Rachel’s visit to the BEN in February, 2009 after the MCL annual meeting.

Remembering Rachel Crandell, Friend of the Forest and its People

Our dear friend and President of MCLUS passed on Monday, September 7th, 2009. We wish you peace and stillness as you receive this news. This newsletter is dedicated to remembering Rachel’s contribution to rainforest conservation through MCLUS as well as reflecting on her inspiring spirit. Gratitude for the richness of Rachel’s character helps us to see a continuing expression of her with us. Please join us in remembering and giving thanks for her example.

Rachel loved to plant trees, as shown planting Citharexylum sp. in the top photo. As an appropriate metaphor, the tree planted (Podocarpus oleifolius) in her honor (bottom photo) is the offspring of a rare tree located near the MCL office. Undoubtedly, it too will have many offspring as it continues to grow and reproduce!

“Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little.” ~Edmund Burke

Rachel gave us a wonderful example of how one idea put into action can make a difference. Rachel had the idea of finding something hopeful and inspiring for her 2nd grade class to learn about. It led her to discover the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niňos – BEN) of Costa Rica and eventually to co-found the Monteverde Conservation League U.S. in 2002. The BEN itself started in 1986 by the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) for the purpose of preserving and protecting tropical ecosystems in Costa Rica. When Swedish second graders got the idea to help save 25 acres of tropical rainforest, that idea expanded into a world-wide youth-led effort to do something much bigger– purchase 54,000 acres of tropical rainforest.

Together, Rachel and her husband Dwight, began to reinvigorate the effort to protect the BEN, to help keep a good idea going. As a member of MCL and as a volunteer President of MCLUS, Rachel contributed to three new purchases of land and helped to maintain guard salaries to protect the forest from poachers and squatters. Through Rachel’s and Dwight’s individual efforts, an environmental educator was also hired for a short time and a nature center in Costa Rica developed for school groups to visit. In March 2008, Rachel co-authored The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure with Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini. This children’s book, full of information for all ages, was another good idea put into action, intended to help raise another generation of international stewards for the BEN.

“When you pray, move your feet” ~African proverb

Rachel’s ability to translate issues of global significance into action on the ground was underlain by her deep love for the good and beautiful. She shared this love as a 2nd grade teacher for 20 years at Principia Lower School in St. Louis, MO, as an eco-trip leader from 1992-2009, as an author of children’s books (also Hands of the Maya: Villagers at Work and Play; Hands of the Rain Forest: The Emberá People of Panama), and as an advocate for indigenous peoples. Rachel collected over 100 traditional Emberá stories and published a first volume in English, Spanish, and Emberá with assistance from Rogelio Cansari (an Emberá living in Panama City) and her daughter, Joanna Crandell.

Rachel had an unusual fearlessness that took her to Belize, Costa Rica, Namibia, Ecuador, and many other parts of the world, including going ’solo’ to Papua New Guinea. She had an endless love for learning and especially for people whose cultures embraced the land and life around them. Fortunately, her insatiable appetite for diversity was complemented by an ability to rapidly make friends and gain trust. The warmth of her smile cut through cultural barriers. She had a wisdom of knowing how to manuever sticky situations, and a graciousness that never compromised principle but respected the best in everyone. She relished sharing stories, giving simple pleasures, and making a difference in the lives of those who have fewer choices. Her laugh was deeply genuine, and so were her friendships.

As the saying goes take only pictures, leave only footprints–so we all have a vivid picture of Rachel’s inspired example and an indelible footprint which continues to find impression in the actions of our own lives. Thank you Rachel for your endless giving!

Friends of the BEN gathered on Sept. 11 in Mother’s Grove in the Bajo del Tigre section of the BEN to celebrate and remember Rachel. Katy Van Dusen brought brownies, as Rachel loved chocolate. There was a beautiful Morpho butterfly nearby, birds singing and white faced monkeys could be heard nearby. Attendees included a mix of MCL employees, members and friends from Monteverde.

A Word from the Monteverde Conservation League Executive Director

Even though we feel sorrow today, we are left with the great legacy of Rachel and Dwight, which is the love for the things that we do, principally in the form of children and the protection of nature. Today the MCL commits itself even more, so their efforts continue to bear fruits.

