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Oasis Reserve
By OASISFORESTS
2002-2024
Oasis Reserve, a now restored rainforest of 11 hectares nestled in the foothills of
Costa Rica’s Arenal volcano was the first property acquired by OASIS FORESTS, in 2004 as deforested and highly depleted agricultural and pastureland. It was decided to transform by attempting an intensive restoration process to return to how it was before in quality and diversity of flora in order to recreate a significant ecosystem and a sustainable income. Although a virgin forest can never be replaced, we believed that it could still be possible to recreate a forest with enough conditions to bring back a significant ecosystem in a reasonable amount of time.
Land in the beginning of the transformation, 2005
Results of Private Efforts
+12.000
Trees, palms, plants, vines, orchids and bromeliads
+350
Species planted
+100
Flora and Fauna Endangered species UICN Red List
Oasis Reserve
The Most Comprehensive Restoration Model:
Over 12.000 trees and palms, and also countless plants, vines, orchids and bromeliads were individually selected and planted to join the original fragments of forest adjacent to the rivers that were not utilized for agriculture. In total there are now more than 350 species of trees and palms of this zone and about 100 endangered species, both flora and fauna, from the IUCN Red List.
Oasis Reforestation Reserve has been transformed into a vigorous ecosystem that is home for mammals, birds (including visits from Great Green Macaws yearly since 2015), reptiles, amphibians, fish, fungi, invertebrates and is also a living seed bank.
Oasis Reforestation Reserve is already close enough to Rio Arenal that the 6 types of wildcats of Costa Rica pass through, and we have had 33 visits from white-faced monkeys from the forest fragments connected to Rio Arenal. By restoring this depleted land, it now produces its income from tourism and hosting conservation organization personnel.
Oasis Reserve clearly demonstrates that deforested, depleted agricultural and grazing land can be restored in a way that results in a significant ecosystem. For this specific project, we found that it took about 20 years to begin the project to have a complete ecosystem. Note that this project was done as time, knowledge and money permitted, and so results could have been significantly faster with dedicated, full-time resources and foreknowledge of the process. Projects like this could be replicated all over the world, creating "islands of stability" on any scale for both flora and fauna. They could serve also as centers for study, education, relaxation and encourage pride and cooperation in the communities that host them in showcasing their unique local natural attractions. They can also demonstrate the economic value of natural forest ecosystems via tourism or sustainable logging, and maybe even inspire and contribute to future very large-scale projects.
So far, 16 landowners were influenced to plant trees on their properties by the success, beauty and economic factors superior to traditional clear cutting for agriculture and grazing demonstrated by Oasis Reforestation Reserve.
Our Kingdoms
Tree Kingdom
Valuable tropical woods commonly known in the world grow here:
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Almond (Almendro Amarillo)
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Bocote (Laurel)
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Brazilian Cherry (Guapinol)
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Cristobal
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Mahogany (Caoba)
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Purpleheart (Nazareno)
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Ron-Ron (Jobillo)
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Rosewood (Cocobolo)
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Spanish Cedar (Cedro Amargo)
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Teak
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Tempisque (Danto Amarillo)
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Zapote
Some other additional exceptional quality tropical wood species, lesser known:
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Bala de Cañon
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Balsamo
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Caobilla (Cedro Macho)
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Cedro Maria
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Cenizaro
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Espavel
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Jicaro (Olla de Mono)
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Manu
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Pilon
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Roble Coral
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Roble Sabana
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Sura (Guayabon)
Rainbow colors:
The colors of the woods that grow here are like a rainbow: reddish, orange, pink, yellow, olive, purple and black.
We grow trees with among the hardest and softest woods known on the planet. The wood of Guayacan Real is so hard and dense that it sinks in water, while the wood of the well-known Balsa Wood tree is so light that it is used in real and model airplanes.
The tree known locally as Sura, or Guayabon, has a very smooth, tan-colored trunk and periodically sheds its thin bark just like a snake sheds its skin. This method is extremely efficient to shed all climbing vines which might otherwise hinder growth or kill the tree. As a result, trees of this type have a high survival rate and grow quickly to an enormous size.
