Page 49 - NORTHERN PLAINS TOURIST GUIDE

Rural tourism inns
Located in Bijagua de Upala, 3 km from the National Bank.
In 1985, the land where Heliconias Rainforest Lodge is now located was allocated for deforestation and land distribution by the Agrarian Development Institute (Instituto de Desarollo Agrario, IDA) in order to give land to needy families.
A group of twenty-three families came together to protect the land from deforestation and formed a community association called Bijagüeña Association of Agricultural Producers (Asociación Bijagüeña de Productores Agrícolas, ABIPA). Armed with determination and commitment, ABIPA succeeded in halting the imminent deforestation of 73 hectares (about 175 acres) of primary rainforest in 1991. IDA assigned the land to ABIPA as a new conservation model in Costa Rica, whereby the rainforest is protected in private reserves and managed by local communities.
ABIPA received support from several national and international organizations to create a private reserve and develop an ecotourism project.
ABIPA has strong values committed to sustainable community development. We want our project to encourage other people in the area to develop income by means other than agriculture.
The objectives of the association are to conserve the incredible biodiversity in the reserve, improve the quality of life of ABIPA members and the local community, increase environmental education and conservation awareness in the local community, and promote the countryside.
Butterfly farm
Activities:
Hiking Visit to sugar mill
More information
Visit to Bird
waterfall
watching
www.heliconiascr.com
info@heliconiascr.com
Hanging bridges
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