Many thanks, Rachel, for everything that you have accomplished, and we are convinced that since Monday she has and will follow us more closely, in the heart of the Children´s Eternal Rainforest and in each of the daily activities we carry out…

As Rachel would say, For the forest…

Yúber Rodriguez S.
Executive Director a.i.
Monteverde Conservation League and
Children’s Eternal Rainforest
yrodriguez@acmcr.org
http://www.acmcr.org

Rachel standing in front of the new building at Pocosol Biological Field Station (February ‘09).

The Mission Continues

As we gratefully acknowledge the contributions of both Rachel and Dwight to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, we can continue to look for more progress. The new building at Pocosol (above) will enable visiting student and tourism groups access to a classroom and a more comfortable stay. The eco-tourism trip to the BEN in June 2010, including a visit to the San Gerardo Field Station, will proceed uninterrupted with leadership provided by Maggie Eisenberger (pictured below).

“Those who are ready to go are already invited.” ~Rachel Crandell

Everyone has a role in forwarding the mission. Below are some of the ways you can participate:

• come see the living treasures of the BEN for yourself! (more details about the 2010 trip coming in the October newsletter)
• donate to support Rachel’s earnest desire to protect the Pacific slope, with hopes of saving the bellbird and quetzal populations
• give a presentation about your trip to the BEN to inspire others to get involved (and let us know when you do!)
• volunteer your expert advice to the MCLUS staff or Board of Directors
• consider future service on the Board of MCLUS

Please direct your communications to info@mclus.org.

Donations in honor of Rachel should be written to MCLUS and noted “in Honor of Rachel Crandell.”

Checks can be mailed to:

Monteverde Conservation League, US
P.O. Box 938
Manchester, MO 63011

You can also visit http://mclus.org/give/donate-now/ to make a donation online.

Rachel and Maggie Eisenberger in July 2008. Maggie led a trip to the BEN in early June 2009, and will lead the 2010 trip.

For the forest,
Friends and Board of MCLUS

www.mclus.org

A Labor Day gift for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest

This Labor Day, Monteverde Conservation League US needs your help to plant a tree in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Just one dollar will pay to plant one new tree. Click here to donate money to plant a tree!

The Challenge

Denuded Pacific slope of Tilaran Mountains in Costa Rica needed as habitat for migrating species

The Goal

To purchase and connect protected forested areas of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest to create biological corridors for migrating species.

The Land Purchase and Protection Campaign continues to seek appropriate lands to purchase for replanting and restoring corridors to save endangered species.
The job is urgent and HUGE! Any help that you can lend by donating to this effort is appreciated.

Donate Now

RECENT $22,000 GRANT to MCLUS FROM U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

About two hundred species of neotropical migrant birds from Central America fly each summer to the United States to nest and raise their young. In late summer they fly thousands of miles back to their tropical homes. We share these wonderful songbirds, many of which spend more than half of the year in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is interested in protecting both of their habitats in the U.S. and in the tropics. In a collaboration with other conservation organizations in the Monteverde Zone, the Monteverde Conservation League U.S. has been awarded a $22,000 3/1 matching grant by USFWS to continue to buy deforested land and replant it, providing restoration of needed habitat.

Annual Report for 2008
The year 2008 was an extraordinary year for us and marked the seventh full year of activity of the Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. (MCLUS) since its establishment in April 2002 with its mission “to support the conservation, preservation and rehabilitation of tropical ecosystems and their biodiversity.” MCLUS officers and board members have been carrying out its mission by volunteering time and effort to present informational programs and eco-tourism activities, to carry out fundraising efforts and to provide labor, advice, equipment and funds for activities in Costa Rica and Belize.  MCLUS is closely allied with the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) in Monteverde, Costa Rica.  MCL owns and manages El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (BEN), a 54,000+ acre nature preserve – the largest private reserve in Central America.