Few of a kind:
Unfortunately even types of trees have become rare or in danger of extinction, Oasis Reforestation Reserve has about 24 species of this type, and we hope they can serve in the future to preserve the species:
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Areno
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Bala de cañon
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Balsamo (small leaves)
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Balsamo (larger leaves)
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Camíbar
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Cativo
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Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)
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Cocobolo de San Carlos (Vatairea erythrorcarpa)
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Cola de Pavo
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Cristobal
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Guapinol
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Guayacan Real
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Jícaro de Danta del Volcan Tenorio
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Manu
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Manu platano
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Nazareno
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Ojoche (B. Alicastrum)
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Olla de Mono
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Pilon
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Pinillo
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Tabacón
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Tamarindo (Dialium guianense)
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Tempisque (Danto Amarillo)
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Tostado
One of the biggest and main plantations of Ojoche tree:
The "Ojoche" tree (Brosimum alicastrum) is also nick-named the "Maya breadnut tree" because it bears a nut so high in nutrients that the Mayan Indians used it to survive on when their crop of corn failed. The nut can be eaten as-is, or boiled or roasted or even made into flour. Also it can be roasted and used just like coffee! The taste is very similar to coffee with a hint of chocolate. Planted anew in the forest, this tree supposedly takes 18-25 years to bear fruit, so it is lucky that there were already giant trees on the land. In fact, we have identified 8 species of Ojoche (Brosimum spp.), all of which produce edible seeds here. In total we planted 108 seedlings of B. Alicastrum beginning in 2006 and of those about half are still alive are strong… but none of the planted ones have yet produced seeds.
Breadfruit tree:
The Breadfruit tree was the reason for treason in the well-known story "Mutiny on the Bounty". Captain Bligh used the fresh water to sustain the thousand saplings rather than his crew! Our original breadfruit tree was killed by a lightning strike and we had to replant. This type of tree is difficult to “take”, and it took several tries but now we have five. This tree species produces an enormous supply of delicious and nutritious food for humans and animals - about 100-200 fruits per year, up to 6 kg each - yet they require no maintenance.
Chanel No. 5 as natural perfume in the forest:
The Ylang-Ylang tree, one of the few non-native trees here, yields an oil that is used to make Chanel No. 5 perfume. In the early years of this project, some evenings when the wind was blowing right the forest smelled like this perfume! Now most are gone because they have been naturally reduced greatly in numbers because they are not native to this type of forest.
One of a kind:
A handful of tree species are unique here. Only some are in danger of extinction but all are difficult to obtain. As there are other rare species which we do not have at all, we feel lucky to have one of each of the following types. With luck each will eventually produce seeds and reproduce:
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Alma Negra
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Balsamo (small leaves)
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Balsamo (larger leaves)
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Cafe de Palo
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Jamaica
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Cucaracho
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Jorco (Monkey fruit)
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Kinocola
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Macadamia
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Mangosteen
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Vaco/Lechoso (Brosimum utile)
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Yema de huevo
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Nuez moscada (nutmeg)
Tallest tree species in the world are in Oasis Reforestation Reserve:
A tree species among the tallest in the world is native to this area. The Ceiba tree can exceed 80 meters in height and three meters in diameter. The largest Ceiba tree here is relatively young at just over 2 meters in diameter. Its seeds have spread and there are younger ones that are already sizable.
One species of fish in the stream is vegetarian and their favorite food is figs! It was with excitement that new strangler fig trees were noticed growing on top of trees near the river in 2013.
The 8 national trees of the 7 Central American countries grow on Oasis Reserve:
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Mahogany (Belize)
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Ceiba (Guatemala)
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Roble Sabana and Balsamo (El Salvador)
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Pine tree (Honduras)
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Madroño (Nicaragua)
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Guanacaste (Costa Rica)
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Panama (Panama)
Almendro and Great Green Macaws:
One species of tree, Almendro (Almond) de Lapa, bears fruits that are associated with at least 60 species of birds, mammals and insects! The wood of Almendro is so hard to cut that it requires a diamond-tipped saw. It is currently prohibited to cut this tree in Costa Rica because it is the home and major food source for the endangered Great Green Macaw and Red Macaw.
Time traveler!
