Station

The Italian Association GEV Modena – Foreste per Sempre, coordinated by the current Scientific Director of the Station, Prof. Dario Sonetti, biologist and former professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, has promoted a fundraiser among private financiers to support the financial effort shared with Asepaleco for the construction of this structure.

The Station was inaugurated in 2014 and has received official recognition from the Government of Costa Rica and its embassy in Italy, as well as from the Italian embassy in Costa Rica. In addition, the project has received the official patronage of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with the aim of being able to count on the participation of its professors, researchers and students.  

Through this process we have set ourselves the following objectives:  

1. Ensure that, through the services offered by ASEPALECO, economic resources are generated for supportof the organization and generate sources of revenue for the conservation of the Reserve.
2. Allow the Nature Guides trained by ASEPALECO to continue their activity, strengthening their knowledge in natural sciences, thanks to the help of researchers. 

Live images from the local station webcam

Slideshow images last 24 hours

Live weather data from the Geophysical Observatory of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Among the studies and scientific research in the biological field that will be realized thanks to the presence of the Station are:

1. An increasingly accurate inventory of the animal and plant species of the Reserve, which will be included in the national and international lists of biodiversity and whose distribution will be inserted in digital maps (GIS).
2. The ecological study of the forest environment in the successive phases of regeneration, with the aim of identifying the functional parameters for restoration in order to promote the application of similar actions in other areas.
3. The calculation of the absorption of CO ₂ by the forest ecosystem aimed at calculating greenhouse gases in line with the methodologies and indications of the IPCC and the application of the Paris Agreement on climate.
4. The study of the eco-ethology of some indicator species present in the Reserve, capable of highlighting how climate change influences biodiversity.
5. The study of organisms whose physiological and biochemical characteristics may have potential applications for the benefit of humans.
6. Real-time and long-term monitoring of current atmospheric phenomena and, in perspective, connected to the national meteorological-climatic network, will be able to provide support to the farmers themselves and to the local population in relation to the forecasting and prevention of extreme weather events also with the use of webcams and sensors for monitoring clouds, atmospheric phenomena, vegetation and other organisms, with the possibility of on-site storage and transmission of data via the Internet to national and international research centres.
7. Finally, the Station will provide important support for teaching, internships and training activities promoted by national and international schools and universities, for the local population and for groups of people on eco-tourist or scientific visits. These activities will have an important economic impact on the Reserve itself and its management.

The weather-climatic station will allow real-time and long-term monitoring of current atmospheric phenomena and, in perspective, connected to the national weather-climatic network, it will be able to provide support to local farmers and the population in relation to forecasting and prevention activities of extreme weather events.

At the station, some facilities have been placed to monitor clouds, atmospheric phenomena, vegetation and other organisms, with the possibility of on-site archiving and internet transmission of data to national and international research centres.

Finally, the station will provide important support for teaching, internships and training activities promoted by national and international schools and universities, for the local population and for groups of people on eco-tourist and scientific visits, important for the economic benefits that derive from it for the Reserve itself and its management.

FIELD RESEARCH
– Checklist of species present in the reserve
– Study of bioindicator species
– Analysis of the response of target species and weather-climatic variations
– Tropical meteorology
– Georeferencing of the territory

OBJECTIVES
– Monitoring of the forest ecosystem
– Discovery of species known for the area and/or taxa new to science
– Study of climate changes and their effects on biodiversity
– Meteorological and climatic characterization of the Reserve
– Analysis of forest carbon flows

COLLABORATIONS for
– Degree Thesis
– University Masters
– PhD
– Spin-off
– Winter School and ecotourism
– Volunteering in international cooperation

Official website of the Meteorological and Climatic Biological Station