The just-completed inspection
of the TropicRiverWoods, S.A. property last month by Brad, Filiberto, Rafael, and me has
revealed a rather impressive botanically significant beginning in the transformation from
farm to forest. The black laurels (Cordia alliodora), that Filiberto had planted in
November & December, which were on average 18 inches tall, are now between 5 and 8
feet tall! These fast-growing laurel trees will stabilise the hillside with its
inherently extensive subterranean root network and very importantly, serve to shade some
of the more tender seedlings that Filiberto is nurturing at his off-site nursery.
Many tropical fruit and nut trees MUST have shade for the few years of their lives, as the
foliage will quickly desiccate, wither, and fall. The denuded seedlings will then
die, under the unrelenting tropical sun. Filiberto's effort has assured success with
our extensive planting endeavours. Truly, without his knowledge of local growing
conditions and tree husbandry in Bocas Province, our collective project would have had
many set backs and certainly would not look like it does now: a farm on the verge of
rainforest splendour; an ecosystem that is about to become healthy once again! What
follows, is a photographic record of our TropicRiverWoods project findings.
The next regularly scheduled Loma Finca Cuatro TropicRiverWoods, S.A. update will be
in mid June, 2004, when our next "wave" of planting, and current in-ground
growth progress will be photographically documented.
Paul
and Brad, Your Hosts!
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