Volunteering in Costa Rica's Cloudbridge Project - an opportunity to volunteer in reforestation and biomonitoring

Volunteering at Cloudbridge

Costa Rica cloud forest -- view of reforestation project

Visiting the reserve. You are welcome to visit the reserve with no obligation to participate in the forest restoration project. One objective is to allow people to see the progress of the plantation and to hike the Reserve's steep slopes and enjoy the views of the valleys and waterfalls. Hiking trails have been laid out and are gradually being improved (your help with this would be welcome).

At right is a view of the Reserve, looking south from Cloudbridge North , showing the Lower Meadow, Upper Meadow and forest.

To get there from the village of San Gerardo de Rivas , go 1.6 kilometers past the church to the Cerro Chirripó trailhead. Continue along the road for 1km to Casa Amanzimtoti . You may meet Eric Kang, Cloudbridge Reserve Manager. Then hike 600 meters on to reach the Chirripó Cloudbridge Reserve, which adjoins the Chirripó National Park.

Cloud Forest Biodiversity Research. If you have a background or interest in biology, conservation or the environmental sciences, join us in a multi-year project to monitor the recovery of the cloud forest. Armed with a digital camera and tape measure, you'll record the progress of the reforestation project, and of natural recuperation of flora and fauna on the reserve. Experience is always of value, particularly in species identification. Details on the methods and some results may be found on the photomonitoring and biomonitoring and plantation monitoring pages. Bird abundance, tree diversity, water quality, heliconia pollination -- these and other studies are described onFor other possible research projects, see cloudbridge.org/researchreports.htm

Planting trees. Because our primary concern has been reforestation to restore the the native forest and habitats, volunteers help collect seeds, seedlings and young saplings from the neighboring lower montane cloud forest to nurture in our vivero (nursery). When collecting in the wild, volunteers gather only one-fourth of the seeds or seedlings. They collect only from Cloudbridge, not from the neighboring Chirripo National Park. We plant the seedlings at the beginning of the rainy season (May-July).

We plant a variety of species representing the diversity of the surrounding forest. Trees we've already planted include various native species of Quercus (oaks), Sapium pachystachys (yos), Citharexylum caudatum (dama), Cornus disciflora (lloró), Persea caerulea (wild avocado, pictured), Ulmus mexicana (Mexican elm), Cedrela tonduzii (sweet cedar), and others. Some pictures of these saplings can be found at Flora and Trees of Cloudbridge.

In the picture, Mauricio assists children from the village school as they plant the native oak Quercus rapurahuensis alongside the trail that leads to the Cloudbridge reserve.

Maintaining the trees. Volunteers work to keep the saplings free of encroaching foliage. The grass and weeds grow quickly and can overwhelm the baby trees if left unattended, as the picture suggests. Not only must there be a clear circle (rueda) around the sapling, but also the ground must be kept free of encroaching roots.

Planting by estacas. "Planting by stakes" can be a useful supplement to planting seedlings. Estacas are branch cuttings that are transplanted. A branch is cut off and simply planted in a hole 30-50 cms deep. Among the trees suited to this method are the Poro (Flame Tree or Coral Tree), Erythrina poeppigiana (pictured here) and Jocote, Wild Plum, Spondias purpurea . You'll need a machete and a spade: we have some at Casa Amanzimtoti. These can be planted between the saplings or in other areas, but well away from the little trees so that they do not shade them. Planting by estacas is also a way to replace the barbed-wire fence alongside the path through the reserve with "living fences.".

Costa Rica forest view from Casa Amanzimtoti

Trailbuilding. Some trails have been cut; others exist in concept only. They need to be laid out and marked with stakes and yellow tape, and then dug and supported in a manner that allows water to run off easily. Existing trails soon become overgrown and require clearing. Some volunteers build trails; others help by marking trails with arrows and signs. Talk to us about how you can participate.

Carpentry and Construction Projects. If you're handy with a saw and hammer, volunteer to build benches, shelters and information boards.

The next step. If you're interested, and aged 20 or over, please study the other information on these web pages, especially the Volunteer FAQ, then contact us by writing to us (see Contact page). Include some information about yourself, and what you wish to accomplish, and when you can come. Join us for a few weeks, or a couple of months; longer by special arrangement. Volunteers must cover their own travel and living expenses and a $100 fee (you get $50 back when your assignment is completed). The cost of living in San Gerardo is low. We'll provide the shovels and other tools. See the page of volunteer photos to get an idea of life at Cloudbridge.

(Click on this calendar to see the schedule of volunteers and researchers)

Can't volunteer just now? Perhaps you can participate anyway -- with a small contribution that will go directly into reforestation.

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