BREAKFAST AT AGUSTIN'S HOUSE - Osa Conservation

09 May BREAKFAST AT AGUSTIN’S HOUSE

Posted at 17:05h in Uncategorized by InternUser Osa Conservation 0 Comments

Blog Post by Marina Garrido, Restoration Research Field Assistant

Growing Trees in the Osa’s Forest Floor. Photo by Frank Uhlig

Recent Restoration Success at Osa Conservation

Over the past months, the Osa Verde Restoration Plots have been the liveliest place on our property. Wondering why? During this time, we have worked and successfully planted 14,000 trees! A large hard-working team is behind this incredible project. But one of the main pillars of our restoration success is Agustin Mendoza.

Saplings in our Tree Nursery. Photo by Frank Uhlig

Agustin Mendoza has worked for Osa Conservation for 8 years as our reforestation manager. One of his roles is to collect the seeds that will make up our future forests. But this is not always an easy task. To collect a biodiverse range of seeds, he must gather them from all levels of the tropical rainforest. This requires climbing trees to collect those hard to find seeds. Once gathered, he plants the seeds and cares for them until the saplings are strong and healthy.

A Conversation with Agustin Mendoza

Early Experiences with Forest Restoration

Variety of Trees, in Age and Size. Photo by Frank Uhlig

Agustin is someone I have been amazed by since I joined the Osa Conservation family. Every time I talk with him, I learn something new about Osa’s forests. Thus, I couldn’t resist joining him for a cup of coffee:

When did you become interested in reforestation?

I was very young, when I was just seven years old. My father taught me how to plant and take care of trees. I used to plant different native fruiting tree species on my family’s farm. This is when I realized how beautiful and rewarding it was to plant a tree and watch it grow.

Your passion for reforestation started at a very young age: How did you come to join the Osa Conservation team?

Before Osa Conservation, I worked on reforesting Cerro Osa for the founder of Osa Conservation; Adrian Forsyth. Then I started working on every reforestation project I could, planting different native tree species across the Osa. One project took to another and then I began to lead the reforestation efforts at Osa Conservation. The first trees I planted for Osa Conservation are currently 30-40 meters tall.

Looking Forward

Diverse Species of Trees in the Osa. Photo by Frank Uhlig

Diverse Species Growing to Build the Canopy. Photo by Frank Uhlig

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This year, the reforestation project has taken on an innovative project with the balsa experiment. What do you think about this project? Do you like the idea of focusing restoration efforts on an experiment in hopes of future reforestation successes?
Augustin Mendoza with a Balsa Sapling.

I like it a lot. I love the idea of trying new ways to speed up forest recovery and bringing back the ecological interactions you would normally find in a healthy forest. Also, with the species we have planted, they will require more care, and there is nothing I would love more than to help these little trees grow.

Do you have a particular project you would like to accomplish in the future?

I would love to share my knowledge with more local people. Give them seeds and show them how to grow them so they can reforest their farms. Then, everyone will see how beautiful reforestation is.

Would you like to send a message to everyone who is reading this?

Take care of the forest, it is our responsibility to protect it. The forest gives us everything we need without us asking; in exchange, we have to help, for nature’s well-being and our own. It’s easy, we just need to take the step and be conscious of our actions.