surveying

I've recently been to the field, a couple weeks already and planning on a few more, in order to collect -forest inventory- data. Frankly, it satisfying to have something a bit more concrete now, some raw numbers to play around with. The collecting part has put my legs to good use, surveying the territory for pine, oak and broadleaf trees (just by measuring basal area). I've been up and down many hills and valleys, getting a good feel of the land and environment there...ticks included. Alongside, the soil team has been getting the job done (see previous post), and we might just finish those eight pasture-forest cow enclosures that we're aiming for soon.  It's been a good month indeed.

And some curiosities from the field...

Bromeliad flower

a mirage: cold one served on tap

seed ticks, true horror

an unexpected treat (Rubus urticifolius?)

time to dig - the soil team

soil searching

feeling the soil - being one with the soil

the "buttery" soil sticks

they came, they dug, they...left a treasure?

tiempo de vacas flacas

Es evidente que el territorio ya se está secando. Las áreas abiertas de pastos ofrecen cada vez menos al ganado, pero este sigue encontrando refugio y alimento en las zonas boscosas. Prácticamente cualquier planta que esté un poco verde y/o tierna es alimento potencial, incluso aquellas que me imagino son menos palatables.

It's evident now that the territory is becomming dryer. Open pastures have less to offer to cattle, but cows keep finding refuge and feed in forested areas. Practically any plant that's a bit green and/or tender is potential food, even those that I imagine are less palatable.

el ganado al bosque - cows to the forest

Muhlenbergia sp. ("sacavasto") - first time I've seen it grazed - primera vez que lo veo pastado

las cuatro vacas - the four cows

flor de candelaria

Flowering right on time for "Día de la Candelaria" (Candlemas) on 2nd February, and hence taking its name, Guarianthe skinneri (Orchidaceae) was in full color on our last visit to La Sepultura. This is a native orchid to Chiapas that also extends throughout Central America. It's actually Costa Rica's national flower ;)

A pleasure finding these orchids flowering in the mountain, and of course also in people's backyards.