Rainforest Restoration
A decade ago, the poor farmers who reside in the area were restricted to clearing rainforest and planting a small plot of corn and beans each year for their families subsistence. Once the rainforest trees were cleared, the soils quickly lost their nutrients so that the following year the farmers had to clear more rainforest to again plant a crop for their family. Year in and year out this ate away at the forest. Our macadamia orchards were planted on land previously cleared. By providing alternative jobs, farmers now have the opportunity for stable employment and no longer need to undertake the never ending task of clearing forests. However, another threat has emerged for the giant trees in this remote area.
Loggers and development began to creep into the area. The result is ongoing loss of precious forest, in an area that is home to more species than the entire North American continent north of the Rio Grande. The efforts of scientist Daniel Janzen of the University of Pennsylvania to protect this beautiful forest have resulted in school children and altruists contributing funds to acquire more and more of this critical forest so that eventually it will be added to Costa Rica's existing park system. Finca La Anita has committed to purchase one square meter of this precious rainforest for each box of macadamia nuts we sell in the United States. It is our hope that by doing this your purchases will make you proud that together we are all doing something to help preserve these incredible trees that provide life to so many species, many of which may offer potential to cure many diseases around the world.
While the Finca La Anita our orchards are surrounded by rainforest, our diverse crops require full-time care thus providing stable employment for villagers who used to have to clear rainforest each year to plant small yield crops like beans and corn to provide for their families.