Andres |
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Bunkhouse Roof Crew |
Roof Pour |
Roof Finished |
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A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS & SUPPORTERS:
Angel Rodriguez, Pippa and Allen Francq, Brian Difeo, Tyrone Moore, Andrés & Juanita, Lynn Boyko, Nita Taylor, Mark Nelson, Kelly Chinners Reiss, Frank Wadsworth, Peter Weaver, Edgardo Gonzalez, Enrique Santiago, Bridget McNassar, John Utter, Eva Holupchinski, Johnny Holupchinski, Tom and Jane McNassar, Alberto Rodriguez, Warren Laforme, Marcie Coronado, Don Schwartz & Dana Colgan, Jim, Holly, Becca & Emily Mullin, Rachel Kaufman, Alyssa Solis, Dalton Navalto, Casey Scherzinger, Jamie Hancock, Pepé Montanéz, Reggie Greenberg, Santtos and Chila, Jeffrey Peter Glikman, Ian Finley, Rachel Zelinsky, Molly Schwartz, Bob Bentz, Jason Hubbard, Andy DeBraber, Spencer Crittendon, Shannon Riley, Jal & Pilloo Vakil, Global Ecotechnics |
Support our forest ENTERPRISES
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Commissions accepted |
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Adirondack Chair |
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Lidded Bowl - Ausubo |
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SEE MORE
Order
your next gift from us. Secure online payment available. |
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Mahoe Heart Necklaces |
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Home Made Soap |
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Jewellery from forest seeds |
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The Bosquer@s send Big Hugs to all our friends around the planet!
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3t Vakil |
Andrés Rúa |
Norman Greenhawk |
Patty Boyko |
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Haddys Torres |
Briony Plant |
Molly Robertson |
Joe Sarquilla |
Thank you everyone for all your support! Keep in touch!
Come be a volunteer!
Photo Credits:
3t Vakil, Andrés Rúa, Eva Holupchinski, Norman Greenhawk, Patty Boyko, Briony Plant, Jackie Howlett
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Tropic Ventures Education & Research Foundation appreciates your support! |
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