The Project: Bridging a Costa Rican cloud forest. In the valley below Mt Chirrip� in Costa Rica, "Casa Amanzimtoti" is the staging point for the conservation venture, "Cloudbridge."

In the valley below Mt Chirrip� in Costa Rica, a unique conservation venture has begun. Introduction The Four Stages Acquisition Conservation Reforestation Recreation The Project Team Directions to get here Research Opportunities at Cloudbridge Volunteering at Cloudbridge

(The project's rationale may be found at cloudbridge.org/context.htm   In the following sections we outline the project plan.)

Stage 2. Preservation:  The property includes a significant portion of riparian and high-altitude mountainside forest. Cattle grazing and its consequent denuding and erosive effects have been halted. In parts of the reserve, natural regrowth will be allowed to take place. In some cases, competing undergrowth may be culled to encourage canopy species. Easements and other legal means will be employed to protect the forest in perpetuum.

Stage 3. Reforestation:  With the assistance of experts in Costa Rica, the local community, and volunteers from abroad, a program of careful multispecies tree planting has begun. This is being done in such a way as to extend and preserve the diversity of the surrounding virgin forests. The efforts include:

• Stage 3.1: The planting of saplings. We began by planting about 4200 trees in 2002, and approximately 1000 in 2003 and 1300 in 2004.
• Stage 3.2: Ongoing maintenance to help the trees survive
• Stage 3.3: Parallel with the diversity project, a small portion of the reserve has been set aside for a demonstration project of sustainable forestry
• Stage 3.4: To undertand what we are doing, and to help others, we label, measure and monitor the trees' progress. 

As much as possible, we are attempting to restore the mix of trees and flora that is native to the surrounding area. With the assistance of specialists, we have compiled a list of trees and other flora, from which selected species have been chosen for the intial reforestation project. Those who have helped us include: Barry Hammel of INBio, David Knowles, Arno Finkeldy and Dick Andrus of the Tropical Forestry Initiative, Gravin Villegas of CATIE and the Chirrip� National Park office, and local forestry experts Freddy Rojas and Ken Gallatin. View a fuller account of the planting process .

Stage 4: Recreational Access. A further 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). You can view a map of the reserve with a descrption of the trails, or an overview of some of the trails. More adventurous hikers will soon have access to the largely unexplored wilderness of Cloudbridge North .

The Project Team Ian Giddy is a native South African living (mostly) in New York. A lover of natural history and the outdoors, he is the author of "The Hudson River Watertrail Guide" and other books.  Jenny O'Grady Giddy is another nature-loving displaced South African now living in New York. Her recent career has been as an environmental librarian in Vancouver, at Environment Canada.  Jennifer Smith and Tim Woodruff of Costa Rica's reforestation enterprise, Tierra Segura (Land Assurance) were involved in the project at its inception. Jennifer's dedication and experience in recreating a robust and diverse forest has been invaluable to the project. An account of the work they have done in their own forestation project, and on others, can be found at landassurance.com .  The people of San Gerardo de Rivas are bringing local knowledge, supplying experienced planters, gathering saplings from the neighboring forest, and encouraging schoolchildren to participate in planting and learning activities. Pictured at left are Mauricio Mar�n, our man-of-all-skills, and his family. The Government of Costa Rica has fostered a regulatory environment conducive to efforts such as the Cloudbridge Project. Costa Rica has an ambitious conservation program, perhaps one of the most developed in the world for a country with rainforests. It includes restrictions on deforestation, financial and property-rights incentives for private preservation and environmentally sound forestation, and a national park system that covers more than 15% of the country. The biggest of these, La Amistad, adjoins Chirrip� National Park and encompasses most of the Talamanca mountain range. Eric Kang is Manager of the Cloudbridge Reserve, and is working hard to improve access and to protect the forest, old and new. Imaginative and dedicated, his experience with forestry and guiding over the last several years  in Costa Rica has well equipped him for this position. He can be found at Casa Amanzimtoti, the hillside house before the entrance to the reserve, or contact him via his web site at climbcostarica.com.

Volunteers and Researchers are welcome. You are invited to apply, to study the cloud forest natural history, or to help with the reforestation project itself. Volunteers have helped with tree planting, trail maintenance, shelter construction and other projects. Research volunteers have studied the water purity and the recuperation of natural habitats. Other research projects include lichen diversity and insect taxonomy. Come for a couple of weeks, or months. We'll find you a place to stay in the village. You'll work, plant some trees, maintain trails, and further your knowledge of tropical flora and fauna, while enjoying the fresh mountain air, swimming in cool mountain pools and hiking the surrounding peaks. You'll need to cover your own expenses. See the Volunteering and  Research pages.

