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Who are we?
The Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) is a non-profit civil organization, declared a Public Utility institution for the interests of the State by the decree 33632-J. Our mission is “to conserve, preserve, and rehabilitate tropical ecosystems and their biodiversity”. The organization was founded in 1986 by a group of local Monteverde residents concerned for the preservation of local natural resources.
The MCL is composed of 60 active members who attend a yearly meeting to hold elections for the organization’s board of directors. The composition of the active members of the organization in terms of their nationalities, backgrounds, and philosophical principles are diverse, but in the end have a common goal to conserve the forest.
Since its beginnings, the primary project of the MCL has been the acquisition of land in order to conserve it. With the support from hundreds of people from over 44 different countries, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños, or BEN) was created. The reserve boasts over 22,500 hectares, and is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica.
The BEN borders Arenal National Park, the higher elevations of Monteverde and Miramar, stretches to the Alberto Manuel Brenes Reserve in San Ramón, and continues through the San Carlos zone near the populations of San Jorge, La Tigra, San Isidro de Peñas Blancas, Chachagua, and El Castillo.
On an administrative level, the MCL has three areas of priority: Protection and Monitoring, Environment and Human Development, and Investigation and Applied Technology.
We believe that human beings are an important component in the ecosystems in which they live because they depend directly upon the soils, air, flora, and fauna around them. At the same time, the stability of ecosystems depends greatly upon how humans interact with them and their components. We are aware that beyond the limits of the BEN there are other processes that can affect the conservation efforts of the MCL; much of our success depends upon the activities of the communities around the BEN. Based upon these principles, the MCL has developed a series of programs and an administrative structure that are described in the following links:
Protection and Monitoring Program
Environmental Education Program
Founding Member of the of Costa Rican Nature Reserve Network, 1995
The Network was established as an initiative to create a united non-profit association, composed of an important number of private nature reserves. Together, the Network protects an area of at least 100,000 hectares of land, the majority of which is primary forest.
Some of the objectives of the Network are:
To represent and defend the interests of the owners of the involved Private Nature Reserves on a combined and individual level against the government, international entities, non-governmental organizations, and private entities.
To effectively collaborate with private, public, national, and international groups and institutions that work for conservation of ecosystems and well-being of rural communitie.
Support for the Improvement of the Quality of Life, Defensoría de los Habitantes de la República.
On the 31st of October, 2000, the Office of the Defense of the Habitants of Costa Rica recognized the MCL as an organization that contributes to the improvement of the quality of life and to the habitants of Costa Rica. They specifically acknowledged the MCL’s efforts in education, conservation, research, and the sustainable use of natural resources through agro forestry practices, as well as for the protection and management of the Río Guacimal Watershed.
Authorized to receive income tax-deductible donations.
According to the official document ATP-06-353-2006, dated the 18th of July 2006, the Administración Tributaria announced that in agreement with subsection q) of article 8 of the Income Tax Law number 7092 of the 21 of April 1988 and its reforms the Monteverde Conservation Association is authorized to receive tax deductable donations. The donations can be given in the form of currency, goods, or services.
Declared a Public Utility Institution
According to El Diario Oficial La Gaceta dated the 19 of March 2007, decree No. 33632-J, the MCL is declared a Public Utility Institution in the Interest of the State.
Decreto Utilidad Publica ACM.pdf
Award for Excellence in Conservation of Costa Rican Biodiversity
On the 22 of May 2008, the Costa Rican Biodiversity Institute (INBio) honored the MCL with an award for Excellence in the Conservation of Biodiversity for being a model and innovator for the conservation and valuation of tropical biodiversity. Along the same lines, the Monteverde Corporation bestowed a certificate upon the MCL for being a role model for Monteverde and the rest of the world to follow.
Part of of the Reserva de la Biósfera Agua y Paz, UNESCO
A delegation of the MCL participated in an event on the 15 of September through the 02 of October 2007 as part of the celebration of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (BEN) with the goal to promote the campaign to declare the BEN as a sitio Patrimonio Mundial de La Humanidad o Reserva de la Biósfera Agua y Paz under UNESCO to European governmental groups and other organizations.
A dream was born in Switzerland…to have a forest dedicated to children…and it was in Switzerland where the delegation included the BEN as part of the new Reserva de La Biósfera Agua y Paz on the 19th of September, 2007.
The accession of the Monteverde Conservation League as a member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
The IUCN Council at its 68th meeting held in South Africa from 19 to 20 November 2007 approved the accession of the Monteverde Conservation League as a member of the Union in Category B (c) - national NGOs. The World Conservation Union is the world’s largest and most important conservation network. The Union brings together 83 States, 110 government agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Members are able to develop relationships by being part of an alliance of governments and NGOs. Members also have the possibility to expand their networks through international contacts with the Union's staff, experts and other IUCN members.
Education and Conservation Efforts
The organization Ecobike of Monteverde presented an award to the MCL for its outstanding work with environmental education and conservation of the environment on the 06 of June 2008.
