Plantation forestry in the northern atlantic zone of Costa Rica

Abstract

In order to make a land use planning you have to know the functioning of current Land Use Types (LUT). Plantation forestry is a LUT in the northern Atlantic Zone of Costa Rica and this study describes the way it is currently practiced. To obtain the information needed the farmers who have plantations in three research areas as chosen by the Atlantic Zone Programme were questioned about their way of managing the plantation. AIso their stand s were measured and described. The three research areas Neguev, Río Jiménez and Cocorí represent the three phases of colonization apparent in the Atlantic Zone. The Neguev is a government controlled settlement, Río Jiménez is an old settlement area whereas Cocorí is just recently colonized. The research is based on two interviews with the farmers who were available for questioning at the time of the research and the measuring of their stands. The first interview was a means to find the farmers who were willing to participate in the study and an inventory of their motives for establishing a plantation. The second interview was more indepth. The farmers were questioned about the way they managed their plantations, the amount of time and resources they needed for it and about their plans for future maintenance, thinning and harvesting work.