Biological Corridor and BioFuel Cooperative Meetings

Yesterday I attended the annual meeting at the offices of the Biological Corridor.

The Corridor has a new website:
www.corredortalamanca.org

ATEC is a member of the Biological Corridor and our goals overlap.
They are doing Fabulous work in:

Environmental Education

working with 13 local schools

Sustainable Development

* Running the program called “Payment for Environmental services” encouraging protection of forests
* Running a greenhouse of local tree varieties
* Recycling: they are managing the Recycling Association of the South Caribbean: they have an event in Suretka in Alta-Talamanca on 17 of June to inaugrate a new “punto verde” or green point that is a mini-collection center for rural communities. ATEC is cooperating with them using glass bottles to constuct an example of recycled art in the small school in Playa Chiquita.
* Working with APPTA (the Associaiton of Small Organic Producers of Talamanca) to introduce new strains of fungus-resitant strains of cacao and make value added products for local fruits.

I also attended a meeting of the Clean Energy Cooperative.

They also have a super new website:
www.coopetalamancasos.org
They have been busy:
* setting up a new plant to process used kitchen oils and oil from local producers growing the jatropha plant
* hosting workshops to spread the word about clean energy and how local producers can get involved
* planning for conferences in the fall.
* putting ATEC in charge of their accounting.
* sharing a volunteer with ATEC, don Jorge; Jorge will be helping track the growth and production of the Jatropha plant in Talamanca.