Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Nevertheless, large-scale deforestation due to the enlargement of pastures for cattle breeding and the establishment of intensive agriculture based on monocultures for the production of export goods (cash crops such as banana, pineapple, coffee) led to the destruction of primary rainforests.
The COBIGA project was launched for the sustainable protection of the biodiversity of the Golfo Dulce region in Costa Rica. The so-called “Biological Corridor La Gamba” is intended to connect the lowland rainforests of the Golfo Dulce with the mountain rainforests of the Fila Cal. COBIGA is part of a network of Biological Corridors in Costa Rica, such as the AMISTOSA Biological Corridor, which connects Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula with Amistad National Park in the Talamanca Mountains.
Scientists from the University of Vienna and BOKU Vienna have conducted studies which show that over a project period of 60 years, 548 t and 590 t of CO2 are sequestered annually per reforested hectare. At a planting density of 800 trees per hectare from 40-50 tree species, this results in an average annual commitment of 11.4 kg (548,000/800/60) and 12.3 kg (590,000/800/60) per tree, respectively. We assume an average value of 700 kg CO2 sequestration in 60 years.
Through the purchase of land, as well as the reforestation and renaturation of intensively used agricultural land or former fallow land, fragmentation of the forest is to be prevented. While some sites can be left to regenerate naturally on their own, in other areas no forest has grown for decades and a planned intervention is necessary. Therefore, each site is examined and evaluated individually. Where biologists deem it appropriate, up to 200 different tree species from the region are planted. After planting, the young trees are cared for three years and fertilized several times with 100% organic earthworm compost. Subsequently, the areas are left to themselves, allowing a native forest to develop again.
The COBIGA project is scientifically accompanied by the University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna and financially supported by us.
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Project Manager COBIGA,
Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research,
University of Vienna