Financial Contributions, no matter how small, are put to good use in purchasing equipment and saplings, and hiring local labor for maintenance of the reforestation project. See the Contributing page .

To get involved, email Ian Giddy or Jenny O'Grady Giddy (see the contact page).

Directions to Cloudbridge and Casa Amanzimtoti

From San Gerardo de Rivas to Cloudbridge
The social center of San Gerardo is the pulper�a (general store), the hotel/restaurant Roca Dura, and the soccer field. Ask at the pulper�a or Roca Dura how to get to the trail entrance to Chirripo National Park (about 1.6 km, mostly uphill). If a vehicle is going your way, hitch a ride. If you're walking, slog on up the road.

Pass the soccer field and church on the left. Shortly after passing Hotel Vista al Cerro on your right, bear right at the fork down a steep dirt road. Cross two bridges, the second over the R�o Chirrip�. About half a kilometer on you'll pass Albergue Ur�n on the left, and up the hill from there, the sign for the trail to Cerro Chirrip�. Continue all the way along the dirt road. Casa Amanzimtoti is about 1 km beyond the trailhead, the last house on the road (click on the map above for a more detailed map ). The entrance to Cloudbridge is a further 600 meters onward, past the house. Take these directions in Spanish with you just in case.

Research Opportunities at Cloudbridge

A Costa Rican cloud forest reserve: "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught." Bada Dioum, Senegalese conservationist We encourage research on: Cloudbridge flora and fauna The reforestation project The local environment and ecology About Cloudbridge The Cloudbridge Reserve was established to preserve and reforest an important gap in the cloud forest adjoining the Chirrip� Pacifico river on the slopes of Mt Chirrip�, the highest mountain in Costa Rica. More details on the project may be found at www.cloudbridge.org/project.htm . We invite proposals for biological and environmental research projects in the following areas:

Habitat Recovery We have begun a project to document the recuperation of flora and fauna on the reserve. This study must be continued, and we invite research volunteers to participate in monitoring and mapping the forested and open areas. Little experience is needed, although assistance with species identification would prove of great value. Details on the methods and results may be found on the photomonitoring and biomonitoring pages. Cloudbridge flora and fauna Research is needed on the local species of plants and animals, including identification and inventory. Baseline studies are essential to enable comparisons over time as the ecology recovers and the plantation progresses. Beyond that, a great deal remains to be learned about species' habitats and behavior, and the effects of deforestation and reforestation on them. The cloud forest of Cloudbridge and the Chirrip� National Park is home to numerous species of birds, including parrots, many hummingbirds, and even the Resplendent Quetzal. Many are endemic to the Talamanca highlands. The reserve shelters spider monkeys, peccaries, sloths, tapirs and other mammals. And lots of arthropods, most of which probably remain to be identified. Bromeliads, orchids and other epiphytes abound, as do tree ferns, vines, lianas, lichens and other flora. Each tree carries a prolific and complex ecosystem of epiphytes, insects, fungi and bacteria as well as birds and mammals. At a more micro level, a single leaf often harbors lichens, liverworts and minuscule creatures feeding on the organic matter and on one another. Much remains to be discovered.

"Out of the 500,000 species estimated for the country, more than 87,000 (17.4%) have been described. Over 79% of these species are arthropods. Plants comprise another important group, of which some 10,979 (91%) species have been described. Such data indicate that out of the entire biodiversity described in the world, approximately 6% belongs to Costa Rica. "At present, we know 98.8% of vertebrates excluding fish), close to 90% of plants and 60% of fish. However, out of the most diverse group (arthropods), less than 20% of species have been described. The same goes for other invertebrates, excluding mollusks. Groups such as fungi, bacteria and virus are almost unknown, since more than 98% of expected species are yet to be described." - INBio, Biodiversity in Costa Rica

