About the Association
A Long History of Success
The Esquinas Rainforest in Costa Rica is a 159 km² lowland rainforest on the Pacific coast of Central America, which is among the most biodiverse forests on Earth. With up to 180 tree species per hectare and a variety of endangered animal species such as wild cats, monkeys, macaws, and tapirs, this forest faced threats, even though it had already been declared the Piedras Blancas National Park in 1991.
The Rainforest of the Austrians Association, founded in 1991 by Prof. Michael Schnitzler, purchased over 4,000 hectares of this area with donations in its first 25 years and donated it to the Costa Rican National Park Administration. As a result, most of the area is now protected, and the forest is considered saved. For long-term protection, rangers were hired, endangered species were reintroduced, a research station was established, a sustainable eco-lodge was opened, and regional development aid was integrated.
But it continues!
Since 2010, the association has supported the La Gamba Tropical Station with land purchases and reforestation efforts in the COBIGA Biological Corridor, which aims to connect the lowland rainforest of Piedras Blancas National Park with the mountain rainforests of the nearby Fila Cruces mountains. This ensures that the animals, plants, and other living creatures of the rainforest have the opportunity to migrate.
The Association's History
A Timeline of Key Milestones
Founding of the Rainforest of the Austrians Association by Michael Schnitzler
Start of the association's activities. Purchase of privately owned primary forest areas using donations. By 2014, 40 plots of land (a total of almost 4,000 hectares) had been acquired, protecting a quarter of the Piedras Blancas National Park area.
Purchase of an old farmhouse (in the immediate vicinity of the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge) as a base for tropical research by the University of Vienna. Within a few years, the La Gamba Tropical Station became an internationally recognized research station.
Construction of the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, after the Rainforest of the Austrians Association was commissioned by Austrian Development Cooperation to manage this ecotourism project.
Start of cooperation with Zoo Ave for a reintroduction project for the Scarlet Macaw, which created a viable population in the region by 2008. The costs amounted to €43,600.
Handover of the La Gamba Tropical Station to the Association for the Promotion of the La Gamba Tropical Station. Since 2011, the Tropical Station has been a research, teaching, and training institution of the University of Vienna.
Start of cooperation with the administration of Piedras Blancas National Park, where the Rainforest of the Austrians Association annually pays two ranger salaries.
Start of cooperation with the Fundacion Corcovado for the protection of various species of sea turtles
Funding of a park ranger station for Piedras Blancas National Park in La Gamba
Beginning of support for the La Gamba Tropical Station in establishing a biological corridor (COBIGA Project, Corredór Biológioco La Gamba), which aims to reconnect the existing coastal and mountain rainforests of Fila Cruces.
Cooperation with the species protection organizations Yaguará, Pro Felis, and Osa Conservation with the goal of securing the wild cat population in southern Costa Rica (Osa Peninsula, Rainforest of the Austrians) through targeted measures. By 2014, the work of these organizations had been supported with a total of €50,500.
72% of the 151 square kilometer Esquinas Rainforest has been purchased and integrated into Piedras Blancas National Park. The remaining properties are not threatened by deforestation. Thus, the Esquinas forest is considered protected.
The association focuses on the COBIGA project, which aims to connect the lowland rainforest in the National Park with the mountain rainforests of Fila Cruz. So far, the purchase of 15 plots of land and their reforestation with more than 60,000 trees from over 200 different tree species have been (co-)financed.
Association founder Michael Schnitzler hands over the position of association chairman to his long-time companion Dr. Anton Weissenhofer (La Gamba Tropical Station, University of Vienna).
