Wow! Our
Seedlings Are Starting To Look Like Real Trees!
The almost unlimited optimism that has
guided our collective vision for the eventual restoration of the
TropicRiverWoods acreage has now been tempered by a heretofore
unanticipated reality: a former tropical rainforest tract that has been previously cleared
for various farming pursuits can become rather hot, dry and reluctant to return to its
virginal fecund, green state...without some manmade intervention.
While the trip just concluded
by Paul in June, 2004 DID bring smiles of encouragement in the form of healthy seedlings
throughout the property, it was also a bit troubling. What was disconcerting were
the encounters with the unexpected dryness of the soil, yellowing (burning) of some of the
young trees' leaves and the general aridity of the area's weather patterns. June
normally produces upwards of 30 inches of rain in the Bocas del Toro region. In
2004, only about 6 inches had fallen by the time of Paul's inspection trip. Without
the clouds, the temperatures soared from "normal" mid 80's to unseasonable mid
90's. Not that good for our reforestation efforts!
Discussing the water issues,
Paul and Filiberto decided that a well must be dug and irrigation would be installed as
soon as possible to compensate for nature's shortfall. Paul said to Filiberto that
"we've all worked too much to let our dreams wither now." Filiberto agreed
and has begun the arduous task of well digging. He forecast completion of the
solar-powered irrigation project by early September. As if to thank us for our
thoughtful intervention on behalf of this fledgling forest, Mother Nature has provided
abundant rainfall as Filiberto toils on the future pozo (well.) Our trees
will be assured of steady, dependable life-giving water after the irrigation project is
completed; right now, the weather is cooperating.
What follows is a pictoral
dairy of June's TRW discoveries and progress! We hope that you'll enjoy viewing this
newest "chapter" in TRW's eternal evolution. There will be no turning
back; TRW will succeed.
Our next
scheduled Panamá trip will commence in mid November. Both rain and our new
irrigation system should encourage significant gains in tree growth at TRW.
Hopefully, we'll begin to witness the reversal in the unfortunate late 20th
Century trend of desertification in our part of Bocas del Toro Province!
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