To serve as a home for the Green or Red Macaw, a tree of Almendro de Lapa (Almendro Amarillo and Almendro Rojo) must be hundreds of years old - old enough for large branches to fall off and create caverns inside the tree. This species can live for over 600 years, and there are trees estimated to be about this age on the sister property of Oasis Reforestation Reserve (Oasis Virgin Reserve). They would have been seedlings in the 1400's. The Almendro trees we planted on Oasis Reforestation Reserve have the potential to live into the 2600's. And since these planted trees are already heavily producing fruits which are sprouting, their existence here has the potential to be perpetual once again as it was from the beginning of their existence until about 1966.
Fruit trees from A to Z!
Tropical climate is a favorite for well-known and lesser-known varieties, with the following list being only a sample of what types grow here:
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Anona (custard apple) three types
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Avocado
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Banana (5 types)
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Caimito
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Carambola (star fruit)
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Coconut (yellow and green types)
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Grapefruit
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Guanabana
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Guava
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Guayaba araza
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Lemon (several types)
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Mangosteen
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Marañon (cashew)
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Manzana de agua
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Manzana rosa
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Orange
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Papaya
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Platano
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Sonzapote
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Surinam cherry (Pitanga)
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Zapote
Fun tree names!
As opposed to the serious tree names of North America, Costa Rica has entertaining, descriptive and in some case baffling local names:
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Alma Negra - Black soul
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Ardilla - Squirrel
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Bala de cañon - Cannonball
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Cola de Pavo -Turkey tail
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Espavel -In order to see
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Indio Desnudo - Naked indian
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Lagarto Amarillo - Yellow lizard
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Matapulgas - Flea killer
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Matrimonio - Matrimony
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Olla de Mono - Monkey pot
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Peine de Mico - Monkey's comb
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Tostado - Toasted
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Vaco, Lechoso - Cow, milky
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Zapatero -Hoemaker
Two tree types that are naturally among the most abundant on Oasis Reforestation Reserve are Cedro Amargo (Spanish Cedar, or literally "bitter cedar") and Laurel. It is fortunate that both are excellent quality building material, because the construction on Oasis is Reforestation Reserve of these two types of wood that were harvested carefully from the forest.
Milky sap!
There are several tree species on Oasis Reforestation Reserve which produce lots of milky sap. One is called "the cow tree" because it produces so much. Another species was the very first type of tree to be used to make natural rubber. Indigenous people used to let this sap dry in sheets to use for a raincoat. Yet another is used to make natural rubber and also chewing gum!
Genetic diversity is fundamental!
Whenever possible, when introducing a new tree species to Oasis Reforestation Reserve, we obtained specimens from different locations so that there was a large chance that the trees were not related. We feel this genetic diversity will make future generations stronger.
Bloody Tree?
The tree locally called Targua has sap that is the color and consistency of blood! The sap of the "Dragon's Blood" tree is used medicinally for its wound-healing and antiviral properties. I happened to have cut my finger badly while being a long way from help but in the vicinity of this tree, and the sap did help to stem the bleeding significantly.
Living fence posts? What a surprise it was to learn of the approximately half-dozen tree types and many cane types that can grow by simply planting a thick branch. Utilizing these, all the fencing around Oasis Reforestation Reserve is alive! Not only are the fence posts free, they also contribute to the overall natural diversity.
Bala de cañón:
The "Cannonball Tree" (bala de cañon) bears hundreds of large and showy pink flowers that grow on stalks surrounding its trunk, which turn into fruits the size and weight of cannonballs and smell like chocolate cake! This type of tree is frequently planted near Bhuddist temples in Asia. This is one of the types of tree from which a branch can be planted and used as a living fencepost, and the wood is of excellent quality too.
Armored trees!
The trunks of 7 type of trees and palms here - the Ceiba, Pochote, Javillo, Lagarto, 2 species of Pejibaye and the Coyol palm- are covered with thousands upon thousands of very sharp thorns, probably having evolved this way as a deterrent to climbing animals who would otherwise cause damage to the trees. If you are hiking through a rainforest, it is advisable to look before using a tree to steady yourself.
Chocolate!