Land Purchase and Protection Campaign (LPPC).
In April 2004 MCLUS began a fundraising effort  The Land Purchase and Protection 20 Anniversary Campaign to raise $1.5 million dollars by Dec. 31, 2007 in celebration of the beginning of the BEN in 1987. We did not reach this high, but we made a good beginning and are committed to reaching it and more.  The money raised by LPPC will be split as follows:  50% will be used to buy land to create wildlife migratory corridors from the BEN to existing patches of remaining forests down the mountain slopes on the Pacific side, buy land along the BEN’s borders that will seal off the gateways used by poachers, buy “inholding lands” properties which are surrounded by the BEN, and pay for all the land related expenses like surveys, land registration and legal fees related to the purchase of land. The 40% will support MCL’s annual expenses for BEN’s protection and reforestation activities, and for environmental education for the BEN’s surrounding communities, repay outstanding loans, and provide operational funds for MCLUS. The 10% goes to a Board-directed fund for future Protection and Operational to be used at the discretion of the MCLUS board for emergencies.

We had 480 donors who donated in excess of $246,000. This represents an increase of over 40% in donations for Land Purchase and Protection over last year and that was after a 50% increase the year before!

Funds raised by the LPPC in 2008 will be spent on Pacific slope land currently being negotiated by the MCL.  The priorities to be considered when selecting a piece of land to buy include how much biodiversity it has. Does the landowner have a clear title to the land? Is the price reasonable?  Does the land lie within a reasonable area to be part of our cordillera to coast corridor goal?  Is it contiguous to the BEN?

The purchase of Olger Badilla’s 115 acres of primary forest was negotiated in October by MCL and added a piece of forest to the BEN that is contiguous to the BEN and that includes and now protects the headwaters of the Aranjuez River.  This is a crucial piece in the biological corridor on the Pacific slope that we have been focusing on.  Many thanks to our donors who made this land purchase possible.

We set a goal to raise $250,000 in 2008 and we did.

Other Donations and Assistances to MCL.

When Dwight Crandell passed away early in the year, friends and family were invited to give donations to MCLUS as a memorial to Dwight.  MCLUS received over $20,000 in his memory.

In 2008 we saw more individual donors who gave between $1000 and $10,000 than ever before. Large donations move us closer to our goals faster.  We are especially grateful for the increased possibility of corporate donors spurred by the efforts of board member, Tom Newmark, and the friendships he is helping create through the CEO hike across the BEN in February.  Whole Foods Markets of southern California had a 5% day in January pledging 5% of their retail sales from all 37 stores to go to the BEN.  We were delighted to receive a check for $103,699.50 from Michael Besancon, head of the southern California division of WFM during the Big Hike across the BEN.  We then received another check for over $50,000 from WFM in conjunction with other partners in their region.  Then $13,000 came from WFM in Austin, Texas. As a result of Tom Newmark’s help Sprouts Farmers Markets held a fundraiser for MCLUS resulting in almost $35,000.  They were so enthusiastic in their campaign to share information with their customers about the BEN.  A Gala party in Hollywood in May brought new folks face to face with the BEN.  Through the generous use of their lovely building Creative Artitsts’ Agency hosted the Gala.  Whole Foods Markets provided the meal.  The tables were decorated with orchids and live violin music filled the air.  It was indeed a festive occasion.  Many people who had never heard of the BEN before got to see Mark Wainwright and Alex Villegas film “Stranded” which was a striking visual portrayal of the beauty and diversity of the forest and the bleak deforested mountainside just beyond our borders.  All had a good time, money was raised, and folks went home knowing a lot more about the rainforest.

A new children’s book The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure by award winning author Kristin Joy Pratt Serafini and Rachel Crandell (Dawn Publications) came out in February.  This beautifully illustrated book has won 5 awards so far and is in paperback, hardback, second and third printings already.  It would make a lovely gift to your local school and public library.  It tells the story of the BEN through the adventures of little Peter and his mom Anna who have come from Sweden.  She is one of the little kids, now grown up, who helped begin El Bosque Eterno de los Niños in 1987.  They hike through the BEN and encounter wonderful wildlife along the way. Peter wants to help, too, and realizes he can plant trees!  The scientific information about the species in the story appear in sidebars along with the history of the BEN in the back of the book with recommended websites and books, and the coordinates to find the BEN on Google Earth.  When the book is purchased through MCLUS, all the profit goes to the BEN.  Copies were given to MCL to sell at Bajo del Tigre Visitor Center in Monteverde.

