High in the mountains of Costa Rica, there is an ecological crisis. Bellbirds and other rainforest creatures are becoming endangered species because the forest through which they migrate has been cut down. Without the fruit from these trees, the birds and animals cannot survive! The unique bio-diversity of the region is declining as bird and animal populations decrease or become extinct.

Much of the rain forest where the birds mate and breed has been conserved in national parks or private preserves, but rich tropical forests that blanketed the Pacific slope of these mountains are rapidly disappearing. Hardly any of this critical habitat is protected!

Five years ago, the Change the World Kids and a group of Costa Rican biologists and conservationists established "Bosque para Siempre," the Forever Forest, a migratory corridor critical to the survival of indigenous birds and neo-tropical species from New England. The three-wattled bellbird represents the unique nature of this biologically diverse area, where without immediate preservation efforts, many species are threatened with extinction. With the help of youth from countries all over the world, we hope to establish this refuge for migrating and resident species in perpetuity through conservation easements and outright land purchases and though reforestation of destroyed acres. This means protecting a corridor of at least 300 hectares, and to do so will cost $1.8 million dollars.

In June, 2004, we fully paid for the first parcel of the reserve and began re-foresting Bosque para Siempre Sector Finca Rodriquez. We also created a Change the World Kids tree nursery in Monteverde to propagate the indigenous species that the birds and animals need to survive. In February, 2007, we finished paying for the third parcel named Refugio Ecological al Nacimiento y Vida. An adjacent parcel and a parcel at the top of the corridor are in immediate threat of development, and we have just entered into an agreement to buy one of these for $135,000. To date we have raised over $150,000 toward Bosque para Siempre, which included meeting a $10,000. challenge grant.

We are racing against time to save this habitat and the amazing bellbirds of Monteverde, one of only four populations in the world!

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