Reforestation Efforts
Though much of the land that Eco Era initially purchased was still in a pristine state as primary rainforest, deforestation of significant portions had already occurred in some areas. Local people, needing to generate income to support their families began clear-cutting the forest in order to make room for cattle-grazing and cash-crop farming. As a result native animal populations had already begun to decline. Habitat fragmentation disrupted their natural breeding range causing genetic bottle-necking to occur. Tracks of native forest upon which the fauna depended on were no longer present in sufficient quantity and density to support healthy populations.
With the intention of restoring biological corridors Eco Era connected with Dr. Ranil Senanayake, a biologist and systems ecologist from Sri Lanka. We began employing his system of Analog Forestry in 1992. Analog forestry is a land-management system that reconstructs deforested land' to its original composition of tree and plant diversity so that its ecological functions are replenished. The end goal is to restore the damaged forest so it’s analogous to the original forest, hence the name Analog Forestry.
The re-vegetation design also incorporates economically viable tree and plant species that, while conforming with the local ecology, will also provide the local people with a range of products for personal consumption as well for surplus sale as marketable goods. Everything is cultivated using organic methods and the planting pattern mimics that of the local undisturbed forest so that erosion is prevented. Ideally conservation of native biodiversity is achieved while providing for the economic needs of the community and offsetting carbon.