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On Thursday, April 16, something special will take place at Onder de Linden: a lecture by Martin Havik about the rainforest in Costa Rica, accompanied by a screening of our documentary ‘Eufonia’. There is no admission fee, but we ask all visitors to become donors at the end of the event or to make a generous donation, 100% of which will go to the project.

The splendor of the rainforest and how we protect it

Born and raised in Beemster, Martin Havik takes you on a passionate journey through his adventures and the lessons and successes of the Adopt a Rainforest Foundation. With great enthusiasm and energy, Martin will take you on a journey to the project in the beautiful rainforest of Costa Rica. He promises an entertaining evening with beautiful images and many wonderful anecdotes. This time with lots of new stories, because he will be returning from a trip to Costa Rica to visit the project on March 30.

To top it all off, you will also get to see the short documentary Eufonia, which tells the story of the foundation through the eyes of local guide Gerald. The documentary premiered at the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam.

About the foundation’s project

What began in 2011 with the purchase of 3.5 hectares of rainforest in Costa Rica has now grown into a thriving reserve of more than 275 hectares with an active research project. Success stories such as the return of the howler monkey and the nesting box project for the endangered Buffon’s macaw (Ara ambiguus) show what commitment can achieve. Intensive research into biodiversity is being conducted in the reserve by students from all over the world. The flora and fauna are inventoried on a daily basis, leading to some very special observations.

Date: thursday 16-04-2026
Time: 19:30 – 21:30 (entrance 19:15)
Location: Onder de Linden Middenweg 150, 1462 HL Middenbeemster
Spaces available: 65

Het bericht 16 april: Film screening and lecture Martin Havik verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

Pygmy Anteater: the Acrobat

Scientifically known as Cyclopes didactylus, it is the smallest anteater in the world. But don’t be fooled by its size. Despite its modest length, the dwarf anteater is fully adapted to life in the treetops of Central and South America. With its prehensile tail, sharp claws, and excellent camouflage, it moves effortlessly through the heights of the rainforest, a mini-Tarzan, as it were.

The dwarf anteater is a true treetop athlete. It spends almost its entire life among the branches, where it can hang upside down with its prehensile tail, which is actually longer than its body. It uses its powerful front legs, equipped with sharp claws, not only to hold on, but also to collect ants and defend itself.

Fun Facts

• Extremely difficult to spot!
•  

  Length: 16–21 cm (plus another 16–23 cm tail)

• Weight: approximately 1.5 to 2.75 kg
• Coat: dense and velvety, golden yellow to brownish yellow, sometimes with a dark stripe
• Lifestyle: nocturnal, during the day it curls up in tree hollows for a nap
• Diet: mainly ants, supplemented with other small insects

Thanks to its warm camouflage color, it blends in almost completely with the greenery. One moment it is there, the next it seems to have dissolved into the canopy. In addition to sharp eyes, you need a dose of luck to spot one.

At home in our reservation

In Costa Rica, dwarf anteaters mainly live in humid lowland rainforests, among the tall trees and lianas, a kind of tropical playground for these animals. Here they find food, shelter, and safe routes through the treetops. Recently, this special species was also spotted in the Adopt a Rainforest reserve. So this little creature is also one of Adopt a Rainforest’s angels. A wonderful sign that our reserve, thanks in part to volunteers and donors, is actually functioning as a habitat for rare animals. Without active protection, animals such as the dwarf anteater are slowly but surely losing their homes. The fact that a dwarf anteater has been spotted in the reserve shows what joint efforts can achieve. But this does not happen by itself. Purchasing and preserving rainforest requires ongoing commitment and necessary support.

By adopting a piece of rainforest, you directly contribute to:

• protecting animals such as the dwarf anteater
• combating deforestation
• preserving biodiversity for future generations

The dwarf anteater may be small, but its story symbolizes something big: we can only do this together. Every contribution counts. This is how we ensure that these silent tree acrobats, and all other inhabitants of the rainforest, will still have a place to live in the future. And we’re not just doing it for them. A healthy rainforest also means cleaner air, a more stable climate, and a better future for ourselves. By protecting nature, we are also protecting our own health. Finally, we are keeping the little “angel of the banana plantation” alive for generations to come.

Help and Adopt rainforest!

