Challenges · Agroforestry · Biodiversity · Landscape Restoration · Water
23,531
10,867
Tropical Wet & Dry
Forestry, Salt, Shrimp
The biological corridor, Cerros de Jesús (CBCJ), covers an areas of approximately 23,531 hectares in La Mansión District, in the Northwest of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. The region has several land cover types, characterized by the presence of deciduous and semi-deciduous forests, tropical evergreen forests, forest plantations, areas covered with annual and perennial crops in the flat lands and hillsides, pastures, mangrove wetlands, flooded forests and areas for producing salt and shrimp. According to the biome map produced by the Tropical Scientific Center, based on the classification of Dr. L. Holdridge, the following zones are found in the region: dry tropical forest, transition between dry and wet tropical forests, and wet tropical forest.
At the beginning, the principal concern was the control of forest fires, and later we realized that there were other problems, like hunting and waste management. Since then we have initiated our work in that sense. To conserve, you have to understand – and for that reason the alliances with universities to conduct research were formed. These activities motivated many people to volunteer their time. We realized that all of this would require large financial investment, for that reason we sought to cooperate with international organization to finance projects. There is a major issue that remains to be resolved, which is financing for the organizations which isn’t funded through international cooperation.
Mariano Quesada Campos Executive Secretary, Fundación Cerros de JesúsAbout 300 children participate in environmental education activities, and 25 youth have participated in sanitation and recycling campaigns. The program on environmental education is functioning in the largest schools in La Mansión District.
A unified group to control forest fires operates in the region. There has been a noticeable reduction in damage from forest fires and hunting. Some wildlife populations have been restored. Eighty percent of protected lands are covered in forests in a variety of successional stages. Of the total number of land owners, 20 have received a sum in excess of 90 million colones (US$186,000) for the environmental services of water conservation and ecosystem restoration.
Important alliances with the University of Costa Rica, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Public Education, the Public Forces of Costa Rica, the Peace Corps and international partners have been formed.
Research efforts have generated a biodiversity inventory with 245 species of animals and 32 species of fungus, an archaeological investigation, sociological interpretation, audio-visual educational materials, and more than 10,000 hectares of forest that are contributing to carbon sequestration, oxygen production, water regulation, and the protection of wild plant and animal species.
Institution | Thematic Area |
Ministry of Environment and Energy | Education, crime control |
Ministry of Public Education | Environmental education |
Ministry of Security | Support in controlling environmental crimes |
Ministry of Health/CCSS.-Comités EBAIS | Support for sanitation and hygiene campaigns |
Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje | Capacity building / training |
Insituto Mixto de Ayuda Social | Program subsidies |
Universidad Nacional Autónoma | Research and development |
Universidad de Costa Rica | Research and community work |
La Mansión, A.D.I. | Community development, logistical support |
San Joaquín, A.D.I. | Community development, logistical support |
Pueblo Viejo, A.D.I. | Community development |
La Vigía, A.D.I. | Community development |
Barra Honda | Community development |
Cerros de Jesús Foundation | Environmental management |
