NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, June 20, 2005

The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Chiquita Brands International are launching a new public-private partnership (PPP) initiative ? the Nogal Nature and Community Project ? in Costa Rica. The aim of this initiative is to preserve biodiversity, promote nature conservation awareness among the local population and create new sources of income for the people. On a Chiquita farm on the banks of the R?o Sucio in northeastern Costa Rica, not far from the border with Nicaragua, the 100 hectares of rainforest in the Nogal reserve adjacent to the farm will be placed under a conservation order and connected to forestland on neighboring farms by newly planted biological corridors.

?This is a practical, sustainable approach to conserving the natural environment and species for the benefit of humankind,? said George Jaksch, Chiquita?s senior director of corporate responsibility and public affairs in Europe. ?However, it cannot succeed without the support of the people who live there.?

?Only people who appreciate the value of their natural environment are willing to conserve it,? said Johannes Spita, who is responsible for the PPP initiative at GTZ. To that end, the local population will be offered environmental education opportunities and training courses that are intended to provide local craftspeople, in particular, with new sources of income. Over a period of three years, a large number of people who live in the region, including many schoolchildren, are expected to visit the project and find out from a practical example how their support and active involvement can help to preserve the large but endangered variety of natural species in Central America.
Press release found here.