WHY ANALOG FORESTRY?
Analog Forestry is a concept of ecological regeneration which uses natural forests as guides to design ecologically stable and socio-economically productive landscapes. Analog Forestry is a complex and holistic form of silviculture, that mimics the structure of primary forest and the ecological function of the species within for resilience and productivity. Analog Forestry values not only ecological sustainability, but recognizes local rural communities’ social and economic needs, which can be met through the production of a diversity of useful and marketable goods and services and long-term wood products
NURSERY
In Analog Forestry, every year a gap-analysis should be undertaken in different plots to understand what lacks in the architectural structure of our man-made forests (40+ years and counting) in order to better mimic the original forest ecosystem before man. These can be palms, epiphytes, trees, vines, and annual or perennial crops. All must be started in the nursery from seeds and planted out yearly. In our case, our philosophy of non-chemical use dictates using good composting practices.
WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Utilizing our virgin rainforest source of water, we channel the water using trenches and pipes into holding ponds (with Prawns, Tilapia, and Ducks) ecosystem. This allows us to continue the gravity fed water into our Rice paddies, pool, irrigated gardens. Thus, we can produce protein and staples using this system of water management. All the infrastructure on the farm is surrounded by ditches full of this water; which acts as a natural repellant for insects and creates ecosystems with fish and shrimp, throughout the farm.
RIO NARANJO BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR
In collaboration with the NGO Allianza for the Conservation of Mono TiTi, we have used the farm as a nursery to help supply that organization with a wide variety of the more than 80,000 trees planted along the riparian edges of Rio Naranjo and it’s tributaries. This Pacific coast watershed biologic corridor is connected to public protected lands adjacent to our farm and creates a protected area that with collaboration with organizations close to Rio Bananito on the Caribbean coast to create the first Inter-Oceanic biological corridor in the world.
LA BOTANICA
Since 1992 and up until Covid-19 pandemic we have sold our dried spices and herbs, and essential oils in the Pacific coast town of Quepos and on the farm in our small store, La Botánica. This allows us to reach the consumer’s kitchen with quality organic products directly from the farm without intermediaries.
RESTORATION WORKSHOP
Since 2007, as an accredited training centre, and in collaboration with the International Analog Forestry Network, http://analogforestrynetwork.org/, we have given numerous national and international workshops to farmers, farmers groups, and professional technicians in the field. Hundreds interested people have received classes to learn about how to regenerate deforested lands into man-made forests that benefits both the increased biodiversity and improve the economic horizons of the land steward.
