Our Panamanian partner Juan Cruz and his wife, Rosa, made me promise to bring them a CD of the interview I recorded back in March. They will get to watch it on my laptop, and then whenever Rosa's daughter visits from Panama City with her computer. She also requested dried fruit and other goodies that are impossible to get out in the countryside. I'll also be bringing photos for Gumer, one of our most dependable workers.
A lot is happening in January with Planting Empowerment. The UNDP-GEF Small Grants Project continues with a study of the carbon stock of Arimae's reserve. Construction of the tree nursery is nearly completed, and the community is busy collecting seeds from old growth trees to plant.
MIT is sending down a group of MBA students to assess commercial uses for the tree thinnings that we will begin to produce in a few years. Possible applications include biochar and selling firewood to the community.
Additionally, a couple tree owners will join us to tour the communities and see their trees growing.