Rachel’s children’s book Hands of the Maya had successful sales with many copies sold by MCLUS.  The profits are directed to scholarships for Maya high school students in Belize.  Rachel has contributed her royalties for that scholarship effort in order to help sustain the indigenous people’s efforts to conserve and preserve their local ecosystem and way of life.  In 2008 these funds provided $3,000 in scholarships to students of Maya Centre Village in central Belize.  MCLUS has also channeled funds for 3 scholarships to girls from the San Luis Valley to attend colegio (high school) in nearby Santa Elena in the Monteverde Zone in Costa Rica and one to attend baking school.

MCLUS Eco-tourism trips to the BEN continue to be good fundraisers and educate people about the forest and create new donors.  In 2008 three trips were offered, one  in May and two in July for two weeks each.  The May trip was for students from Fox River Country Day School, and Discovery Bound high school students went in early July, followed immediately by an open registration trip for 19 the last two weeks in July.

The Rainforest Quilt Project
The rainforest has become a hot topic for children in Macomb, Illinois. Almost 200 students and the local Girl Scout troop painted and sewed a Rainforest Quilt. Local businesses were invited to buy donor squares that their names stitched into the quilt and create a border around the colorful squares of animals and plants of the rainforest that the children had created. It is a true work of art with input from kids, teachers, parents, and businesses in the community. The Quilt provided funding to help send a teacher to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest on the MCLUS July trip.

Our Student Ambassador program for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 came to a close, but Gay Townsend started a fund (to honor her late husband) that would send a teacher or student on an MCLUS trip to the BEN.  This year Merran Waller was selected and took full advantage of the opportunity.  She had just completed the fifth grade at Principia Lower School.  She kept a thorough journal and was up extra early almost every morning to get additional birding in before breakfast.  Three other children were on the trip with their families, all from St. Louis.  When they returned home three of them organized the Forever Forest Group and began to look for ways to raise $2000 for the BEN.  They chose to make note cards from their own digital photos and glue them on 100% post consumer recycled paper with a sticker on the back that explains 100% of their profits go to the BEN.  Then they proceeded to look for festivals and speaking opportunities to market their cards.  They reached their goal of $2000 by October and promptly raised the goal to $5000.  They also invited the three past student ambassadors from St Louis to join their FFG club and help give talks and put more cards together.  This is a wonderful example of the activist alive and well in children who have experienced the magic of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest firsthand.

Facebook Cause Campaign: In early January we initiated a Cause campaign on Facebook that raised about $1200. This contest is revealing a whole new generation of young and eager philanthropic givers who are willing to donate their time, money and attention to deserving causes such as the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. It demonstrates the power of social networking sites to make a real difference through their millions of motivated members.  It was our first attempt at using the internet to fundraise.  The Mother’s Grove campaign last week brought in $640 in 3 days.

Other projects and actions
E-Newsletters are going out monthly to our supporters and interested persons via Internet.  The E-Newsletters are being archived on our website www.mclus.org for updated information.

Dream the Forest Wild
Dream the Forest Wild Book Project: How Children Saved a Rainforest by Sue Memhard with Jim Crisp. This is the remarkable, true story of how El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (affectionately known as the BEN, in English – The Children’s Eternal Rainforest) came to be saved thanks to kids from around the world. Now, twenty years later, the lyrical story Dream the Forest Wild continues to inspire kids everywhere and invites kids to be their own illustrators. Kids can read the story online and ask their teacher if they can be part of the KIDS BOOK PROJECT by drawing their own illustrations and going to www.dreamtheforestwild.com to get them published. What a great way to spread the word about the BEN.

Rainforest Rachel on NPR
On April 30 Rachel Crandell was interviewed on KWMU for an hour on St. Louis on the Air.  It is being streamed on NPR’s website for the next six months.  It offered good exposure for our efforts to protect and expand the BEN.

