The Fundacion Conservacionista Costarricense, or the Costa Rican Conservation Foundation, was founded in 2002 by concerned Costa Ricans and biologists. The challenge of the Foundation is the protection of habitat on the Pacific side of the country, especially in the Monteverde region. Habitat on the Pacific slope has been eliminated to such a great extent that many species of flora and fauna are in danger of disappearing. We protect existing forest and plant new forests and manage several wildlife refuges where bellbirds and other animals feed. Our restoration program has distributed over 275,000 trees and we monitor over 3000 of those that we have planted to learn of survivorship and growth rates. We research efficient and effective methods of restoring forests. Our trees are given to all who ask as we work in collaboration with landowners and communities.
A very threatened habitat on the Pacific slope is the Monteverde Rain forest. Botanists tell us that this area was once contiguous forest. This area is now completely fragmented and degraded. There are no longer any large tracts of forest. Two species of animals that are suffering greatly from this loss of habitat in the Tropical Rain Forest are the Three-wattled Bellbird and Resplendent Quetzal. While their breeding grounds are protected in the high cloud forests, their post-breeding area is close to disappearing. We dedicate our work to the survival of these two endangered species along with all other flora and fauna. At the same time, we plant several species of endangered trees in attempt to help them recover.
To date, the organization has protected over 65 hectares and restored forests on at least another 100 hectares. The organization also conducts research regarding best practices for efficient and effective restoration techniques of tropical forest. The FCC has collaborated with many organizations, community members, visitors, and funding agencies. The FCC collaborates with the Monteverde Institute, Monteverde Conservation League, and the Change the World Kids. The FCC is also a co-founder of the Bellbird Biological Corridor, a collaborative effort to augment environmental and social connectivity throughout an 80,000 hectare region that spans from sea level to 1850m above sea level.
“We have lost over 50% of tropical forests and our mission is to replace them with ecosystems and social integrity”.
– Debra Hamilton FCC Co-Founder
The FCC has planted over 275,000 native trees with over 200 land owners to not just protect land but also water supplies
140 different native species. One of the most vital being the Ocotea Monteverdensis which, as its name suggests, is endemic to Monteverde. All 275,000 have been planted in different communities ranging in areas from sea level to 1,800 meters in elevation