The Talamanca Network is a group of rural inhabitants that reside along the Talamanca Mountain range in Costa Rica. This informal group, or initiative, seeks to promote the comprehensive development of the communities that share the same geographic area. The network is based on the individual and collective efforts of its members, their common interests, and their qualitative and comparative advantages.
TALAMANCA NETWORK
We are convinced that real and sustainable development is only achievable and lasting when we manage to establish alliances that seek the greatest mutual benefit of its members. With this in mind, and considering the collaboration of the international CULTIVO initiative, we will promote individual and collective growth that becomes evident as the community develops.
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Our group studies and implements various alternatives for economic, comprehensive, fair, equitable, humane, and sustainable development in harmony with the environment.
We have developed this network to facilitate growth and secure support at the local, national and international level.
OUR FOCUS
The focus of the Network’s interest is centered around the role of women as an agent of change. Not only does it support and encourage the empowerment of rural women, it seeks to increase awareness of their importance within the family’s economic sustainability, and help women to contribute to the family.
TRIWN will encourage its participants by exposing them to opportunities for employment, education, training, and job placement. The long-term impact of a workforce of empowered women workers on the national economy will be to increase opportunities for overall national economic growth.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
The growing demand for organic products presents an opportunity to achieve better economic conditions for resource-poor rural women and resource-poor rural families. Consumers world-wide drive the demand for organic products, thereby supporting organic farming on a national and international scale. TRIWN and CULTIVO seek avenues for members to actively participate in this growing economic opportunity.
FOOD FORESTS
The Food Forest is an alternative mode of agriculture that integrates organic and permaculture farming techniques in a farm environment that closely mimics the native rainforest ecology. Multiple crops are grown in the same area, intermingled with native plants, all growing to each other’s benefit. Food forests yield an abundance of commercially valuable crops while at the same time encouraging biodiversity of flora and fauna alike, resistance to disease, and low or negative carbon footprint. CULTIVO both promotes food forest agriculture and develops markets for products derived from food forest crops, and welcomes collaboration with TRIWN.
ECO TOURISM
We aim to enhance and strengthen the competitive advantages of the area such as the unique, pristine and stunning natural setting, the ideal climate, and the indigenous culture.
SEED BANK
The biodiversity of rainforest plant life offers a nearly endless array of plants that naturally produce nutritious, delicious foods and plants of high medicinal value. Rural and indigenous people carry forward much of the knowledge of rainforest plants. With a seed bank, species that might otherwise be ignored or become extinct will remain open to cultivation and commercial markets. CULTIVO, with its commercial partners, will assist members of the Talamanca Network in introduction and marketing unique foods and nutricuticals.
CRAFTS
There already exist several groups in the Talamanca region who produce original craft items derived from the rainforest. The Network aims to strengthen these existing groups and encourage the creation of new organizations where appropriate. CULTIVO provides a new conduit for marketing of these products on a much wider scale.
Connect With Us:
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Maite Gätjens Zeniuk
Biolley Farms-Red Talamanca External Advisor
Contact: +506 8753-15-45