At the Karen Mogensen Reserve there is a Biological and Meteorological Research Station (Bio-Climatic Station). It was created to obtain knowledge from scientific research, in order to conserve and preserve the ecosystems of the transitional forest, the humid forest and the tropical dry forest found in the Karen Mogensen Reserve and the Nicoya Peninsula. In addition to biological and ecological studies, both short and long-term meteorological data are collected to determine how Climate Change affects animal and plant species, and their interrelationships.
The Station was built with the support of The Italian Environmental Association (GEV) Modena-Foreste per Sempre. Prof. Dario Sonetti, biologist, professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, found funds for the completion of the structure between Italian private funders to support shared economic efforts with ASEPALECO.
The Station was inaugurated in 2014 and has been officially recognized by the Costa Rican government, its Embassy in Italy and the Italian Embassy in Costa Rica. The project has also been recognized and sponsored by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, as well as by the participation of teachers, researchers and students of the University.
TYPES OF RESEARCH WE DO
- Inventories (as complete as possible) of animal and plant species to be included in national and international lists of biodiversity and distribution of digitized maps (GIS).
- Ecological studies of the different forest systems in the successive phases of natural regeneration in order to find the parameters to favor restoration.
- The Bio-climatic Station will allow real-time and long-term monitoring of atmospheric phenomena in action. It is connected to the national meteorological network, which provides support to the activities of forecasting and prevention of meteorological phenomena to local farmers and the public.
- At the Station there are webcams and special sensors to monitor clouds, atmospheric phenomena, air quality and a portion of forest, memorizing in their place and sending to the data centers of the Internet. There is energy from solar panels and complete cover of Wi-Fi.
SPECIES INVENTORY LISTS
Check this link for results and updates on research in the Karen Mogensen Reserve.