Het bericht The dwarf anteater verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

On Thursday, February 19, something special will take place at Filmhuis Oosterbeek: the start of a fundraiser for two new pieces of rainforest to be purchased

We welcome guest speaker Brigitte van den Berg, Member of the European Parliament for D66, rainforest enthusiast, and ambassador for Adopt Rainforest. Brigitte attended COP30 in Belém, Brazil. In her talk, she will share her experiences as a delegate at this climate summit.

After Brigitte’s story, we will screen our documentary Eufonia, a unique insight into the life of local guide Gerald. He takes us on a journey through his story and the Adopt Rainforest reserve. This will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Bram Sturm, who recently screened this documentary at the Rotterdam Wildlife Film Festival!

A wonderful program with a clear goal: on this date, our fundraiser will start for two new pieces of rainforest to be purchased, together covering 15 hectares of primary rainforest. The purchase will enable us to guarantee protection. The proceeds from this evening will therefore go towards this project, which Martin Havik will tell us more about.

Only 25 tickets are still available. Fill in the form below to register. You will receive confirmation by email.

Location: Filmhuis Oosterbeek (Weverstraat 85, 6862 DL Oosterbeek)
Start time: 19:30

Het bericht Film screening & Guest speaker Brigitte van den Berg verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

His involvement in nature conservation did not happen overnight. “I can’t pinpoint the exact moment when I decided to start donating,” says Laurens. However, his environment did play a role. His girlfriend Denise had been a donor to the WWF for a long time, which made him think.

At the same time, his life was (and still is) pretty full. Working as a soldier in the armed forces, teaching, and also working on a PhD program: it leaves little room to actively organize something for a good cause. “I simply don’t have the time to do that properly. That’s why I prefer to support people and organizations that can,” says Laurens. What was important in this regard was a shared preference for nature conservation goals. Together with his girlfriend, he came to feel that nature conservation is not an “extra,” but a necessity.

The feeling of a ‘point of no return’

Why nature in particular? For Laurens, the answer is clear. “I strongly feel that we are heading toward a point of no return. Once certain natural habitats have disappeared, they will never return.” That makes nature conservation goals fundamentally different from many other charitable causes. “Other causes sometimes feel temporary: you help improve or solve something, but then it’s done. With nature, it feels different. If we don’t take action now, it will only continue to deteriorate.” That urgency was the deciding factor. Not later, not someday, but contributing to protection now, before it’s too late.

Via Costa Rica to Adopt Rainforest

The road to Adopt Rainforest ran through Costa Rica. Due to COVID-19, a planned trip had to be canceled twice. During the preparations, he read extensively and searched for information about nature in the country. That’s how he ended up at Adopt a Rainforest online. “The website immediately appealed to me.” What stood out in particular was the broader approach. Not only protecting what is still there, but also investing in education and employment for the local population. “That felt like more than just sticking plasters. It’s not a short-term solution, but something that can really last.” That vision inspired confidence and led to a monthly donation.

“Since I’ve had children, I’ve become much more aware of this. You automatically think more about the world you’re leaving behind.”

Being a parent changes your perspective

The arrival of children changed something. There are now two young children in the family, and that brings a new perspective. “Since I’ve had children, I’ve become much more aware of this. You automatically think more about the world you’re leaving behind.” The first period with one child felt relatively straightforward. With two young children, time becomes scarcer, but motivation grows. Precisely because the future suddenly takes on a face. The idea of starting a fundraising campaign around the birth did not come out of nowhere. Through friends, there was already a family that had done this. “That stuck with me,” says Laurens.

A different kind of baby gift

The idea took shape when their daughter was born in January 2024. Even before she was born, her parents decided they wanted to do something similar. Not more stuff, but something that would have a greater impact. “We wanted to teach her right away that having lots of stuff isn’t the most important thing,” says Laurens. “That consumer society is not what we want to teach our children.” That is why they opted for a fundraiser for Adopt Rainforest as an alternative baby gift. A call was added to the birth announcement: anyone who wanted to give something could contribute to the protection of the rainforest.

The responses were positive. Many people thought it was a nice and original idea. “Most people responded very positively and enthusiastically.” At the same time, there were also people who asked questions. Why would you do that? Why not give a ‘normal’ gift? It was precisely those questions that proved valuable. “It sparked conversations,” he says. Conversations about what we find important, about sustainability, and about the world we are passing on to the next generation. A friend who had previously set up a similar campaign later said how special he found it to see that his idea had inspired others. That chain reaction felt like an added bonus for Laurens and Denise.

