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Costa Rica Real Estate Ecologically Friendly Tips
“Remarkably diverse, and extraordinarily rich”, is Costa Rica ’s combined flora
and fauna. Because Costa Rica lies on the isthmian link that has made possible
the dramatic interchange of biota between the previously separated North and
South American continents, it hosts 800 species of birds, 350 species of
amphibians and reptiles and 8000 species of higher plants. The enormous and
tragic devastation of tropical forest, unfortunately promises to continue into
the 21st century, despite the best efforts of all who care for it (Janzen,
1983). Thanks to contemporary Costa Rica environmental legislature, it is no
longer at the hands of large logging interests, it is due to the suburbanization
of the jungle, commonly referred to as the domestication of small plots of land
or “lots.”
Yet, it does not have to be like this. New and existing owners of Costa Rican
real estate have an opportunity to be guardians of the jungle diversity we
co-habitat. The following are a few jungle friendly practices we can all employ
to support and maintain our flora and fauna diversity.
Pack up you plant droppings, clippings and rakings below your cherished trees
and plants; and along your property lines.
We live in a unique environment of tightly packed, pores clay soil. The secret
to unlocking this rich soil lies in the quantity of mulch or dry decaying
material we provide it. When we rake it naked we further shut down the tightly
packed pores clay, and deny it the forum to absorb nutrients. Our goal is to
mimic Mother Nature while creating a safe and comfortable setting for our
families and ourselves. It is a fine and delicate balance for sure.
Respect and Cherish the Creeks, Drains and Swamps.
All local creeks, drains and swamps provide valuable resources to all jungle and
human life. These precious waterways purify our drinking water in its flow
toward our community watersheds. Therefore, it is against Costa Rican law to
chop, clean or alter within 10m of a creek in an urban or suburban setting,
within 15m of a rural setting, and within 50m of a creek with surrounding land
inclination of 30 degrees or more.
Refrain from the use of Pesticides and Herbicides especially in drains and
waterways.
All of the land in costa rica we co-habitat here in the Talamancas is coastal
slope; that means it all drains to our wells and then to the sea, and rapidly.
With an average annual rainfall of 134” in the province of Limon , dangerous
chemicals (that are manufactured in other countries and outlawed in those same
other countries!) are ineffectual to their targeted noxious weed, before they
are washed away down slope and toxic to wild, human and sea life.
Be a Friend of the Coconut Walk.
The 50m of the coastal tide line: the sole natural habitat of the coconut; the
transition of jungle and sea, public and private lands, is endearingly referred
to as the coconut walk. It is a delicate and fragile ecosystem, which over the
past 100 years has suffered from blight to now human destruction.
Understandably so, the desire of the modern business owner is to clean the
coconut walk for the enjoyment and the safety of the tourist. However, the
coconut walk does not like to be well manicured. If one wants to clean up the
coconut walk for recreation and safety, it is best to pack up the droppings,
clippings and rakings around the bases of the existing trees and shrubs in the
coconut walk. The coconut and associated trees (noni, almond, sea grape) depend
on the nutrients and protection they receive from the so-called “debris” of the
coconut walk.
Plant Native Species in your Jungle Garden.
The integrity of our biodiversity here in the Talamancas depend s upon our
conscious reforestation of native plant species. For instance, we are currently
witnessing the endangering and extinction of native shade palms, and worse, the
introduction of non-native, aggressive and evasive species. Insist and support
native plant nurseries. Practice the art of nature-scaping.
Create Habitat in Your own Garden for Local Fauna.
As good jungle stewards (and lover’s of wildlife in our yard, right?), we need
to provide habitat for the animals with whom we co-habitat. When we plant trees
and shrubs that are “feeders” (food source), we directly provide scarce food
source, and nesting sites for our wildlife friends. Not to mention the fact we
gain invaluable entertainment and joy for ourselves.
Plant and Maintain the Guarumo Trees in your Garden.
Myth: The Guarumo trees are dangerous trees because they grows tall and
angularly.
No lot is too small for the Guarumo trees (Cecropia peltata L.). She is the most
amiable, resourceful, and dependable tree family (Cecropiaceae) we have in our
jungle home and business garden. First, most wildlife eat or use her: the
monkeys, orlapengula birds, sloths, tucans, birds of prey, and ants are
consistently found in these trees. Secondly, she makes herself of interlocking
fibrous segments which allow her to grow tall and angularly, yet, securely.
Thirdly, she’s so amiable that she grows in harmony with existing trees; that’s
why she is always at an angle. Fourthly, the Guarumo trees are medicinal (we
same humans use the leaves medicinally), with large, attractive palmate leaves.
Create your own Carbon Source.
There is no reason to burn, as everything brown and dry in your garden (for
example, dry leaves, limbs, pods, bark, husks, clippings, etc.) serves a
purpose. It is your available carbon source that should be packed up around your
cherished trees and plants. When we burn these precious jungle by-products, we
deplete our carbon reserves that unlock the secrets of our pores clay soil.
Mother Nature depends on the top-coat of carbon source to create lush hummus to
work her jungle magic.
Myth: You don’t have to cut it all down and cover it with gravel to protect
yourself.
We all have the capacity to create kinship and safety with all life through our
magnetic thoughts, words and actions. I recommend consciously creating the
domain in your home and business jungle garden as “I won’t trouble you if you
don’t trouble me,” with all your jungle flora and fauna.