Plant 30,000 native trees Costa Rican owned farms

Do you ever wonder where we get all the trees we plant?   Our ACCT community of workers and local residents at large in the southern zone of Costa Rica help us to produce more than 75 different kinds of native fruit, medicinal and lumber trees. We make regular excursions into the jungle to seed collect which is a popular and fun educational event. In addition, so many local residents keep an eye on the trees in their particular area, noticing when they flower and make fruit.  One can usually spot lots of animals frolicking around fruiting trees which is a good sign that seeds are plentiful underneath. 

People of all ages love to collect seeds, They especially love making a baby tree bouquet by pulling the recently sprouted ones out of the ground. People seem to feel good when they can connect with the cycles of Nature.  That's why we hope this holiday season, you will remember that you can give  someone a baby tree, even a  bouquet. It is such a great way to nurture our planet, ourselves, and our loved ones.

There are so many benefits to getting the community involved in the tree production part of our reforestation work, whether it be sponsors or more hands on like local seed collectors.  This helps to raise the consciousness of people of all ages about biodiversity and reforestation.  Being part of the ongoing cycle of producing the trees creates a direct correlation with the value of keeping the rainforest standing. Each person who participates marvels at how many different kinds of trees we plant, especially the rare ones devoted to feeding the threatened wild animals.  Finding ways to connect our tree planting work to conserving the source, the rainforest itself, has been one of our great successes on this journey of community reforestation. 

A little support goes a long way to inspire people to be their best. It is amazing how many direct and indirect benefits grow from planting rainforest trees with community participation. We are super proud to present our newest family of tree planters collaborating with our Sponsors to grow future rainforest now. Meet the Brothers from Project Eco Chontales.  Thanks to the support they have received from our Sponsors over the last 2 years, we are paying this family to grow 3560 diverse native trees on their amazing farm complete with a world class waterfall.  These 4 Costa Rican brothers and their families now feel empowered to reach even higher to get their eco tourism project off the ground.  They are creating a paradise eco tourism project complete with education about the importance of tropical reforestation for the planet.  

In another success story, the participating farm family feels that they have a better future planting trees and conserving their land than continuing to destroy it with cattle farming and herbicides and pesticides. They have chosen to cultivate long term sustainability by growing organic slow rainforest food for themselves, the tourists and the animals. We have planted all kinds of fruit and wood trees all along the trails that lead through this farm. And if one walks just 10 minutes, a huge PRIZE is waiting to delight and amaze!  This glorious waterfall for all to enjoy as it recycles  massive amounts of fresh clean water right before our very eyes. This project is extra special because this waterfall serves as an attraction for tourists who end up learning how the rainforest trees keep the hydrological cycle recycling over 20,000 gallons of water per acre each and every year.

Jose and Rene, two of the brothers, did most of the planting work alongside our capable crew of women tree planters. The whole extended family is excited to follow the growth of these newly planted trees for the next 4 years with active paid maintenance for every tree including cutting away cattle grasses, vines and other suffocating regenerating plants. We look forward to sharing more pictures of the growth of the trees and the families' projects as a result of collaborating with our Global Giving community reforestation initiatives.  With every sponsored tree, we are able to grow more rainforest for all the benefits they give to the planet like cleaning the air and storing excess carbon dioxide, producing fresh oxygen, creating biodiverse habitat for survival of species and regenerating healthy rain cycles and clouds to balance global weather patterns.