The reforestation project
We need help to monitor the progress of the plantation, and to undertake comparisons with the primary and secondary forests of Cloudbridge. The method is described on the plantation monitoring page. With one exception, all the trees we have planted are native to the surrounding high-altitude forest of the Talamanca mountain range. The trees include Cedro dulce/Sweet cedar (Cedrela tonduzii), Yos (Sapium pachystachis ), Tirra/Elm (Ulmus mexicana), Roble/Oak (Quercus copeyensis), Aguacatillo/Wild avocado (Persea caerulea), Llor� (Cornus disciflora), Dama (Citharexylum Donnell-Smithii ), Nispero (Manilkara zapota), Frutilla (Tournefortia volubilis ), Candelillo (Tecoma stans), Jaul/Alder (Alnus Acuminata ) and Cipres/Cypress (Cupressus lusitanica). The last one is widespread in the higher elevations of Costa Rica but is not native -- it originates in Mexico. It forms part of our demonstration project of sustainable forestation. Some, like Jaul, are nitrogen-fixing -- they help fertilize the soil they grow in. Some bear fruit and seeds to encourage repopulation of the birds and animals, who in turn will disperse the seeds.

The environment and ecology
Research on changing environmental conditions in the Chirrip� valley is needed, including studies of: air quality, the aquifer and water quality, soil quality and erosion, and the impact of agriculture, forestry, settlement and tourism. For example, the Rio Chirrip� is pristine where it rushes through Cloudbridge, but becomes less and less so as it passes through inhabited areas and farmland on its way to merge with the Rio El General, whose quality is seriously impaired. As for ecology, much needs to be done to understand the relationships among the cloud forest creatures, and to study the organisms in relation to their environment.

Can we visit? Can we propose a research project?
Yes to both. No charge for visiting. You'll see why this natural beauty is worth preserving and restoring and understanding better. Some of the first research projects investigated the forest's lichens, the diversity of insects, and the habitats of birds. Ongoing projects include rainfall and temperature, habitat biomonitoring, water quality and land use.

How can one contact us?
By email. Write to Ian Giddy or Jenny O'Grady Giddy (see the Contact page).
By telephone. Call Ian Giddy in New York (+1-212-362-9391).
Mailing address: Cloudbridge, 119 West 82nd Street #1, New York, NY 10024, USA.
Reseachers must bring independent funding for their projects, including travel and living expenses. There is also a US$100 fee (half goes to reforestation, and the other $50 is returned to you at the end of your stay). The cost of living in San Gerardo is low and you can find hotels on this site. Send us some information about your research qualifications, what you wish to study, and when you can come. If your project is accepted, we'll assist in finding accommodation and provide access to the reserve. We'll also publish the results of the research on the Cloudbridge website.

Volunteering at Cloudbridge

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 Chirrip� 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 Chirrip� Cloudbridge Reserve, which adjoins the Chirrip� 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. Little experience is needed, although assistance with species identification would prove of great value. Details on the methods and results may be found on the photomonitoring and biomonitoring and plantation monitoring pages. For other possible research projects, see cloudbridge.org/research.htm
Gathering seedlings and saplings. Because our primary concern has been reforestation to restore the the native forest and habitats, we are interested in collecting seeds, seedlings and young saplings from the neighboring lower montane cloud forest. Armed with a basket or bag, you can help by wading into the nearby forest south or north of the pasture and bringing the acorns, seeds, seedlings or cuttings to the nursery. When you are collecting in the wild, only gather one-fourth of the seeds or seedlings. Please collect only from Cloudbridge, not from the neighboring Chirripo National Park. We're aiming for 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 (llor�), Persea caerulea (wild avocado, pictured), Manilkara zapota (nispero), Ulmus mexicana (Mexican elm), Cedrela tonduzii (sweet cedar), and others. Some pictures of these saplings can be found at Flora and Trees of Cloudbridge .
	Planting trees. We plant the seedlings at the beginning of the rainy season (May-July). If you're here then, talk to us about participating. 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. Help is always needed 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 free of encroaching roots. You can help by donning gloves and pulling out the weeds by hand. If you're comfortable with a machete, use this to cut away the grass.
	Planting by stakes. Planting by stakes can be a useful supplement to planting seedlings. Stakes 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.
Maintaining the trails. 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. You can help by marking trails with arrows and signs. Talk to us about how you can participate.	Planting living fences. Planting by estacas is also a way to replace the barbed-wire fence alongside the path through the reserve. We need fences to keep the cows from wandering onto the tree plantation, but closely-planted stakes will eventually replace the wire. Straight stakes cut from the forest and embedded firmly in the ground about 1 foot apart will eventually take root and fill out enough to keep out the cattle. As is evident from the picture, many of the existing fence posts have sprouted -- more are needed to fill the gaps.
	Carpentry and Construction Projects. If you're handy with a saw and hammer, volunteer to build benches, shelters and information boards.

More information in the official site, please go to www.cloudbridge.org

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