Costa Rica
Cloudbridge Reforestation ProjectbackgroundThe mission of the Cloudbridge Reforestation Project is to rebuild a deforested part of tropical cloud forest using native trees to bridge a gap between two mountainside forests. Local people as well as tree consultants are hired to plant the native species. Open access copy available |
Growth of native forest species planted on abandoned pasture land in Costa RicaBackgroundReforestation programs in Costa Rica have largely utilized only four tree species. This study tests growth rates and form of eleven additional tree species native to the humid tropics, including five N-fixing species and six non-N-fixing species. Available with subscription or purchase |
Early Growth Performance of Native and Introduced Fast Growing Tree Species in Wet to Sub-Humid Climates of the Southern Region of Costa RicabackgroundThe authors present information on the growth of seven-year-old native tree species planted in abandoned pasture with low fertility acidic soils in the southern pacific region of Costa Rica. Research Goals & MethodsThe study evalutes trees in four ecoregions of varying elevation and precipitation. Available with subscription or purchase |
Early Species Selection for Tropical Reforestation: A Consideration of StabilitybackgroundThis study describes a screening of timber species planted in abandoned pasture sites to understand the effect of different site conditions on tree growth and to determine the species that grew with the highest variation. Research Goals & MethodsThe author looks at genotype environment to evaluate stability of genotypes and genotypes with the ability to perform consistently in multiple site conditions. Available with subscription or purchase |
Screening trial of 14 tropical hardwoods with an emphasis on species native to Costa Rica: Fourth year resultsBackgroundCommercial forestry plantations have consistently relied on a limitd number of species, often favoring exotic species over native ones. This is mainly due to a lack of information or understanding related to the silviculture of native species plantations. This article uses a long-term experiement site in Costa Rica's La Selva Biological Station to work towards filling this knowledge gap. Available with subscription or purchase |
Tropical Forest Transitions and Globalization: Neo-Liberalism, Migration, Tourism, and International Conservation AgendasBackgroundDeforestation is giving way to forest regeneration in some tropical regions. This paper uses two case studies to investigate such ‘forest transitions’ in two biodiversity-rich countries, Costa Rica and Madagascar. Open access copy available |
Methods of Facilitating Reforestation of Tropical Degraded Land with the Native Timber Tree, Terminalia amazoniabackgroundIn tropical dry regions, like Costa Rica, it is critical to reforest degraded farms in order to reduce erosion and increase soil fertility. This paper explores the results of an 8-year long experiment in Southern Costa Rica that sought to identify ways to reforest such land economically. Available with subscription or purchase |
The Bigger Picture: Tropical Forest Change in Context, Concept and PracticebackgroundThis article discusses differing concepts of reforestation between the fields of forest science and land change science. Most data from the field of forest science is small in scale and evaluates growth and production from the perspective of use of wood products. Available with subscription or purchase |
Growth, carbon sequestration, and management of native tree plantations in humid regions of Costa RicaBackgroundThe Costa Rican government has provided incentives for reforestation programs since 1986 and initiated a Payment for Environmental Services program in 1996. These incentives yielded native species reforestation programs throughout the country. This study examines growth, carbon sequestration, and management of seven native tree species (Vochysia guatemalensis, Vochysia ferruginea, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Terminalia amazonia, Virola koschnyi, and Dipteryx panamensis) in single-species plantations managed by small landowners. Available with subscription or purchase |
Forest Expansion in Northwest Costa Rica: Conjuncture of the Global Market, Land-Use Intensification, and Forest ProtectionbackgroundThis article examines the land cover conversion trends in Costa Rica, a topic that is widely studied in developed coutries but less so in developing. Available with subscription or purchase |