The Uruta Draga Project
The Uruta Draga Project in Panama has moved forward.  We were able to facilitate receiving a free lab test of the oil by the Danforth Plant Center.  We found a donor for the $25,000 needed to fund the initial plantingby theEmberá people of the 9,000 trupa palm trees near the village of Manene in Darien, Panama by the Emberá people.  Rogelio Cansari, head of the Foundation to plant the trees, declared this “a new beginning for my people.”

Emberá Stories
Emberá Stories in Spanish and English went to press.  Joanna Crandell has done the layout work after many proof reading sessions by Spanish and English speaking friends.  Rogelio has also completed the Emberá transcriptions so we are finally ready to print the Emberá-Spanish version.  It is this version that will be placed in the village schools throughout the two comarcas in Panama.

Liability Insurance.
We purchased liability insurance to protect MCLUS for our eco-tourism trips.  It has been a good idea and we will continue this practice. Monteverde Institute. In the past we have accommodated the transference of funds for the Monteverde Institute as they do not have a nonprofit sister organization in the United States, but concluded this practice in 2008.  MCLUS found a donor for $200,000 to buy a piece of land owned by MVI to be set aside as forever protected.  This land is adjacent to MVI land and has been added to another piece to create a reserve now called the Dwight Crandell Memorial Reserve.  This was a great help to MVI in their financial bind.  MCLUS is happy to help support in this way the fine work this institution is doing in the Monteverde community.

Summary.
The MCLUS officers and Board of Directors are pleased with our continued progress and can foresee growing benefits to the BEN and every other activity which MCLUS supports.  We raised more money than in any previous year largely due to the efforts of Tom Newmark and the partnerships with Whole Foods Markets, Sprouts Farmers Markets and the Gala in Hollywood in May. The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure came out in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the BEN.  An article about the BEN and the work of MCLUS came out in Green Business Quarterly.  That is more public awareness about our work.  We have deep and constant gratitude for the faithful and willing support of so many who have responded to our requests.

Click below for pdfs

mclus receipts/disbursements pdf

mclus balance sheets pdf

mclus lppc-distribution pdf

Groups from Around the US Travel to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica

Trips to Bosque Eterno de los Niños (BEN), the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, are the best way to immerse yourself in the tropical rainforest and begin to understand the importance of preserving them. Filled with adventure, learning, wilderness experiences, cultural exchanges and fabulous photo opportunities, MCLUS trips offer a life-changing perspective.  This year MCLUS sponsored 3 trips and numerous others came to stay in our field stations within our 54,000 ac wilderness.

Melisse Reichman led the Fox River Country Day students from Elgin, Illinois in May.  This is the third time FRCD has come to the BEN.  Their land use study gave them opportunity to weigh human impact factors on the forest.

Maggie Eisenberger led a group from St. Louis, Arizona and Washington in June.  Besides their time in the BEN, they rafted through tropical dry forest and explored Carara National Park giving them the opportunity to compare different tropical ecosystems.

Rachel Crandell led a group with participants from California, New Hampshire, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Oregon, New York and Maryland.  Ages spanned from 11-85!  The expert guides, hikes to a 200′ waterfall, watching Arenal Volcano erupt, planting trees and doing trail work service projects were all highlights.

Steven Tomey, biology teacher at Lindbergh HS in St Louis, led his students to Costa Rica and the BEN.  The kids had raised money ahead of time and brought along their donation to deliver in person.  These trips make conservation issues real and impact the thought and lives of those who come to learn firsthand.

Volcan Arenal, the most continuously active in the western hemisphere, is our view from the porch of San Gerard Field Station where we stay in the BEN. Custom trips for families or to fit with spring break dates are possible.

Free Teacher Workshop on Rainforest August 11 at Missouri Botanical Garden

There are a few spaces left for the Tuesday morning 9-noon free workshop on Tropical Rainforests at MoBotGdn in St. Louis. The rainforest suitcases filled with curriculum, dvds, books, games and samples are on loan for free to teachers during the school year if you attend the workshop. Also a gorgeous big, free poster for each teacher. Pass the word along to any teachers you know in the area. Contact teachertraining@mobot.org to register.