Here, in our forest, are four types of cacao native to this zone: the typical cacao widely grown for chocolate, but also three little-known and endangered “wild” types. All four serve as an important food source for the fauna, and due to this we planted a lot of them and now all four types are regenerating naturally. The types, for now, are:
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“Normal” cacao - Theobroma cacao
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Cacao Pataste - Theobroma bicolor
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Cacao blanco - Theobroma grandiflorum
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Cacao de mono - Herrania purpurea
More info of our Cacao project
Palm Kingdom
Home for prehistoric palm:
3 species of palms, family Zamia, that date back to prehistoric times are here. There is a large volcanic boulder on Oasis Reforestation Reserve that can only have come from nearby volcano Arenal, although the volcano's crater is six kilometers away! Arenal explosively erupted for the first time in modern history in 1968, and has been venting somewhat regularly ever since.
The fundamental role of palms for an ecosystem:
Palms (family Aracaceae) are a fundamental part of a tropical rainforest. They form a massive part of the understory flora - for lowland tropical forest palms have the most stems per hectare - and some species even emerge from the forest canopy. Palms produce very large amounts of food because they are copious seed-producers, and due to this palms are absolutely fundamental to the ecosystem. Although there are 109 types of palms in all 12 Holdridge life zones of Costa Rica, only about 40 types are native or naturalized to the zone containing here. So far we can distinguish 36 types of palms at Oasis Reforestation Reserve, with all but a few types being reintroduced, and they now number in the many thousands and are increasing exponentially.
Palm nursery:
In 2023 it was finally fully understood the fundamental importance of palms to the entire ecosystem, and that with all the good number of tree nurseries around Costa Rica, there is no equivalent palm nursery to obtain large numbers of palms for reforestations. It was therefore decided to create a palm nursery for the approximately 40 native and naturalized types of lowland palms. Thus began a long task to obtain seeds from other lowland forests. This project not only uses bags but we use the entire forest as a “living palm vivero”.
Endangered of Extintion: Suita
One very interesting type of palm is called “Suita” (Asterogyne martiana). This type can grow to about 2 meters and used to be so common that people used the leaves to make the roofs of their houses, but now it is in danger of extinction due to deforestation for agriculture, pasture and human habitat. In 2004 when the first large parts of Oasis Reforestation Reserve, we had only one Suita palm! We purchased a few more, obtained others locally, spread the seeds of our single mature example and were gifted a bag of seeds. After one year, we saw that about 60 of the gifted seeds sprouted! Now a good number that we planted are producing seeds and so this palm type is now reproducing naturally again here. We are now easily past 1,000 examples of this species distributed throughout the forest, and since they are from different sources it is a genetically diverse group. Also interesting is that we discovered what appears to be a new type of Suita with darker leaves. Just we have two of them and they are still small, so we will see how they look when they grow bigger.
More info of our Palm project HERE
More species:
How about orchids?
There were a few species of orchids in the original fragments of this rainforest, but the number has increased dramatically thanks to a Costa Rican neighbor whose specialty and passion is orchids. Her generosity allows these rare types a safe place to live and reproduce and therefore preserve themselves.
Bromeliads:
Looking generally like the top of a pineapple attached to the sides and branches of trees, bromeliads are a fundamental part of the understory of a tropical forest. Lizards and frogs develop inside these plants because they hold water. This type of plant is an excellent example of something fundamental to the forest ecosystem that arrives and grows by itself in the millions and in dozens of types, but only once there is a forest of sufficient size in place.
Mammal Kingdom
Forest or smorgasbord?
Many people see a forest as a collection of trees, vines and plants. The animals see a huge variety of food and shelter, and luckily now there is enough food in both variety and quantity to allow many species to live and breed. As with your pet cat or dog, wild animals just want a comfortable, peaceful and safe place to live.
6 wild felines frequent here:
All 6 species of wild felines visit. To us it shows how worthwhile it was to have done all this work. Sadly, all six species are endangered: Jaguar, Puma, Jaguarundi, Ocelot, Margay, Oncilla.
33 types of mammals have been identified to live on or frequent here:
14 species with reduced populations or endangered species in Costa Rica
Monkey business!
Back in 2004, when this land was nearly barren, a small band of howler monkeys would visit occasionally as they made their way up and down the river since around the river were enough trees for them. It was a race against time to see if we could make Oasis Reforestation Reserve their home. It worked! The monkeys now stay inside this little forest because there is safety and plenty of food. And now they are reproducing as well. It is a feeling that never gets old to be awakened daily by the calls of howler monkeys! Now, since August 2021, we even have a second type of monkey here - the White-Faced Monkey (Mono cara blanca)! They migrated a long distance from the large river, probably because they detected a large food supply in Reserve here.
