Fundación Pan America

[Mikefl]

Info on Rancho El Laurel:

Summary
Rancho “El Laurel"

Rancho El Laurel is a property located in the Limon Province, Costa Rica, that belongs to the firm “Rancho El Laurel S.A."

Location.- The property is located to the east of Asuncion’s landmark and Southeast of the Asunción town, between the rivers Banano Bananito and Aguas Zarcas.

Registery Data.- The property is registered in the Public Registry of Properties, Book #2543, P. 262, #9385, entrance 12, with an area of 2300 hectares approximately.

Legal representative.- Economist Sergio A. Sanabria Rucavado, Costa Rican citizen, is the President and Legal Representative of the company.

Accesses.- The access to the property can be carried out in three different ways:

1. From the Limon province it can be arrived to La Bomba town and later from this place, in a vehicle 4x4 until the town denominated María Luisa then continuing by the Northwest of the María Luisa Creek until the boundaries of the property.

2. By the West you can access from the Aguas Zarcas town and from there following the stream of the Aguas Zarcas river and other entrances.

3. From Limon province until the South of Banana town, in a vehicle 4x4.

Topography.- Two important mountains make the topographical influence of the area, one of them is the Asunción mount that rises to a benchmark of 853 m.a.s.l at the West of the property, at the South it has the influence of the Matama line that is accentuated in the hills near the Gobán river.

Hydrography.- The area is generally speaking located between the river bed of the Banano and Bananito rivers, and specifically of the tributaries of both rivers like: by Banano river: Elenita river, Aguas Zarcas and María Luisa; by Bananito river: Viscaya, Gobán and Yalu rivers. The Limon province is supplied of drinkable water in most part from the hydrographic resources that come from the rivers and tributaries that born or cross the property Rancho El Laurel

Geology and Geomorphology.- Rancho El Laurel is located in the lower parts of the hillsides of the Talamanca mountain range and the lower parts of the Matama line, with a volcanic and erosive original formation.

The formations identified in the map are constituted by calcareous shales, gritty and sandy-clay fossils.

To find igneous rocks, a diorite and quartz types is not strange since in the area there are deposits of silt and volcanic rocks of third period.

Soils.- The floors in the area present good strata of humid organic material, small developed with good drainages and low permeability with a PH from acid to strong acidity.

Timber species.- according to the technical and economic report we have, exists more than 150 timber species in the property.

Forest distribution.-

17% is covered for vegetation and thin bushes, with pastry areas and some small plantation.

23% protected forest.

60% economically exploitable forest (it will be protected when not exploiting it).

Timber inventory.- The study carried out in the year 1999 by the Castañeda and Associate Corp., consultants firm, indicates that a total of 452.000 m3 of commercial timber exists in the property (four hundred fifty two thousand) , those converted to board feet, give us an amount of 192'000.000. (One hundred ninety two millions)

Economic factor.- Using as a reference $1.60 for each board feet (price settled down in the year 1999), we would be protecting a commercial timber potential value in the amount of US $307'200.000.oo (three hundred seven millions two hundred thousand)

Limon province development

The most important commercial port of Costa Rica is located in this province. The actual government is preparing the feasibilities studies to enlarge the port with a total investment of $800 million dollars that will transform it into a mega port. Additionally the remodeling of the Airport is being developed, to offer the services as an international airport and at the same time will be alternate airport of the main airport of Costa Rica the Juan Santamaría.

Social aspects

The different Rancho El Laurel development projects would benefit the boundary communities increasing the production and the labor, we are sure to have the support of the local Government as well as the Republic one.

The previous information is supported by studies that are in our hands, prepared by forest engineers, accountings and the consulting firm Castañeda and Associate Corp., as follow:

- Enlarged Executive Summary,

- Economic and Technical Feasibility Study

- Melina and Teak Plantation Project

- Sustainable Project of Timber Cut (to be used as backup)

- Forest and Species Inventory.