The Municipality of Tilaran formed an alliance with private companies, the National Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and civic groups to replace eight sections of the canton used as open dumps with accomodations for pollinators.
Pollinator gardens consist of native plants that attract insects like bees and butterflies, and even hummingbirds and bats.
This project’s goal is to set up a total of eight pollinating gardens, between this year and next year, linking each one of the districts of Tilaran.
These gardens have already been completed in the areas of Cinco Esquinas, Nuevo Arenal, Los Moisos and Lomas del Sol. More than 20 volunteers participated in making these gardens, including adults, teens and children.
The other four will be set up in Cabeceras, in Tilaran’s central park and another one in Nuevo Arenal.
To accomplish this, the local government teamed up with specialists in biology and beekeeping, who helped select the ideal plants to attract pollinators.
The ideal is to use plants from the area because local bees and pollinators look to feed on plants from the region. This also prevents the site from being overtaken by invasive plants,” explained Maria Mora, a biologist at nativaslab.com who is actively participating in the project.
Although the proposal was made recently, the mayor of Tilarán, Juan Pablo Barquero, highlighted the appearance of butterflies in the area, in addition to the significant decrease in the amount of garbage.
“At first, we tried to fine those who left garbage. We put up camera traps. Passersby took photos. Signs were put up and they would take them down the next day. It was turning out to be more expensive for us to be hiring a company to put the signs up,” the mayor explained. Compared to the difficulty of eliminating the dumps, they saw the gardens as a more effective alternative.
Seeing young people and even children participate in this initiative motivated Jeanneth Perez, who lives in Nuevo Arenal, to volunteer for the project, which she said has made her become aware of the need for pollinators in the area.
Biology specialists help look for the ideal native plants for the project. Photo: Taken from the Red Pueblos Polinizadores del Lago Arenal (Network of Pollinating Towns of Lake Arenal) Facebook page.
“This is a participatory project where people from private companies have volunteered as part of their corporate social responsibility, like CMI Multi-Investment Corporation, as well as municipal officials and civic groups, who also contribute to overseeing and caring for these gardens,” the municipality’s environmental manager, Marlon Campos, remarked.
To be part of this initiative, you can contact the Municipality of Tilarán through social networks or by calling the environmental management department at 2695-2416.
Comments