This choice has now been made twice. A fundraising campaign was set up for both children. This is no coincidence, but a conscious decision. “It’s important that the children can look back on this later. That they know: this was something we considered important from the start.” It’s not about perfection, Laurens emphasizes, but about intention. To show that you can make choices that go beyond yourself. That a gift can also consist of protecting nature, creating opportunities for local communities, and building a future.

Inspiration for others

This donor story shows that impact does not always have to be big or complicated. Sometimes it starts with a personal choice, at a special moment in life. By offering an alternative, you invite others to think along with you, and perhaps even join in. Adopt a Rainforest is proud of donors who contribute in this way. Not only by giving, but by telling a story. A story about caring for the earth, about responsibility, and about what we really want to leave behind for our children.

Would you also like to contribute to the rainforest in a special way? Be inspired and discover what your impact can be!

Also give rainforest as a baby gift

Het bericht Donor story: Rainforest protection as a baby gift verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

Onderzoek naar boomsoorten

For years, we have been researching the biodiversity of animals in our reserve, and with success: more than 1000 animal species have been observed in the areas we protect. Of course, the wealth of flora is also great, but more difficult to map. Since 2023, we have therefore been working with Utrecht University on a long-term project to map the diversity and development of plants. For the time being, we are focusing mainly on tree species. In existing forests, we are creating 50 × 50 meter research plots, in which we measure and identify the trees. This allows us to compare different forest types based on tree diversity, tree size, and the number of trees. This enables us to assess the long-term impact of past human land use on biodiversity. We are also conducting scientific research to determine the best strategy for reforestation.

Support our research

The importance of a herbarium

During these studies, it is essential that we are able to correctly identify the tree species. This involves hundreds of species from dozens of plant families, which is a huge task! This is why the herbarium is such an important addition to our research capabilities. A herbarium is a dried collection of plant material. Here, we can dry and preserve plant parts such as leaves, flowers, fruits, and bark for long periods of time. The collection keeps very precise records of where each piece of plant material was collected. In addition, the herbarium will be equipped with a photo corner for the creation of a digital collection and, for example, microscopes, binoculars, and literature to identify species.

Thorough research for the long term

Thanks to the herbarium, we can thoroughly map the diversity of trees, and later all plant species, in the reserve. We are also creating a collection and reference work that will help us inventory the plots to be studied and reforested. Initial contacts have already been made with other Costa Rican researchers, as there is a lot of missing information about the flora of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Our collection will therefore certainly strengthen ties with other research institutions. And who knows, it might get even better and we might one day find a new plant species in the reserve! Just a few years ago, a new tree species was described; a tree we sat under every week as we enjoyed the view from the viewpoint in the reserve.

Thanks to the support of our donors, we were able to make this important improvement to our research capabilities. This will enable us to conduct even better and more extensive research and continue to protect the rainforest and all its inhabitants. Although the construction is largely complete, there is still a lot to be done in terms of interior design. We hope to be able to provide a new update on this soon.

Help us to protect rainforest!

Het bericht Herbarium finished! verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

When you talk to Kjetil van den Berg, owner of ‘Ecoloog op Maat‘, one thing immediately stands out: his passion for nature runs deep. “It started in the womb,” he says with a smile. From an early age, he was outside: catching woodlice, chasing birds, exploring nature with his parents. It was always in him. That dedication grew with him and eventually took him on long journeys, including to Costa Rica at the age of thirteen. Today, Kjetil has translated his life’s mission into a successful ecological consultancy firm, which recently became a proud partner of Adopteer Regenwoud.

Searching for impact

Kjetil began his studies with the ambition of becoming a veterinarian, but gradually shifted his focus to applied biology at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Almere. “I wanted to do something in ecology; that felt most logical,” he explains. However, while graduating, the big question arose: how can I make a real impact?

The answer turned out to be starting his own business, with an intrinsic motivation to help nature. “It just happened naturally,” he says. His practical attitude, customized approach, and clear vision quickly made Ecoloog op Maat a household name. The common thread: always going the extra mile for nature, beyond what is required by law. “If we always do the minimum, we’ll stay in the same situation. Going the extra mile can yield so much more.”

This is also evident in his projects. For example, he works with clients to strengthen the habitats of house sparrows, bats, and other species groups. According to him, many companies are open to going the extra mile, especially when they see how committed the team is.

Kjetil van den Berg in 2018 tijdens zijn stage bij Adopteer Regenwoud

A bond that dates back to 2018

It had been clear for years that Ecoloog op Maat would become a partner of Adopteer Regenwoud. The bond began in 2018, when Kjetil had to arrange an internship abroad for his third year. Costa Rica had always been his first choice, which is how he ended up at Work With Nature, the initiative that later became Stichting Adopteer Regenwoud.

