As the centerpiece of a larger (~50,000 hectare) block of private reserves and state-protected areas, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest is a vital nexus for natural habitats and populations. It spans the Continental Divide, preserving diverse habitat in an altitudinal gradient of some 1300+ meters on Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The CER contains an astonishing proportion of the world’s biodiversity, including numerous endangered and endemic species. Its location gives it special importance for migratory species, and the reserve’s size and connectivity provide resilience in the face of threats including disease and climate change.
The CER’s size and connectivity provide resilience in the face of threats including disease, climate change, and resulting biodiversity loss. The forest provides a living classroom for environmental education and unparalleled opportunities for research, reforestation, and outreach in the surrounding communities. The forest also protects 5 major watersheds that provide water for wildlife, communities, farms, and hydroelectric projects, and its forests are the cornerstone of a larger block of protected land that is the primary attraction for the tourism industry, which has been the mainstay of the local economy until Costa Rica’s tourism industry was brought to a screeching halt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
