#GivingTuesday, November 30, the Amigos del Bosque kick off the Conservation fund to insure the preservation and proper land management of this unique, 52-acre swamp forest in perpetuity. The funds will be strictly used for the main needs of the Forest such as maintaining habitat to promote survival of the plant and animal species that live and thrive in this singular ecosystem, upkeep of infrastructure for our visitors, and on-line and on-site educational programming,
The Forest supervisor, with the help of Palmas Homeowners Association staff, works tirelessly to conserve and maintain this environment in optimal conditions for the sake of the flora and fauna of this ecological paradise and the thousands of visitors we receive annually. But superb land and water management, efforts to preserve animal and plant species and upkeep of the infrastructure are essential for us to keep the Forest open to the public for recreational, educational and research purposes
The delicate and exceptional ecosystem that is the Pterocarpus Forest needs stable financial footing to thrive in the short-term, as well as to survive natural and other disasters in the future in the long term. Starting #GivingTuesday, the Friends of the Forest will initiate a fund that will be partially endowment-type to support this unique refuge's existence. This Fund, administered by Friends' board, will provide the financial resources that are required immediately and for the future.
Half of the funds raised will be kept in reserve, used to meet long-term maintenance and land and water managements needs that sustain the Forest's plant and animal species as well as the maintenance of trails, bridges and facilities for the use and enjoyment of the visiting general public. Other funds will be used to keep educational programming and materials, online and on-site, such as the novel Forest Tour App and interpretative signage, as up to date and accessible as possible.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).