Teca
It’s impossible not to notice the signs for teca (teak) as you drive in Guanacaste. Teak Forest for Sale, Se vende semillas de teca, Se Compra Teca, Teak Furniture For Sale. The teak trees are planted in neat rows, close together, but most of them don’t look well, the leaves are very dry. I don’t remember seeing teca growing up here and after investigating, find out teak was introduced to Costa Rica around 1940 but it wasn’t until the late 80s, early 90s, that teak plantations were promoted by the government. The government touted teak planting as part of the country’s commitment to reforestation while companies promoted teak plantations as a great investment, oftentimes tricking investors with exaggerated claims of quick returns. The result is abandoned fields of teak trees that look out of place and void of wildlife. Environmentalists, needless to say, are not happy with the farming of teak. Teak trees soak up too much water and since they are not an indigenous species, they don’t provide a suitable habitat to native animals. Costa Rica boasts itself as the ecological destination, of being eco-friendly with its large park system and reforestation efforts, but tree farming is not true reforestation. Sadly, only about 20% of the country is still virgin forest. And with land development ever increasing (thanks to ecotourism), that percentage will most likely continue to diminish.
Thursday, January 22, 2009