| The just-completed
inspection of the TropicRiverWoods, S.A. property last month by Brad, Filiberto, John
Carlos, 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, Your Host!
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