Bird Kingdom
Jurassic Park… because birds descended from dinosaurs!
Birds that live here or pass through include:
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Baltimore oriole
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Black-throated trogan
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Blue-crowned motmot
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Brown magpies
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Chachalaca
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Clay-colored thrush (national bird of Costa Rica)
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Gavilan blanco
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Great green macaw (Lapa verde)
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Green honeycreeper
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Hummingbirds (about four types including one that is as small as a bumblebee)
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Kiskadee
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Masked tityra
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Nightjar
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Oropendola
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Owls
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Parrots
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Parakeets
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Red macaw (Lapa roja)
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Sleeping flycatcher
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Squirrel cuckoo
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Toucan (three types)
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White-collared manakin (makes sharp clicking sounds)
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Wood thrush
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Woodpecker (several types)
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Yellow-crowned euphonia
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Zopilote
Intelligent birds!
Despite this land being over 90% deforested for decades, the new trees of Almendro planted here have attracted endangered Great Green Macaws annually beginning in December 2015. They stay for about 2 weeks, eating and playing and being very loud and rowdy! We find it amazing that they somehow found this little island of forest and now remember it and return yearly. These birds have also been noted to eat the seeds of Javillo, Almendro de la Playa, and Teak here on the property.
Bats and vampire bats in Oasis Reserve?
There are 116 species of bats documented in Costa Rica, out of about 925 types known in the world. How many types live on Oasis Reserve? We don't know yet, but In La Selva biological station they documented 72 species of bats, so it is probably similar here. We do know that one species we have is the vampire bat! At about 5:55 p.m. the bats come out and you can enjoy watching them as they zoom through the forest and come so close to you that you can hear the sound from their wings and feel the air move - but they will never touch you! Also you will see their interesting camp-type structures built in the palm trees of our forests and below these the living nurseries of trees that they leave in their wake.
Snake Kingdom
World´s most well-known and deadliest snakes!
Some of the world's most well-known and deadliest snakes visit and live in this Oasis. Despite this, no one has ever been bitten. We do try to keep to the trails, though, and so should you if you visit. These are the snakes we've seen:
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Blunt-headed tree snake
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Boa constrictor
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Bocaraca (both Green and Yellow)
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Cat-eyed snake
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Coffee snake
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Coral snake
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Coral snake (false)
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Eye-lash Viper snake
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Mica
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Terciopelo (Fer-de-Lance)
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False terciopelo
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Zopilota (predator of terciopelos)
Other critters not yet mentioned that are on Oasis Reserve:
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Cane toad
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Emerald basilisk lizard (Jesus Christ Lizard)
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Iguana
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Leaf litter toad
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Litter skink
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Slender brown anole (lizard)
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South American snapping turtle
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Yellow-eared slider turtle
Frog Kingdom
There are over 5,000 species of frogs in the world and the majority of them live in tropical rainforests. Here we have many types including the most colorful species and we are very lucky to have them because although they are not endangered species overall, they were locally uncommon prior to the reforestation. We built 8 small ponds and many more consisting of groups of bromeliads specifically to assist the populations of frogs, and this breeding effort has been very successful for all frogs including. Have been identified 10 species:
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Black-and-green poison dart frog
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Blue-jeans frog (strawberry poison dart frog)
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Bullfrog
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Rain frog
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Red-eyed tree frog
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Robber frog
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Saveges foam frog
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Tawny tree frog
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Tink frog
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Glass frog
Soil and Fungus Kingdom
This immediate area of Costa Rica is reputed to have the very best soil in the entire country. This appears to be true, with trees growing up to four meters per year in height and the regeneration of the forest having happened so quickly.
We here have learned from the processes Indians used thousands of years ago to create "Terra Preta", which is an extremely fertile soil. We recycle everything we use here, minimize any use of plastic products, and during many years of planting we made organic fertilizer by utilizing cow manure and worms. Since the forest became mature, we stopped the process to make organic fertilizer, but we still use both cow and chicken manure when it is available but this is generally just for the gardens.
Mycorrhizae, My what?
Fungi in mycorrhizae form a complex mutualistic relationship with the roots of most plant and tree species. More scientifically are symbiotic relationships that form between fungi and the plants. The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant, providing increased water and nutrient absorption capabilities while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates formed from photosynthesis.
