Plants are what La Esperanza is all about! Most of the forest fragments are actually on adjacent properties, but fortunately we have access through a right of way through them. Existing properties are dominated by second-growth forest and scrubby growth, but the canopy is rising rapidly since the “beasts” were removed 2 years ago. That, and the number of native trees, bushes and vines we have planted since. Following Mateo Hernandez’ advice, we mostly count on natural regeneration, but are aggressively planting species that are typical to the forest type but have disappeared. We have started a native epiphyte garden by the main trail entrance that has many species attached fallen or pruned branches and pieces separated from important species from elsewhere on the site.