23-acre property purchased in October 2010 by the community of La Brisa

Aerial view of La Brisa’s property, purchased with support from a Nectandra Institute eco-loan

Communities like La Brisa source their potable water from upper elevation properties such as this one. Forest cover acts like a sponge, soaking up rain, mist, and other forms of precipitation. This allows the moisture to slowly seep into the ground and eventually “spring” forth lower down within the watershed as the beginning of streams, creeks, and rivers.

La Brisa will retire the property’s use as grazing grounds for dairy cattle in order to allow the forest to grow back in areas where it has been cut down. This will increase the property’s water-absorbing capacity.

With a higher capacity to absorb water, there will be less surface runoff and soil erosion will be reduced, especially on steep slopes, and consequently, there will be a corresponding reduction in river sedimentation. Additionally, seasonal water flow will be more regulated as the moisture trapped by the sponge-like forest is slowly released throughout the year.