This is a complicated way of saying that this type of fungi is essential to the good health of a rainforest ecosystem because it increases the effective surface area of the roots of plants and trees by 100 to 1,000 percent. Supposedly it also allows for communication between all the flora.
Some interesting fungus that have seen here are:
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Hongo velo de novia or del Bambú (Phallus indusiatus), october-november
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Hongo Copa de Vino (Cookeina speciosa)
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Hongo rosa
Can you hear me now? There is some thought in scientific circles that trees and plants communicate. Perhaps this is via chemicals released by them or with the help of the mycorrhizae network. After nearly two decades of research and experience inside tropical forests, we believe it is true and that one day it will be confirmed. As we all know time is relative, as is the speed at which humans communicate and exist as compared to other life forms.
Insect Kingdom
Meet The Beetles!
One of the world's largest species of beetles lives on Oasis Reserve. An adult Hercules beetle can cover an adult human hand.
The bees knees:
We never realized how many different types and sizes of bees and wasps there were in an ecosystem. With the presence of at least 350 types of trees and countless types of vines, flowers, bromeliads, orchids, etc., the number of types that live here is astounding. Of course here we do no spray chemicals and so this is an Oasis for them.
Butterflies are abundant here, and we encourage a healthy population by reintroducing lots of native plants that attract them to feed and breed. One of the most impressive to see is the iridescent blue Morpho butterfly; they are quite common now and they like to eat Papaya.
Empire of the Ants!
Leaf-cutter ants form colonies that take up many square meters of forest floor, and can strip an entire tree of leaves in a surprisingly short time. We steer clear of these and other species of ants after having had a sample of their bites. As disagreeable as they may seem at times, the ants play a pivotal role in recycling soil, composting and creating light areas in the forest.
Termite nests, generally found built on the side of a tree, are very common on Oasis Reforestation Reserve. We used to be concerned about this until we realized that they are a fundamental part of the cycle of life in a rainforest. These termites, along with the enormous number of ants, provide food for the birds and anteaters and also recycle the soil. Termites are also edible to humans - a source of protein and calories if you were lost in the woods. In 2021 we noticed many termite nests were removed from trees and had big holes in them from some large animal, presumably an anteater (note: this was confirmed).
Crops Kingdom
Just 3% of Oasis Reforestation Reserve is used for occasional agriculture to showcase typical
Costa Rican crops. What can be grown in this area?
Anise, Bananas, Barley, Basil, Beans (Black beans, Red beans, Butter beans, Pigeon pea), Camote (sweet potatoes), Cantaloupe (melon), Cardamom, Celery, Chayote, Chili (hot and sweet), Cilantro, Coffee, Corn, Cucumbers, Dragon fruit, Flor de Itabo (yucca), Ginger, Hierba buena, Lemon grass, Lettuce, Malanga, Mint, Okra, Oregano, Papas (a type of potato on a vine and also in the soil), Papaya, Peppers (green and red), Pepper (table pepper), Pineapple, Platanos, Radishes, Rice, Spinach, Squash (ayote), Sugarcane, Tiquisque, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Yuca.
Go bananas!
Oasis Reserve hosts 5 different types of bananas and one type of Plátano. When a racimo of Bananas or Plátanos is mature, the fauna go crazy to eat it! Birds of all types, butterflies, moths, raccoons, opossums, armadillos all visit and then the snakes and owls to prey upon them. Even woodpeckers seem to prefer eating the sweet bananas versus banging their heads into trees in the hopes of discovering a meal. We ensure that some Bananas or Plátanos are left hanging for the birds and some are on the ground for the animals.
We grow and occasionally process our own coffee on Oasis Reserve. Traditionally, the type of coffee grown at high altitude is considered to be of higher quality but we think that our home-grown coffee tastes pretty good!
Strange plants!
There is a plant here called "the magic plant" that, after it is chewed, makes everything - even an onion - taste sweet. Another plant is called the "anesthesia plant" that numbs your mouth so that you have trouble speaking for a little while.
Jungle spice!
