BARCA BIRD Eco-plantation: Restoring Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity in Costa Rica
Thirty years ago, the Brinkman Group launched the Brinkman International Reforestation Development (BIRD) project to restore degraded cattle lands in the Pacific Coast foothills of Costa Rica. Once stripped of native forest and rapidly eroding, these lands became the foundation for one of the country’s pioneering tropical forestry research and restoration initiatives.
Project Details
Location: Near Parrita, Costa Rica
Client / Partners: BARCA, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica
Project Type: Tropical hardwood silviculture research, mosaic plantation forestry, conservation, FSC® certified restoration (FSC-C021353).
Scale: 337 hectares (834 acres)
Project Overview
The BIRD Eco-plantation has since transformed a patchwork of abandoned pastures and remnant forests into a living mosaic of plantations, protected woodlands, and research plots. Today, this FSC-certified landscape is both a refuge for endangered species and a model of how sustainable forestry can also advance biodiversity and community well-being.
Impact at a Glance
- 337 hectares under management, 88 hectares of 30-year-old planted native hardwoods, 32 hectares of teak plantations from high-performing Plus Trees, 149 hectares of protected natural forest, 58 hectares available for new planting prescriptions
- Registered Plus Trees for cocobolo rosewood, Cristobal, Amarillon, Ron Ron, and other valuable species
- Macropropagation breakthroughs supporting sustainable seedling production
- Endangered wildlife return, including scarlet macaw, jaguarundi, and oncilla
- FSC-certified forest management with biodiversity monitoring
Advancing Silviculture Knowledge
When BIRD began, little was known about cultivating many of Costa Rica’s most valuable hardwoods. Through long-term partnerships with Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica and CATIE, the project has built a 28-year research record on silviculture, propagation, and genetic selection.
This work produced the first registered Plus Trees in Costa Rica for species such as cocobolo rosewood, Cristobal, and Ron Ron, and led to the development of macropropagation methods once considered unattainable. Permanent research plots continue to inform graduate studies and global forestry practice, making BIRD a cornerstone of tropical silvicultural research.
Project Outcomes
The BIRD Eco-plantation has become more than a working forest; It produces valuable tropical hardwoods and teak while supporting endangered wildlife and providing a global knowledge base for tropical silviculture. BARCA and Brinkman’s decades of commitment prove that ecological and economic goals can align, creating forests that sustain both livelihoods and life.
The BIRD farms are under forest FSC® (FSC-C021353) certified management.
