From Cattle Pasture to Wildlife Haven: Reforestation Triumph

In December 2001, a hike up Costa Rica's highest peak inspired Ian and Genevieve Giddy to purchase land that appeared to be a cloud forest abruptly ending at a cattle pasture. By the following year, they acquired approximately 60 hectares of former cattle ranching land near Chirripó National Park, founding the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve. Over two decades, their initiative expanded to nearly 200-283 hectares.

Initial reforestation attempts in the early years were unsuccessful, with nearly 90% of commercially sourced seedlings failing to adapt to the high-altitude environment. The Giddys then shifted strategies, collecting seeds from adjacent old-growth forests to produce their own seedlings, significantly improving survival rates to around 50% and later to 90% with improved methods.

Innovative techniques like 'island planting' were employed, where pioneer trees attract birds that disperse seeds, naturally expanding the forest cover. This approach, along with careful cultivation, resulted in over 50,000 trees being planted.

The ecological impact has been profound. Bird species increased from a handful in the early years to 305 cataloged species as of 2023, including the near-threatened resplendent quetzal. Mammal recovery is also evident, with all six of Costa Rica's wild cat species now present, alongside sightings of jaguars and Baird's tapirs.

Ian Giddy passed away in 2009, but Jenny Giddy continued the project. In 2019, ownership was transferred to the Salish Coast Land and Marine Conservation Association, with the Cloud Forest Conservation Alliance managing operations. Cloudbridge now focuses on conservation, research, and education, observing the continuous development of the forest they helped create.