The rainforest is a source of spices you might not expect such as:
Anise (a plant), Asil (a plant), Cardamom (a plant), Cilantro (a plant), Cinnamon (a tree), Cocoa (a tree), Ginger (a root), Lemon grass (a grass), Mint (a bush), Nutmeg (a tree), Oregano (a bush), Sugarcane (a grass), Table pepper (a vine), Turmeric (a plant) and Vanilla (an orchid)
Seed rain!
Once the rainforest began to grow and nature took over, the increase in diversity began to increase exponentially. Thousands upon thousands of seedlings continuously blanket the forest floor. We frequently notice new species of trees, palms, plants, epiphytes and more.
Bamboo:
Much more common in the rainforest than most people think. Costa Rica has about 40 species of woody bamboo belonging to 8 genera. In addition to this are other non-woody types of bamboo. On Oasis Reforestation Reserve are several types including a larger, green woody type that is used for construction and also a thinner type called Caña hueca. The various types serve not only for construction, but for dense protective habitat.
Food from the forests:
More information of this Paradise
How's the temperature?
It is not as hot as you might imagine, with the average high/low temperatures during the year being 85F/70F. Also there is a huge difference between the temperature under the forest canopy vs. out in an open field. Anyone who has experienced this drastic difference gets a pretty good idea about the effect of deforestation on the planet.
So how much rain does this rainforest get, anyway?
Oasis Reforestation Reserve receives about 3.5 meters (138 inches) per year, with the rainy season generally between May and November although it does rain occasionally during the dry season too. Many times the rain starts in the afternoon and continues at night, so even in the rainy season you can usually get in a full day's activity before it starts and then enjoy the sound of the rain on the typical tin roofs while you eat and sleep. If you are caught outside in the rain, giant Banana or Platano leaves provide 100% protection!
The four seasons?
No, the tropics has two seasons - dry season and wet season. The dry season generally lasts from December to April and the rainy season, from May to November.
Go native?
Why do we have any non-native trees or plants at all if we are trying to recreate a natural forest of this region? Many species that are thought to be "native" to Costa Rica are in fact introduced and have naturalized. We grow a few of these such as coconuts and bananas as well as some tree species such as Teak and breadnut because they have proven to be valuable food sources for a wide variety of animals. And besides, who could picture a monkey without a banana?
Who maintains this forest?
You might wonder how many people worked to reforest Oasis Reserve. Believe it or not, only two of us - one Costa Rican and the owner - did nearly all of the planting, maintenance, gardening, etc. Between 2014 and 2016 we had two pairs of volunteers, and in 2023 we had one volunteer. The labor increased, but afterwards went back to two people.
Life zones:
There are 12 distinct "life zones" in Costa Rica, which is amazing diversity for such a small country, and it is estimated they contain 2% of the world's diversity. Oasis Reforestation Reserve is considered to be "pre-montane bosque humido" (pre-mountain humid forest) due to its amount of rainfall, temperature and altitude (169 meters above sea level).
May the force be with you!
Walking through the forest (forest bathing) is very relaxing. Studies show that it significantly increases vigor and decreases anxiety, depression and anger levels. It also appears to significantly increase the activity of people's natural killer (NK) cells, a component of the immune system that fights cancer, likely by breathing in air containing antimicrobial volatile organic compounds emitted from trees.
The Simple Life!
Living day-to-day in a forest like Oasis Reserve - growing your own food, enriching the forest, laboring to maintain the borders - is not only generally relaxing, but leads to an entirely new rhythm of life than with a conventional job. One tends to rise with the sun (without an alarm...ok but sometimes via howler monkey!) and go to bed exhausted but satisfied soon after the sun sets. It is a peaceful, simple, healthy and fulfilling way of life.
Medicine man!
We had a special garden devoted to medicinal plants and trees from 2011 - 2018 and now we simply let the varieties that are local survive and breed in the forest. We learn some local knowledge about this esoteric subject.
Natural spa:
In 2016 it was discovered that the entire length of the waterway that bisects Oasis Reserve is comprised mostly of different types of natural clay from the volcanic eruption of 1968. The quality is fantastic and varies in color from light gray to brown, smoothness and amount of sand. It is one place to enjoy your entire spa treatment!
Natural Island:
Oasis Reforestation Reserve has an island with a natural bridge to it! A portion of land where the two large streams converge is virtually cut off from the rest of the property. It is located between the Río Chorros and Río Danta.