SPECIAL PROJECTS

CREA is a registered 501(c)3 but we are constantly looking to develop programs that will provide a base of self-sustaining revenue. We are currently working to develop two projects that make use of our natural resources and experience and ultimately will have the potential to generate income streams that will support our overall operation and management.

Schools Program

Education has always played a key role in CREA´s conservation strategy and now we are looking to formalize the opportunity for students to visit our field station at the Cocobolo Nature Reserve on a regular basis. The objective is to integrate this trip with course work that the students can learn prior to their arrival and which will enrich their perspectives upon arrival in the Mamoni Valley.

Over the past few years, CREA has worked with both high school and undergraduate level students to expose them to the critical issues affecting our environment, species and the communities living within them. Students from both Marvelwood and Warren Wilson College have come down to further their studies on regional species with both classroom and observational-style field work.

CREA will host student groups at it’s biological field station in the Cocobolo Nature Reserve. This unique environment provides an enriching outpost to integrate both education and cultural awareness through supervised community outreach.

CREA's mission is to promote ecological literacy and cultural understanding in environmental issues, so that we are enabled to make environmentally conscious choices that promote sustainability and rational use of the earth's resources. We realize that the most effective long-term impact can only be achieved by including youth.

We are hoping to build curricula with several schools in the Bay area during the course of 2009 in order to bring them to the Cocobolo Reserve during the early Spring (dry season) of 2010.

For more information, please contact Anita at anita@crea-panama.org.


Carbon Offsets

During 2008, CREA underwent a feasibility analysis to understand the market value and potential to sell the carbon sequestered in the protected forest of the Cocobolo Reserve. After 7 months of due diligence, we are now proceeding with the process of designing the methodology that will ultimately enable us to validate, verify and ultimately sell our carbon in the voluntary marketplace – thus providing a much needed income stream that will enable us to expand the reach and capacity of our programs.

Establishing a reliable income stream that can be counted on over a 10-year term is the opportunity every business wishes for and this can be a reality if we are able to raise the funds necessary to complete the validation and verification process.

In order to complete the process, we need to raise $60,000. If you are interested in donating or helping us fundraise to meet this daunting goal, please contact Anita at anita@crea-panama.org.