He spent four months in the reserve, where he conducted research on land crabs. At the time, the area was only thirty hectares in size. However, he saw the foundation grow rapidly in the years that followed. “Even then, you could see the ambition to expand towards Barbilla National Park, so that a corridor could be created for animals. When you follow that year after year—the research, the collaborations, and the impact—it gives you so much energy.” That involvement remained. Two years ago, he attended a meeting for all those directly involved in the foundation and said: if the opportunity arises, I want to contribute again. Now he does so as a partner, with pride.

Preserving core values

What started as a one-man business has now grown into an organization with two permanent employees and an extensive team of field specialists every year. Yet quality always remains central. “If growth comes at the expense of nature, you should slap me,” jokes Kjetil. This approach ensures that he can still look at himself in the mirror. “95% of my work is just fun. Being able to do so much for nature… there’s no better feeling.”

Why a partnership?

For Kjetil, the partnership is more than just a business decision. He knows the organization from the inside and understands how sincere and purposeful its work is. “The story behind it is genuine. It’s a vision that started small, with big dreams, which are being realized step by step. And all the money is being put to good use.”He sees how the passion that Adopteer Regenwoud started with is still palpable. “It’s literally a boyhood dream that has grown into a mature organization. But the core values and mindset have remained the same.” According to Kjetil, ultimately it’s all about the impact you can have as an entrepreneur. At Adopteer Regenwoud, you can also see immediately what impact you are making.

Shared mission for nature

The shared passion between Ecoloog op Maat and Adopt a Rainforest is clearly palpable. Both organizations are driven by a love of nature and the conviction that ecology should be given more space. Kjetil hopes to return to the reserve soon, together with his parents, who ultimately raised him with a love of nature. “It would be great to see Maarten (my internship supervisor and the founder of Adopteer Regenwoud) again.” Through his company, he also sends students on internships, so that new generations can also become involved in rainforest conservation.

With Ecoloog op Maat as our partner, we are not only strengthening the rainforest, but also a network of passionate professionals who believe in real, sustainable impact.

Adopt rainforest for your business!

Het bericht Ecoloog op Maat: Partnership for Nature verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

Since the 2022 census, there has been a lot of activity surrounding the Buffon’s Macaw project. Due to different censuses being conducted by different organizations, it is difficult to track exact developments. Every time a census is organized, Adopt Rainforest participates. However, there are plenty of signs of change coming from the reserve:

From 0 to 25 Macaws!

When Maarten and Matthijs started the foundation in 2017, macaws never came to this area, San Miguel. A few years later, occasional sightings began. Nowadays, from September to December, we have a group of about 16-25 Buffon’s macaws that live permanently in and around the reserve. At the end of December, they leave again for the north to breed.

Maarten: “We have noticed that more and more macaws are coming to our area. They are creatures of habit, both in terms of feeding and breeding behavior. Most of the macaws in Costa Rica breed in the north of the country, between January and April. After that, the young birds fly the nest and in the second half of the year, the macaws migrate to the foothills, areas such as the Adopt Rainforest reserve.”

Help to protect the Macaw!

Breakthrough in 2025: two couples

However, this year two pairs remained in the area throughout the year. They seem to be making use of the adjacent Barbilla National Park, Nairi Awari Indigenous Reserve, and the Adopt Rainforest reserve. They are clearly two pairs, but no one knows yet whether they have stayed here to breed. Maarten: “In any case, it’s another indication that the macaw feels at home with us. Now we just have to wait and see if they will use the nesting boxes!”

Nest boxes in use?

Nest boxes have now been placed high up in the trees, an exciting operation as no crane can drive into the reserve. In true Costa Rican style, the nest boxes were hung using rope and (will)power. In the video, you can see how this was done in 2024.

Maarten: “Normally, macaws use cavities in almond trees, for example where a branch has broken off and the wood has started to rot. Since many almond trees have been cut down and it takes a very long time (about a hundred years!) for them to grow large enough and reach nesting cavity size, breeding sites are scarce.” As an experiment, Maarten and his team are installing nesting boxes to see if the birds consider them a good alternative. In the north, these boxes have already been used by macaws (Cinco Ceibas). There is also a population in Manzanillo, on the Costa Rican coast, where confiscated macaws have been released, rescued from illegal animal trade. This population breeds exclusively in artificial nesting boxes. The design of these nesting boxes is now also being used in the Adopt a Rainforest reserve. “No one knows whether macaws outside their usual breeding areas would use an artificial nest box; it’s something new. We do know that the area (the reserve, Barbilla National Park, and the Indian reservations) is suitable for macaws.”

