The Initiative

The Linking Forests Fund allocates $5 per participant from every tour directly towards the conservation of ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity in Costa Rica. This fund embodies Link Expeditions’ commitment to applying its values actively and responsibly.

How the Fund Works

Funds are deposited into a dedicated account until savings meet the necessary thresholds to finance biodiversity protection projects. Initial steps include engaging with local landowners, evaluating potential project sites, and determining acquisition costs to establish clear saving goals.

Why It Matters

Economic development often results in the destruction and fragmentation of forests that are critical for maintaining global biodiversity. Diminished and disconnected forest areas lead to the extinction of countless species and disrupt the balance of ecosystems. Fragmentation forces wildlife into urban spaces, increasing the likelihood of accidents and isolating species unable to cross human-made barriers. Such isolation severely impacts genetic diversity, reducing resilience to disease, climate change, and other natural challenges.

With fewer forests and increased fragmentation, species struggle to thrive. This biodiversity crisis stems from human greed, disconnection from nature, and unsustainable practices, eroding the natural world since the Industrial Revolution.

The Hope for Change

Despite the damage already inflicted, life remains resilient. While recent human activities have caused mass extinctions and weakened genetic diversity, there is still much we can do to support biodiversity and restore ecosystems.

Our Mission

Through strategic land acquisitions, we aim to reconnect fragmented forests, enabling wildlife to resume natural behaviors like altitudinal migrations, reproduction, and resource foraging. These efforts foster healthier ecosystems by:

• Protecting key habitats for native and migratory species.
• Enhancing carbon absorption and oxygen generation.
• Slowing soil erosion and preserving water resources critical for public health.
• Providing spaces for human inspiration, recreation, and mental well-being.

The Linking Forests Fund Goals

Our vision includes identifying, purchasing, and preserving key land parcels as protected areas. These areas will serve as biological corridors or buffer zones, ensuring perpetual protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Selection Criteria

Land purchases will prioritize:

1. Proximity to existing protected areas to expand buffer zones and biological corridors.
2. Habitats critical for umbrella or threatened species, as identified by the IUCN Red List.
3. Community impact potential, fostering positive local engagement.
4. Legal and economic viability, avoiding properties with legal disputes and focusing on areas with reasonable acquisition and management costs.

Initial Focus Area 

We aim to explore properties in the mountainous region of central Puntarenas, particularly “El Cerro,” near the Monteverde Reserve, Children’s Eternal Rainforest, and Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve. These areas fall within the Pájaro Campana Biological Corridor, which stretches toward the Nicoya Gulf and includes key ecosystems such as Humedal Estero Puntarenas and associated mangroves, as well as the Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Ensenada.

The region of “El Cerro,” primarily used for cattle and traditional agricultural production, is characterized by steep and irregular terrain, making conventional farming inefficient. However, the area may be suitable for sustainable farming practices that align with its ecological characteristics. These mountains are rich in water resources and serve as critical habitats for species like the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus) during its altitudinal migrations.