Las Casas de la Selva is a 1000 acre conservation, sustainable forestry & rainforest enrichment project managed by Tropic Ventures and Tropic Ventures Educational & Research Foundation. This area provides a protected habitat for Puerto Rican native flora and fauna– serving as a long-term study site for research and a platform for civic engagement in the areas of ecology, botany, forestry, horticulture, soil, ethnobotany and other related environmental disciplines.
Pillars of Success
All of our projects are based on these three interweaving Pillars.
About Las Casas
The aim of the project is to research and demonstrate the economic use of rainforest land using methods that do not destroy the rainforest ecology. Members of The Institute of Ecotechnics initiated this unique project pioneering experiments in sustainable rainforest ecology, through line-planting of valuable timber trees. Nearly 300 acres of the 1000-acre property have been planted with over 40,000 native and exotic hardwood trees with extremely promising results. Since 2003, plantation areas have been experimentally thinned, timber sold, and scientific research carried out all over the land.
700 acres remains as a wilderness preserve for watershed protection, research, and educational ecotourism. The project is certified as a Stewardship Forest and has an approved ‘Sustainable Forestry Stewardship Management Plan’, and registered as an Auxiliary Forest.