A Father’s Day Gift from the Children’s Eternal Rainforest

As Father’s Day quickly approaches, we prepare to honor the men who taught us to play catch, helped us build tree forts, and lent their fatherly wisdom to enhance our lives. This Father’s Day, consider giving your dad or any man in your life who has acted as a father the priceless gift of the rainforest. By making a donation in his name to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Monteverde, Costa Rica, you will not only give your dad a thoughtful present, but also make the world a better place for generations to come.

When you make a donation to the Monteverde Conservation League, you help secure and protect the development of crucial rainforest land; plus, you will receive a charming, printable PDF card to display a gift that will far outlast any neckties or golf clubs. You may choose to donate $10, $25, $50, or $100. Thank you for your support and for helping us honor fathers around the world this Father’s Day. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest would not exist with your generosity.

Donate Now

Next Land Purchase for Children’s Eternal Rainforest

Thanks to our donors the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has just added another 20 acres.  It is an essential piece in the Pacific slope corridor that connects two pieces of the Children’s Rainforest.  Half of the land is still original forest, but the other half was cleared years ago and used as cattle pasture.  The Monteverde Conservation League will be able to reforest the compacted, degraded pasture with seeds from the nearby forest and recreate critical habitat.  This is the third land addition since we began the Land Purchase and Protection Campaign!!!

Whole Foods Markets Partner with New Chapter to Replant in Costa Rica

Last year WFM of southern California made a generous donation to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest including coming to Costa Rica to plant trees.  The land purchased is contiguous to the existing protected area but was deforested.  Now the new seedlings Whole Foods planted are taking advantage of the rainy season to get a good head start on returning habitat and food source for endangered species by creating a corridor to New Chapter’s organic farm and protected forest. Thanks Whole Foods and New Chapter!

In an effort to encourage bloggers to write about their favorite charities, Zemanta launched a Blogging for a Cause contest, where they will give $6,000 in donations to the five most blogged about charities. We invite supporters of the Monteverde Conservation League US to help promote the Children’s Eternal Rainforest by taking a few minutes to mention this wonderful cause in their blogs.

Bloggers simply need to post about their favorite charities, then add a tracking link in their blog posts. Here’s the text and link: This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/”>Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

There are many things to write about, from the 54,000 acres of land protected in Monteverde, Costa Rica to the free courses and rainforest kits for educators this summer at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

The contest runs until June 6, 2009. Check out the contest site for more info and blogger directions.

Thank you for your support, and happy blogging!

This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

Give Your Mom the Gift of the Rainforest this Mother’s Day!

This Mother’s Day, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has set aside a Mother’s Grove within their 54,000 acres in Costa Rica to honor all mothers around the world who helped protect it. We invite you to give your mom the priceless gift of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest by making a donation to the Monteverde Conservation League US.  With your donation, you will receive a charming, printable PDF card that fits in an envelope to display your love and appreciation for your mother.  You may choose to donate $10, $25, $50 or $100. Thank you for your support and for helping us honor mothers around the world with the Mother’s Grove. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest would not exist without your generosity.

Monteverde Conservation League US is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Donate at the Network for Good.

Free Teacher’s Rainforest Workshop in St. Louis

Teachers will receive a beautiful free poster, free training, and suitcase filled with curriculum, DVDs, books, and games can be borrowed free from the Missouri Botanical Garden.  The workshop is June 29 from 9-noon.  The workshop and curriculum are a collaborative effort made possible by the partnership of the Monteverde Conservation League US and the Missouri Botanical Garden.  To sign up before it gets full, email teachertraining@mobot.org.

MCLUS President on NPR

Rachel Crandell’s April 30 interview with Don Marsh on St Louis’ KWMU FM is being streamed by NPR online for the next 6 months.  Much of the hour was devoted to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.  This was wonderful exposure for our work in the forest.  To listen just click on KWMU.org.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest Sends You an Earth Day Gift!

