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.

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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.

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.

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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!

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!

WONDERFUL NEWS! Children’s Eternal Rainforest LAND PURCHASE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Yuber Rodriguez, interim director of MCL, has just sent us the word! On Thursday, December 18, 2008, the Monteverde Conservation League signed a contract to buy Olger Badilla’s 115 acres and add it to the permanent protection of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. This beautiful, pristine forest touches the BEN (El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos) and is a critical addition to the preserve as it protects the headwaters of a significant river. This could never have happened without the support of all of our generous donors, children and adults alike. I will let the photographs and Yuber’s announcement describe the land and the conditions of the agreement:

Left: Olger Badilla (center) with 2 Forest Guards Right: View of primary forest from our new acquisition

Left: Olger Badilla signing the contract with MCL’s attorney  Right: Ideally situated in the Bell Bird Pacific Slope Corridor on the southern border of the BEN
Dear Friends,

On the visit to Olger Badilla’s farm, we were able to mark the area of the property using GPS, showing that its northern border is completely adjacent to that of the BEN. Its southern and eastern borders are marked by the Aranjuez River, which indicates that some of its principle springs are located on this property.  With the acquisition of this area we will obtain a better definition of the borders of the BEN through natural markers (i.e. the river), as well as block the intrusion of hunters and other dangers to the BEN.  Also, with the formalization of this transaction, we will be able to lower the asking price for the land. The negotiated price is $1,250.00 per hectare (it is the lowest offer received in the last year).

This property is located within the Bell Bird Pacific Slope Corridor, and the farm has 100% forest coverage. The first photograph shows the purchased land behind Olger Badilla (center) with two of our Forest Guards at the property’s access site.  The second photograph shows a view from Olger Badilla’s farm over the springs of the Aranjuez River.   This negotiation could potentially strengthen the relationships between the BEN and its neigbors, and will also fortify the borders of the protected area.

Sincerely…
Yuber Rodríguez S.
Monteverde Conservation League

Happy Thanksgiving!!

And Thanks to all our Children Partners
Children all across the United States have initiated different ways to raise money and awareness for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. They have worked together as school classrooms, as a student council, as home school groups, and as just individual devoted kids who banded together with a mutual love of the forest and wanted to do something to help. We, here at MCLUS, are so grateful for their efforts and creativity on behalf of the BEN (Bosque Eterno de los Niños). We can’t say “Thank you” enough. Have a great Thanksgiving being grateful that the BEN is protected and growing with support of young people!!

“Walking with Animals” home school group in New York holds an annual Bake Sale to benefit the BEN.

“The Tree Frogs” in Denver sell original Tshirts, frog necklaces, Save the Rainforest wrist bands and got their Student Council to sponsor a penny drive all to benefit the BEN.

Kids in Illinois created a beautiful quilt and got sponsors from local businesses to benefit the BEN.

First graders in Illinois sold smiles to benefit the BEN. What a great idea!

Kids use their math skills to raise money for the BEN.

The “Forever Forest Group” in Missouri made beautiful notecards from their own photos and drawings after going to the BEN to raise awareness and dollars for the BEN.

Kids selling copies of The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure at a local fair.

This young man has been contributing to the BEN since he was a little kid, selling all kinds of his invented products including Beanie Baby sleeping bags and reusable cup labels, selling “gently used” toys and books, accepting donations, organizing class fundraisers at his school, and teaching folks about the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Whenever someone gives him money as a gift, he gives part of it to the rainforest. His trip to the BEN with his family years ago inspired him to help out.

Needed: $500,000 to purchase essential next piece of land in the biological corridor.

Please donate now.