Participant in the Costa Rican Pavilion in the ExpoAgua, Zaragoza, Spain
The representative for the ExpoAgua in Costa Rica requested that the MCL and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest participate in the ExpoAgua and Sustainable Development in Zaragoza, Spain, 2008. Representatives from the MCL participated in the Expo from the 14 of June until the 02 of July, 2008 in the Costa Rica Pavilion, located in the Latina America building. Representatives focused on defining the mission of the MCL, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, and the biological corridors in Costa Rica. They also worked to promote the importance of the relationship between natural reserves in Costa Rica and their contribution to the mitigation of climate change. Additionally, representatives accepted donations for the MCL’s land purchase and conservation campaign.
The Board of Directors is the entity that manages the association. The board supervises the direction and administration of the association, as well as defines its responsibilities. It directs the programs destined to achieve our mission to preserve, conserve, and rehabilitate tropical ecosystems and their biodiversity.
The objectives of the association are: I) the conservation, defense, and recuperation of the country’s natural resources, including its soil, water, air, flora, and fauna, II) the decontamination and protection of the physical, biotic, and cultural environment, III) and the search for the adequate equilibrium and healthy coexistence between human beings and nature.
It is the interest of this association to offer future generations an improved natural heritage and a framework that minimizes contamination
The Board of Directors is elected by the Members of the General Assembly who meet once every year. All are honorary members and the list of the Board of Directors is as follows:
Board of Directors
Julia Matamoros, President
Bob Law, Vice President
Feddy Cruz, Secretary
Jorge Maroto, Treasurer
Mark Wainwright, Vocal I
Guillermo Vargas, Vocal II
Oscar Mario Vargas, Vocal III
Fiscal
Kathy VanDussen, First Fiscal
Jim Wolfe, Second Fiscal
Nominator Committee
Richard LaVal
Robert Rojas
Advisors
Lic. Ismael Calvo, External Auditor
Lic. Walter Bonilla, Accounting and Finances
Lic. Víctor González, Topography
Lic. Marco Vinicio Retana, Legal
Employees of the Monteverde Conservation League
Interim Executive Director
Yúber Rodríguez
Administrative Personnel
Marianella Muñoz, Accounting Administrative Assistant
Rosibel Fallas, Miscellaneous Services
María Luisa Retana, Miscellaneous Services
Giselle Rodríguez, Executive Secretary
Luz Mery Vásquez, Administrative Assistant, La Tigra Office
Program and Department Coordinators
Hernán Chacón, Protection and Monitoring Coordinator
Walter Bonilla, Finance and Accounting Coordinator
Marianela Muñoz, Sales Program Coordinator
Mia L. Roberts, Information and Promotion Coordinator
Giselle Rodríguez, Human Resource and Short Course Coordinator
Yúber Rodríguez, Forestry and Environmental Service Payments Coordinator
Luis A. Solano, Maintenance and Operations Coordinator
Sectors
Ivannia Arguedas, Bajo del Tigre Visitor’s Center
José Soto, Receptionist Bajo del Tigre
Marcelino Rodríguez, Finca Steller Visitor’s Center
Ivannia Hernandez, San Gerardo Cook.
Geovanny Gonzales, San Gerardo Field Station.
Juan Rafael Chacón, Pocosol Field Station.
Maintenance and Operations Program
Bryan Artavia
Edwin Méndez
Freddy Campos
Jorge Luis Ramírez
Luis Ángel Villegas
Protection and Monitoring Program
Diego Chacón
Frank Crone
Marcelo Rodríguez
Minor Elizondo
LIST OF MEMBERS 2008 BY DATE OF AFFILIATION
(* FOUNDER)
HONORARY |
|
Gerardo Céspedes |
24/05/1991 |
Rachel Crandell |
20/08/1999 |
Adrian Forsyth |
24/01/1989 |
Sharon Kinsman |
24/01/1989 |
Bob Law |
08/02/1986* |
Harriet McCurd |
24/01/1989 |
George Powell |
24/01/1989 |
Eha Kern |
08/11/1990 |
Patricia Fogden |
