The Problem

Almost everyone agrees that tropical rainforests need protection. Yet, every day more forested areas are developed for economic benefits. In Brazil and Peru, forests are mainly converted to pasture to raise beef. In Indonesia and Malaysia logging for timber and conversion to tree plantations, such oil palm, are leading causes of deforestation. Remaining protected forests are heavily poached everywhere as human populations increase and forest resources decrease.

ICR's Past Projects

Since 1988, Integrated Conservation Research (ICR) has provided economic incentives to conserve rainforests. The most widely accepted part of ICR's strategy has been nature tourism (eco-tourism). We have completed 11 demonstration projects in China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guyana, Malaysia, and Peru, for government and private clients (see "Green Investments").

ICR's New Strategy

Our most recent venture uses the economic power of real-estate to help provide financial support for rainforest reclamation. Our demonstration project is located in the most popular real estate area along the Pacific coast in Costa Rica. It is 5km from the ocean, offering incredible views from 500m elevation. Our plan is to reclaim native forest on what is now primarily a tree plantation of teak (native to Burma).

"Biological Corridors"

With capital derived from selling a small number of home sites, we plan to re-establish native tree species on the remainder of the property, especially plants used for food by animals. The area is located very near Carara National Park, which is a "genetic bank" of original rainforest species.

Food resources on our property will attract animals from the Park, and we benefit from the seeds they carry from the original forest that pass through their digestive tract. Over time, these seeds will increase the plant diversity on the demonstration site, and eventually restore it to a functional ecosystem. Our property also has some original forest along Tarcolitos River, which forms our southern boundary. The reclaimed forest will form a "biological corridor" between Carara National Park and our isolated patch of original forest, and others on neighboring properties.

Incentives to Land Owners

Already, neighboring land owners are interested in the "biological corridors" concept to reconnect their isolated "islands" of original forest. Our goal is to establish a "conservancy" of such land owners. For them, abundant wildlife becomes "value added" to their low-density real estate development. Increased real estate value results from reduced habitat destruction and rainforest reclamation.