tions. It focused on buffer zone management around
the Monteverde Reserve Complex, particularly the
protection of forest fragments on farms that research-
ers had deemed important for altitudinal migrations
of birds and butterflies. Researchers, environmental
educators, and extensionists worked with 42 farmers
to protect fragments with fences, encourage refor-
estation with native species to create corridors that
linked the fragments with larger protected areas, and
protect water caption locations and the banks of water
courses. New government incentives, consisting of
forest certificates that provide $50/ha yearly, were
available to farmers who protected forests with fenc-
ing and agreed not to cut or use that forest (F. Joyce,
pers. comm.). In 1995 and 1996, 260 ha of forest frag-
ments were protected. The project promoted sustain-
able use of forests in buffer zones by stressing the
economic and ecosystem benefits forests provide
(MCL Tapir Tracks, vol. 9, no. 1,1994, Guindon 1996,
MCL Annual Report 1998, E. Arevalo and C. Guindon,
pers. comm.). This reflected a larger scale shift among
conservationists in the general approach of restora-
tion and rehabilitation of watersheds.
The MCL, ACA, and the Ministerio de Agricultura
y Ganaderia (MAG) cooperated on a grant from the
Dutch government in 1995 for sustainable develop-
ment and watershed rehabilitation in the La Tigra area.
The project supported research on water pollution,
land-use capacity, and biodiversity conservation. It
also worked on reforestation, soil improvement with
emphasis on organic fertilizers, involvement of women
in tree nurseries and organic gardening, and environ-
mental education in local schools (MCL Tapir Tracks,
vol. 10, no. 1,1995; Y. Morales, pers. comm.). A three-
year project (funded by WWF-Holland) synthesizing
elements of the Forests on Farms and the La Tigra
projects began on the Atlantic side of BEN in 1996
(MCL Annual Report 1997, E. Arevalo, pers. comm.).
10.4.4. Recent Directions
In 1994, MCL created a biological research program for
BEN at the urging of biologists. They hired a research
coordinator to promote and facilitate research and in-
formation flow in BEN and nearby areas (F. Joyce, pers.
comm.). Previous research in BEN included a 1991
rapid biological assessment of the Poco Sol area (MCL
Tapir Tracks, vol. 6, no. 1,1991) and a few individual
studies. The MCL operates two field stations in BEN,
San Gerardo (see Boll, "San Gerardo," pp. 380-381) and
Poco Sol (MCL Tapir Tracks, vol. 10, no. 1, 1995). In
1994, the MCL sponsored its first scientific symposium,
"Altitudinal Migrations in Tropical Forests," in coop-
eration with TSC and ACA at the San Gerardo station
(E. Arevalo, pers. comm.). Biologists from the MCL car-ried out ecological studies on Bare-necked Umbrella
birds in 1997-1998, with a grant from the British Em-
bassy (MCL Annual Report 1997, 1998).
By 1994, MCL developed economic problems be-
cause the original debt-for-nature swap and several
major grants ran out of funds and contributions were
still earmarked for land purchase. "The League was
forced to cut back its operations because its income
was not keeping up with costs. This predicament oc-
curred in part because MCL's board and staff had not
developed the ability to obtain the financial re-
sources needed to continue operating at the same
level" (F. Joyce, pers. comm.). The MCL was reorga-
nized and personnel cut sharply (MC Annual Report
1995; R. Sheck, pers. comm.). In 1995, publication of
Tapir Tracks ceased. New statutes for the MCL were
adopted (MCL 1996), and a building in Cerro Piano
was purchased for its offices in 1996. Since then, it
has been successful in obtaining grants to support
projects. Since 1997, MCL has taken a leadership role
in the new Costa Rican Network of Private Reserves
and in the Costa Rican Federation of Environmental
Organizations, which are lobbying the government for
changes in environmental laws and policies. In 1997,
MCL began to get Costa Rican government Forest Pro-
tection Certificates and funds for a small portion of
BEN. The MCL signed a landmark agreement in 1998
with a private hydroelectric company to receive up
to $30,000 per year for 99 years for watershed pro-
tection by BEN (MCL Annual Report, 1997, 1998;
E. Arevalo, F. Joyce, and S. Murillo, pers. comm.). The
MCL requires at least $250,000 a year to cover basic
operations, and much more to include environmen-
tal education and reforestation (F. Joyce pers. comm.).10.5. Santa Elena High School
Cloud Forest ReserveThe highest elevation reserve (1700 m) in the Monte-
verde Reserve Complex is the SER. It opened in 1992
and is located off an unpaved road 6 km north of the
town of Santa Elena (Fig. 1.7). The SER's 310 ha con-
sist of 80% primary and 20% secondary forest. It bor-
ders BEN and is part of the Arenal-Monteverde Pro-
tected Zone in ACA. The SER has become a popular
tourist destination and is involved in environmental
education. It was the first Costa Rican reserve
in which the government leased property to a high
school for an ecotourism project.
Originally, SER was part of government-owned
land available for homesteading, and a private farm
was established there. The farm became part of the
Arenal Forest Reserve in 1977. Legal irregularities led
to government expropriation, and in 1982 DGF gave367 Conservation in the Monteverde Zone