Already 16 trees planted at Cloudbridge!

Those who plant trees, under whose shade they do not expect to sit, have understood the true meaning of life.

You can either donate on the HELPCA website www.helpca.org (search for Cloudbridge) or on our own website www.cycle-generation.com/donate-trees/.

HELPCA members donated an amazing 100 US dollar in the first week after we announced a forest protection partnership with the non-profit Reserva Cloudbridge. A big THANK YOU. Casey McConell, who is managing the nature reserve, has accepted the first generous donations this weekend.

So this weekend we planted 16 native trees straight away at the Cloudbridge Reserve! Two emergent tree seedlings, a cedro dulce and an oak tree can now grow their roots into the soft brown soil of the cloud forest. They can live up to 500 years and grow taller then the canopy surrounding them. In addition 14 wild avocado (aguacate) seedlings were selected from the NGO’s tree nursery and planted on a very steep slope, that had not been reforested before. It is not the edible avocado tree we know so well, but a fruit tree that grows smaller fruits with bigger seeds, attracting quetzals, parakeets, squirrel monkeys and white faced capucin monkeys alike. Greg, a former tree surgeon from Great Britain who works at the reserve, and Junior, a Tico volunteer currently sponsored by the reserve, led the tree planting. From the received donations more trees can be planted over the coming months on locations that have not been reforested yet or within the community outside the reserve forming vital wildlife corridors and regenerating degraded land.

While the available land is still limited at Cloudbridge for reforesting large quantities of trees, upcoming donations will in the short-term also support community reforestation at schools or farmers’ land. In addition, for 80 USD a month, one of the two Tico volunteers’ stay at the reserve can be sponsored. With an additional 2.500 USD the facilities for researchers looking at for example the carbon storage in trees can be expanded. And if the donations reach a 6-digit dollar threshold, maybe, yes maybe more land could be acquired and the area could be expanded and reforested further! So exciting. We will will keep you updated on the uses of the funds.

Cloudbridge has been reforested from degraded pasture and farmland and has become a beautiful tropical cloud forest. It expands a crucial wildlife and biodiversity corridor all the way into Panama and protects the habitat of many endangered species. Cloud forests improve air, water and soil quality, flood control and climate patterns.

The nature reserve creates local jobs and supports the local community by attracting visitors into the area. This has become especially vital since the Chirripó NP is currently closed and the area has been suffering even before the pandemic started. The access to many stunning waterfalls and an extensive hiking network is open to the public. Cloudbridge is very popular among Ticos, locals and international visitors. The entry is on donation basis. Right now the reserve is officially closed but it is looking forward to receiving visitors as soon as restrictions permit!

We are so grateful to be able to contribute to one of the many important puzzle pieces that protect and regenerate our environment. United we are strong!

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You can either donate on the HELPCA website www.helpca.org (search for Cloudbridge) or on our own website www.cycle-generation.com/donate-trees/