Ecología de los robledales de altura (bosque de Quercus) maduros y en recuperación en la Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

At present biodiversity of montane and (sub)alpine vegetation belts in Costa Rican 612.570 ha La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, is highly threatened. Environmentally-sound socio-economic development in the adjacent 62.000 ha Los Santos Forest Reserve (LSFR) is crucial to the conservation of La Amistad's biodiversity for future generations. Therefore, the LSFR should be regarded as a true buffer zone to this World Heritage Site and given a high priority for the development and implementation of sustainable landuse techniques. In practical terms, in the LSFR natural regeneration of secondary forests on cleared on abandoned land as well as their wise management must be stimulated, because it is the basis for long-term ecosystem restoration at La Amistad's outer forest margin and at the same time offers additional income to residents through timber and fuelwood production as well as ecotourism. The active participation of local people living in the LSFR is of the utmost importance to the success of such an initiative.