Macaw feathers spotted under a nesting box

The first successes have been achieved, such as macaw feathers under a nesting box. During a maintenance round, the team also found breeding barn owls and toucans in the nesting boxes. The research team will continue to keep a close eye on the nesting boxes in the coming period. Thanks to the new observation tower, it is now easier to monitor the birds in and around the reserve, including the Buffon’s macaw, of course. Our foundation can also make a greater contribution to bird counts. The research is ongoing, and we are hopeful that the Buffon’s macaw will make a permanent return to this area!

Almond trees planted in 2021

The macaw’s main food source is the fruit of the almond tree. Since 2021, the Adopt a Rainforest team has planted hundreds of almond trees. This is where human patience comes into play; it takes at least 8 years for these trees to bear fruit. This is one of the reasons for the disappearance of the macaw, because the trees simply do not have time to grow. In the foundation’s reserve, they do have time; we are waiting patiently…

Help us protect more rainforest!

Het bericht Update: Great Green Macaw returns verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

Nature lover and birdwatcher Nienke recently visited the breathtaking rainforests of Costa Rica. In the coming period, she will recount her experiences in vivid detail in a series of stories. Enjoy reading this second blog!

There is something magical about discovering a foreign country, a feeling that you are on the verge of something bigger than yourself. Patrick and I travel not only to see, but above all to feel. To find those moments as human beings when we can encounter nature. Often harmonious, sometimes painfully contrasting.

While I am aware of the global environmental crisis, I am still driven by my passion for nature and birds. That passion takes us to places like Costa Rica. Because we are aware of the impact of such a long journey, I want to give something back. That is why I support local projects that contribute to nature restoration and protection. This time, I donated to Adopt Rainforest, through which we symbolically adopted our own piece of rainforest. What I couldn’t have imagined beforehand was that during this trip I would be so directly confronted with the necessity of this initiative, especially in a country known as one of the most biodiverse in the world.

Plantations, plantations, plantations

We traveled by car. Anyone who knows Patrick knows that he has a soft spot for alternative routes. Zooming in on the map until a thin line appears, often challenging routes to navigate without a scratch. Unfortunately, more than once, such a route led us past plantations: a stark contrast between biodiversity and monoculture. Pineapples, bananas, and palm trees as far as the eye could see. The lush jungle we had been in just a short while before had given way to a green desert. Neat rows without the singing of birds. Anyone who didn’t know any better would be amazed by the sight, as banana plants and palm trees conjure up images of the tropics. We missed the kind of nature that makes us feel humble and reminds us that we are only a small part of a greater whole.

Other initiatives

Fortunately, we always find places of hope, love, and connection. During our trip, we visited The Nest Nature Center, a private nature reserve dedicated to the conservation and restoration of ecosystems through nature education, ecotourism, and scientific research. The owner, Juan, bought the land from his father when it was still a coffee plantation. Through experimentation, trial and error, he has restored the ecosystem bit by bit. As a result, animals (now 225 bird species registered on eBird!) are returning and the land is able to sustain itself naturally. His goal is to inspire the region and show that restoration is possible, and he hopes to connect different nature reserves through collaboration so that animal migration can take place, as in the Adopt Rainforest reserve.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to observe birds up close from carefully placed observation huts and platforms. I could talk endlessly about encountering two striped owls, mother and child. Or about the white-collared manakin, which I heard before I saw it, with the recognizable flapping of its wings as part of its dance. But the real magic lay hidden in the story of this powerful, individual initiative: a small paradise on a former plantation where life is finding its way back. At the same time, it also became clear how fragile recovery is. At the neighbors’, we saw a hectare replanted with European subsidies, but with only one fast-growing tree species. Juan explains: chosen for its timber yield, but this does not help nature here.

Small change for a big difference

What this experience showed me is that change often starts small. With one person deciding to do something. That is what Adopt a Rainforest stands for: giving nature back its space. Every protected piece of rainforest ensures that life can return. This trip has shown me that every contribution counts, and that it is mainly about simply starting somewhere.

Help up by adopting rainforest!

Het bericht Nienke’s story: ‘The necessity of this initiative’ verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.