04/02/2006 |
Michael Fogden |
04/02/2006 |
|
ORDINARY ACTIVES |
|
| Wilford Guindon Hall | 08/02/1986* |
| William A. Haber | 08/02/1986* |
| Richard LaVal Bugg | 08/02/1986* |
| Bob Walter Law Britton | 08/02/1986* |
| Joseph David Stuckey | 08/02/1986* |
| John Trostle | 08/02/1986* |
| Guillermo Vargas Leitón | 08/02/1986* |
| James Wolfe Ashley | 08/02/1986* |
| Francis John Joyce | 24/01/1989 |
| John Thomas Longino | 24/01/1989 |
| Nalini Moreshwar Nadkarni | 24/01/1989 |
| Susie Newswanger Kilmer | 24/01/1989 |
| Alan Pounds Joseph | 24/01/1989 |
| Robert M. Timm | 24/01/1989 |
| Katherine C. VanDusen | 24/01/1989 |
| José Luis Vargas Leitón | 24/01/1989 |
| Nathaniel T. Wheelwright | 24/01/1989 |
| Willow Zuchowski Pushkin | 24/01/1989 |
| Juan José Monge Maroto | 21/02/1989 |
| Bruce Erick Young | 21/02/1989 |
| Julanne Drake-Lowther | 03/05/1989 |
| Martha H. Moss | 01/02/1990 |
| Suzanne Leseur Trostle | 01/02/1990 |
| Marvin Hidalgo Montero | 16/02/1990 |
| César Santamaría Hidalgo | 16/02/1990 |
| Alexander Alvarado Méndez | 23/03/1990 |
| Edwin Méndez Cruz | 23/03/1990 |
| Carmen María Rojas González | 08/10/1990 |
| Abraham Corrales Ugalde | 24/05/1991 |
| María del Carmen Campos Araya | 24/05/1991 |
| Gerardo Céspedes Rodríguez | 24/05/1991 |
| María Isabel Villalobos Lobo | 24/05/1991 |
| Gilbert Jiménez Badilla | 04/11/1992 |
| Jorge Maroto Puga | 04/11/1992 |
| Yimer Morales | 04/11/1992 |
| Martha Iris Salazar Méndez | 20/07/1994 |
| Julia Matamoros Alvarado | 20/07/1994 |
| Rachel Crandell | 20/08/1999 |
| Carlos Luis Muñoz Brenes | 19/12/2000 |
| Guillermo Zuñiga Hernández | 19/12/2000 |
| Freddy Cruz Méndez | 02/02/2001 |
| Robert Rojas Vásquez | 02/02/2001 |
| José Edgardo Arévalo Hernández | 20/07/2001 |
| Eladio Cruz Leitón | 08/02/2002 |
| Marvin Martín Chaverrí Sandoval | 08/02/2002 |
| Maria Isabel Dimare | 13/05/2003 |
| Sergio Méndez | 13/05/2003 |
| Sean O´Donell | 20/05/2005 |
| Jorge Arturo Torres Ortega | 20/05/2005 |
| Ricaute Jiménez | 10/06/2005 |
| Otto Méndez | 10/06/2005 |
| José Luis Cambronero Cruz | 12/02/2005 |
| Shirley Murillo Ulate | 16/12/2005 |
| Yúber Rodríguez Santamaría | 16/12/2005 |
| Margaret Whitten | 20/01/2006 |
| Richard Whitten | 20/01/2006 |
| Mark Wainwright | 21/11/2006 |
| Luis A. Solano Morales | 18/05/2007 |
| Ricardo Herrera Monge | 06/06/2008 |
CONTRIBUTORS |
|
| Sarah Dowell | 18/08/1988 |
| Paul Belgum | 24/01/1989 |
| Alejandro Coghi Solano | 24/01/1989 |
| Katherine Griffith | 24/01/1989 |
| Carlos Guindon Standing | 24/01/1989 |
| Marcy Lawton | 24/01/1989 |
| Silvio Mengel | 24/01/1989 |
| Tomas Mengel | 24/01/1989 |
| Luis Alberto Monge Arrieta | 19/01/1990 |
| Lisa Ellis | 01/02/1990 |
| Amy Bodwell | 24/05/1991 |
| Omar Coto Loría | 24/05/1991 |
| Ree Sheck | 24/05/1991 |
| Tahnee Robertson | 05/06/1991 |
| Gordon Patty | 21/06/1996 |
| Jorge Vargas Cullel | 17/08/2001 |
| Carlos Aburto | 15/06/2007 |
| Alexander Koper | 15/06/2007 |
| Matilde Steiner | 15/06/2007 |
|
|
| Marvin Edward Rockwell Hall | 18/08/1988 |
| James Ervin Crisp McGowan | 24/01/1989 |
| Gary W. Diller O´Dell | 24/01/1989 |
| Cynthia Echeverría López | 24/01/1989 |
| Margaret LaVal | 24/01/1989 |
| David Bartelle McDonald |
|
| Gregory Murray Kevin | 24/01/1989 |
| Carlos Vargas Leitón | 24/01/1989 |
| Kathy Winnett-Murray | 24/01/1989 |
| Lisa Wirtanen Jasberg | 21/02/1989 |
| Juan Ramón Fuentes Ramírez | 23/02/1989 |
| Sarah Sargent | 23/02/1989 |
| Alfredo Vargas Castro | 08//11/1989 |
| Milton Brenes Méndez | 16/02/1990 |
| Vianney Villegas F. | 23/03/1990 |
| Dagoberto Arce Cruz | 04/11/1992 |
| Noé Vargas Leitón | 04/11/1992 |
| Carlos Corrales Blanco | 18/08/1993 |
| Alan Masters | 18/08/1993 |
| Karen Masters | 18/08/1993 |
| Juan Carlos Corrales Arce | 18/08/1993 |
| Marianela Sóliz Rojas | 03/08/1994 |
| J. Mauricio García Cambronero | 20/07/1994 |
| Fernando De la O Rojas | 17/02/2005 |