We think of it as a gift when the rainforest occasionally reveals one of its secrets to us. Very recently some hikers crossing one of the remotest areas of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest received such a gift. They were taking a lunch break along the Rio Penas Blancas in the heart of the BEN (El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos) when a puma came to the edge of the river. Like a silent phantom it appeared and disappeared back into the forest. One of the brothers was quick enough, and had presence of mind enough, to snap this photo. Now we can all share in the gift. Puma are prevalent in this forest. We see their tracks. The forest guards know their territorial scrape marks. But they are seldom seen. To be part of the coincidence of a stealthy wild puma and human beings in the daylight in the midst of a 54,000 acre wilderness is truly a gift and a wonder. This couldn’t have happened if the BEN were not protected and maintained by our brave forest guards and the donations of our loyal supporters. The gift goes both ways. Happy Earth Day!

Frogbags Save on Plastic Waste and Raise $$ for the BEN

Katherine Phillips, one of our Student Ambassadors to the BEN in 2007, and a friend gave birth to an exciting environmentally friendly idea: personalized reusable grocery bags! In addition to providing the public with a practical product, Frogbags’ goal is to be as environmentally friendly as possible by helping reduce plastic waste. They will donate 5% of the their profits to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Frogbags will start production the middle of May. To find out how to order your Frogbag contact frogbags4you@gmail.com.

Space Available for the June 10-23 and June 22-July 5 Trips to the BEN

Still considering that long awaited trip to Costa Rica? Airfares are lower than ever right now. MCLUS trips focused on conservation with fabulous photo ops in the rainforest both have some spaces still available. Check out itinerary on mclus.org/eco-tourism/ and see if this is the trip for you. $1895 includes everything for two weeks except airfare. Ask your questions at info@mclus.org.

MCLUS Spring Talks, Festivals, Annual Meeting and Trip

April 1 Principia Lower School, Town and Country, MO
April 7 Washington University, St Louis, MO
April 8 Women’s Voices, Ethical Soc, Clayton, MO
April 12 Webster University, Webster, MO
April 16 Principia Biology Department, Town and Country, MO
April 18 Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, MO
April 18 DKG Conference, Springfield, MO
April 20 REI store, Brentwood, MO
April 23 Principia Preschool, Town and Country, MO
April 24 Our Lady of the Snows, Edwardsville, IL
April 26 Earth Day Festival, St. Louis, MO
May 11 MCLUS Annual Meeting, St Louis, MO
May 18 Wolf Branch School, Swansea, IL
May 18-27 Fox River Country Day, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Donate to the Land Purchase and Protection Campaign

Earth Day is a perfect time to send your support to the protection and expansion of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Please donate online or send your check to “MCLUS”, 1128 Weidman Rd., Town and Country, MO 63017. Thank you, and Happy Earth Day!

Bosque Para Siempre: The Collaborative Forest Forever Project

MCL and MCLUS are part of the collaborative that is working to protect and reforest Pacific slope.  Recently the U of Vermont graduate program sent well-trained students to help create a layered map showing land priorities that local biologists and members of the collaborative feel are the most important criteria for us to be saving.  Things like mitigating stream sedimentation, creating buffer zones, protecting habitat for endangered, endemic or keystone species, connectivity, distance from streams, if existing forest is primary or secondary forest.

The largely deforested Pacific slope with the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance.  Our goal is to create corridors connecting the existing patches of forest and bring back habitat for migrating species from the protected areas of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in the mountains to the gulf.

The U of VM students are defining objectives we want to include and establishing monitoring protocols.  They asked lots of questions to be sure the computer models they will make represent the needs of the collaborative in choosing the most important pieces of land to protect.

A major point of discussion was the optimal landscape design that meets the natural and social needs of the people and the wildlife while protecting forest habitat at each elevation zone and enhancing the socio-economic well being of all the communities within the corridor.

Participating Costa Rican members of the collaborative which includes the Cloud Forest Preserve, Monteverde Conservation League, and the Fundacion Conservacionista de Costariccense and the U of Georgia in San Luis.  All smiles after hearing the presentations of the U of VM folks.  A big help in planning which pieces to buy and protect.  We appreciate their dedication to making this a useful tool in our land acquisition.

“Earth” movie from Disney starts Earth Day!