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.