Working With Local Communities

EcoTeach and the EcoTeach Foundation sponsor ASCOMAFOR, an organization comprised of rural families in north eastern Costa Rica. Communities involved in ASCOMAFOR are located near Pital, San Carlos and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí.

These initiatives work together to plant native rainforest trees such as titor (Sacoglottis trichogyna), almendra de montaña [mountain almond], guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum—Costa Rica's national tree), ceiba (Ceiba sp. &Hura sp.) and caobilla (Sickingia salvadorense & Swietenia mahagoni).

In addition the communities plant fruiting trees, such as pejibaye (Bactris gasipaes), guayaba (Psidium guajava) and manzana de agua (Syzygium malaccense).

Subsistence farmers contribute their spare time and money to try to restore the once pristine rainforest in an effort to entice the great green macaw and other endangered wildlife back to the area.

In the Santa Elena de Pital, reforestation of a 25-meter riparian corridor along the Rio de Tres Amigos will encourage wildlife that uses the river as a migration corridor.

How The EcoTeach Foundation Funds Are Used

To ensure that future generations sustain this optimistic project, ASCOMAFOR raises money to purchase much needed school equipment. The organization encourages foreigners to volunteer to teach young people environmental education, English and ecotourism.

EcoTeach Foundation supports the organizations through the provision of funds, gardening equipment, saplings, school materials and volunteers to assist on the project.

Each student on an EcoTeach youth expedition tour—with the assistance from the local community—plants tree saplings in the area. He or she will also spend a night on a farm with a Costa Rican host family.

With support from independent donors, EcoTeach has contributed substantially to the reforestation and community education projects. In 2001 the foundation raised over $85,000 through donations and EcoTeach expeditions.

A portion of that sum helped reforest more than 25 acres (10 ha) of land and protect nearly 300 acres (120 ha) of primary forest.