NECTANDRA INSTITUTE

Outreach and education program: Outreach and education efforts were directed primarily to rural communities of Costa Rica's upper Balsa River watershed. Nectandra Institute worked closely with a consortium of local community watershed management associations on efforts aimed at improving protection for the watershed forests and water resources, including co-organizing and sponsoring an annual "New culture of Water" month. Through these activities, Nectandra Institute and our community partners build public awareness for watershed protection through a series of educational, recreational and entertainment activities. During the year, we hold workshops and training sessions on topics such as conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental stewardship. Outreach efforts also include online videos, images and information.

Conservation, Restoration and Advocacy programs: Restoration and conservation efforts continued on lands totalling 570 acres purchased by local community organizations with eco-loans from Nectandra Institute. During 2022, we co-ordinated over 862 person-hours of restoration and monitoring work, including tree planting, measuring tree growth, monitoring the water volume flowing from springs and in streams, and photo documentation of forest restoration progress. Conservation of lands acquired through Nectandra Institute eco-loans has improved the protection of the sources of drinking water for ca. 16000 people. Additional conservation work continued on 40 acres of land owned by Nectandra Institute. We increased participation with other regional and national organizations to exchange topical information including the inter-institutional commission for the Paseo de Nubes bio-corridor, which exists to strengthen the biological connectivity between Juan Castro Blanco National Park and the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Preserve--a species and endemism hotspot, and CONAFLU, a national confederation of water management associations in Costa Rica.