How did you ever come up with the idea of protecting the rainforest?

In this story, I will take you through how the idea to establish the Adopteer Regenwoud Foundation came about. It wasn’t so much a wild idea, but rather a necessity. Because I have seen with my own eyes how overwhelmingly beautiful the rainforest is—and how quickly it is disappearing at the same time. – Matthijs Bol –

First encounter with Costa Rica

When I was 19, I went backpacking to Costa Rica for the first time with my best friend Maarten. It was the country of our dreams, which we often saw in David Attenborough’s documentaries because of its beautiful nature and overwhelming biodiversity. We had to see and experience it with our own eyes. That’s why we signed up as volunteers for a project dedicated to protecting endangered sea turtles.

We ended up on an island surrounded by the impressive Pacuare River on the Caribbean coast. This is the river that is also mentioned by the NRC. A river reminiscent of the Amazon. What wilderness, what a wealth of natural beauty! The island was a strip seven kilometers long and less than three hundred meters wide. No more than thirty local people lived here.

Most of them lived off fishing and poaching turtle eggs. The project I worked for as a volunteer managed to convince these residents to become nature guides and thus protect the turtles instead of poaching them. It was a successful nature conservation project to which I returned many times as a volunteer and eventually became involved in for years as a board member.

I became friends with these remarkable people. They lived from and with nature. They told wonderful stories about their adventures and often took me into the wilderness. 

The richness of nature

We could spend hours—sometimes even days—wandering through the jungle or floating down the rivers in our kayaks. We saw dolphins hunting in the river mouth, river otters playing on the banks, and giant crocodiles basking in the sun on the riverbed. Sometimes we had to duck because thousands of butterflies were using the river as a highway during their migration. Or because swinging monkeys were throwing branches down.

“It was the most beautiful nature experience I would ever have in my life.”

The downside: banana plantations and pesticides

But there was also a downside. During our trips, I noticed more and more that after a night of rain, there were dead fish everywhere in the river. We also regularly heard planes flying overhead in the middle of the jungle. I asked my local friends what kind of planes they were and what they were doing there. The answer was shocking: banana plantations.

Yellow sports planes flying low over banana plantations to spray pesticides. After a heavy rain shower, those pesticides wash into the rivers, resulting in countless dead animals floating to the surface. An oily substance remained on the water’s surface: a trail of death and destruction.

I immersed myself in the banana plantations and discovered that it was a huge industry. Thousands of hectares of plantations, where not a blade of grass grows: everything is sprayed to death to grow the perfect banana. And all this in places where there used to be rainforest.

The nature that I enjoyed so intensely was being destroyed because we humans want to eat cheap bananas. Why was nothing being done about this? Many people told me that it was better to be careful with criticism: the big fruit companies do not tolerate opposition. Later, I found out that not only was nature suffering enormous damage, but the local population was also developing serious health problems due to years of exposure to these pesticides.

The birth of Adopteer Regenwoud

In the years following our first visit to Costa Rica, I began studying Tropical Forestry and took every opportunity during my studies to do internships in Costa Rica. Together with my best friend Maarten van der Beek, I decided that something had to be done. Even if it was just a drop in the ocean.

We wanted to save as much rainforest as possible before the fruit companies could cut it down. That’s why we founded the Stichting Adopteer Regenwoud. Its mission: to purchase rainforest and transform it into a nature reserve, so that it is permanently removed from the commercial cycle.

Twenty years later

Twenty years have passed since then, and it pains me to read the article in NRC. Unfortunately, little has changed in all that time—I have seen it myself. The Pacuare River is still beautiful, but if only people knew how beautiful it was twenty years ago!The fact that this story is now being told in the media gives me hope. Hope that there will be more attention for the use of toxins in banana cultivation. Hope that measures will be taken by the government.

Wat jij kunt doen

But we, as consumers, can also make a difference. Every choice, no matter how small, counts. Buy an organic banana, or choose something closer to home—a delicious Dutch apple.The foundation has now protected more than 278 hectares of rainforest, including areas that are being reforested. A lot of research is being done into biodiversity and reforestation in collaboration with various local and international parties. To achieve the goal of 2000 hectares – which is the habitat of the jaguar – the foundation is still looking for new donors who will adopt a piece of rainforest themselves.

Adopt Rainforest!

Het bericht 20 years later: Dream, shadow, and struggle for the rainforest verscheen eerst op Adopteer Regenwoud.