A tree is planted to protect anteaters in Costa Rica

Anteater seeks woman Anteater seeks woman

Loss of tropical forest in Costa Rica

An anteater in the front yard can be practical in Costa Rica. It solves the problem of the numerous ant trails that make their way into houses every day. With an exceptionally long tongue of up to 60 cm, an anteater can eat an astonishing 30,000 animals a day. They are licked up with the help of sticky saliva. As nice as this idea of an insect-eating garden creature is, the anteater's natural habitat is different. The 'small anteater', native to northwest Costa Rica, prefers to move around in trees. In these trees it finds tree termites, protection from predators and potential mating partners. However, its migration routes through the forests of Costa Rica are increasingly being cut off by large areas of pasture grass, agriculture and new roads.

need

Connecting tropical forests to conserve the red anteater in Costa Rica.

activity

The local organization Fundación Pro Reserva Natural Monte Alto plants trees with students from the region.

Measurable performance

Number of trees that can be planted and cared for. Up to 600 trees can be planted per hectare per year.

Result

After three years of care, the newly planted trees are strong and large enough to grow independently and displace the pasture grass.

Systemically relevant impact

The anteaters can now move around freely and form pairs. This will ensure their survival in the Guanacaste region.

background

With the American lifestyle in mind, a meat boom developed in Costa Rica in the 1960s, which led to the destruction of large areas of rainforest. The dry rainforest in the province of Guanacaste, which is rare worldwide, had to make way for African pasture grass that was deliberately introduced for cattle breeding. The consequences: a decline in the number of anteaters, a disruption of the region's water cycle and, as a result, a drinking water problem.

Today, years later, many of the pasture grass areas are no longer used. But the pasture grass hardly allows any other plant growth and thus prevents natural reforestation and the stabilization of the water cycle.

The red anteater lacks trees as protected areas for movement and the local population in the town of Hojancha is worried about their drinking water. In less than 25 years, the water volume of the Rio Nosara has dropped by over 90% and residents fear it will dry out completely. Because the trees have no roots, rainwater can no longer reach the ground. It flows off the surface, causing the groundwater level to drop year after year.

In 1993, local residents initiated the founding of the Fundación Pro Reserva Natural Monte Alto to counteract these developments. Just one year later, the 924-hectare area was declared a forest reserve. Tropica Verde supports the Fundación.

The good deed

Thanks to this good deed, reforestation measures are being carried out on Tropica Verde's land with the help of the local partner in Monte Alto, which will reconnect existing forests. After three years, the planted trees begin to displace the pasture grass with their shade, thus initiating natural reforestation. The water balance is regenerated and leads to an improvement in the drinking water situation in the town of Hojancha, the environmental awareness of the local population is increasing and the number of poachers and timber thieves is decreasing. The red anteater is given more freedom of movement. This increases its chances of starting a family with offspring and thus its chances of remaining in the region.

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