128Canopy Blog

You are probably quite familiar with tracking chips for pets that are implanted under their skin in case they get lost or stolen, but have you heard of tracking chips for trees?  Well, Costa Rican company names GS1 has suggested the use of these tracking devices as a way to avoid illegal tree felling.

The pilot program was implemented with the creation of a biological corridor between three towns in the central valley area.  The corridor has been created with the planting of 350 trees in Tibas, Moravia and Goicoechea.  Each of these trees has had a chip implanted in order to track them in case someone cuts them down.

The organization has also included a barcode with each tree that will have the tree’s information such as its species and date it was planted.  Students from the Emma Gamboa High School as well as the University of Costa Rica and the National University participated in the planting of the trees and classifying of the trees.

The director for GS1, Guillermo Varela, stated that the plan will help assure a future for the region’s wildlife and vegetation.  The program will be closely evaluated in order to value if it can be used within other regions of the country where protected tree species are commonly found.

Varela announced that the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications will be involved in future projects and that several communities and educational centers will be trained on how to develop similar projects.

The Costa Rican Transportation Department has announced that the main road to the South Pacific region was closed over the weekend for repairs. The news comes as no surprise to locals due to excessive amount of rain that has fallen over the past few days.

The areas that are primarily affected by the closing of the road are the Zona de los Santos and Perez Zeledon. The road will remained closed from 6:00am on Friday October 24th through 5:00am on Sunday October 26th.

According to the transportation department’s announcement, the large amount of rain fall the country has experienced over the past few days caused a drainage system to overflow thus damaging the road. A new drain system will be installed over the weekend that will have the capacity to withhold larger amounts of water therefore reducing the risk of further damage to the road.

If you are planning on driving out to the South of Costa Rica this weekend, the transportation department has suggested alternative routes to use until the road is re-opened.

The first option is to take the road from Desamparados to Tarbaca and then continue to La Fila - Rio Conejo - Frailes and San Cristobal Sur until you reach the South Inter-American highway. As a second option the department has suggested to go through Desamparados to Tarbaca and continue to Rio Conejo – Los Frailes – Los Santos and emerge at the main highway.

If you are in the Central Pacific area and you are heading to Costa Rica’s South region, you may take the South Pacific Coastal Highway.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bradley Owen Smith and I am the author of the book “Costa Rica Banking & Real Estate, What Everybody Needs to Know Prior to Purchasing or Relocating”.
I will be talking to you weekly about what is happening in Costa Rica.

Lets Talk about Weather
Living in Florida, I was already accustomed to warm weather, but found the winter months too chilly for my taste. I wanted perfection. I found a country that met both my requirements for entrepreneurial spirit and perfect weather, Costa Rica fits the criteria.

I was raised in Birmingham, Michigan and have lived in Greenbay, Wisconsin, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Chicago, Illinois, Daytona, Beach Florida, and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. As a youth I hitched hiked twice across the United States both North and South. I’ve traveled to San Diego, California, Tahiti, Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Philippines, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy in search of true paradise…And Yes! I finally found it in Costa Rica as you will see in the following hour long film. Put your feet up, relax and see if you don’t also consider this to be a true.

Brad’s Top Ten Reasons to Live in Costa Rica

• No risk of recession - Costa Rica’s Credit Rating was just upgraded by Standard & Poor.
• Property values stable. Increasing and property registrars are accurate..
• Labor Cost $8.00 a day… Quarters on the dollar for construction, auto mechanics, maids, servants, and any labor intensive business.
• U.S. Friendly - American communities, dual residency encouraged.
• American Investors welcomed - Special programs available.
• Costa Rica’s currency has depreciated consistently by 12% to 14% per year against the U.S. dollar.
• CD’s here pay 4.05% the total is a nice return of 16% to 18% per year.
• Beach Condos for as low as $45K, inland homes in the $100K, and low rentals.
• Total respect for Americans, locals are friendly and ready to serve Americans.
• Lifestyle-Perfect tropical whether, beaches, volcano’s, cliffs, mountains, valley’s, jungles, surfing, boating, fishing, and wildlife galore.

I look forward to seeing you here in beautiful Costa Rica.  I would also like to meet you, just ask around for the “Loco Gringo with the Hat” and they will point you in my direction.

For further information email me by clicking here—> Brad Owen Smith