WASHINGTON, D.C.—Tree climbers from across Latin America and the Caribbean reached new heights last month thanks to specialized instructors from Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest. El Yunque instructors hosted a five-day workshop in El Yunque National Forest to teach tree climbers from the countries of Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia how to safely reach the high canopies of their forests. It is there they will find tree seeds adapted to the local environment and crucial for successful reforestation initiatives.

Expanding the number of certified tree climbers in Latin America and the Caribbean is imperative to reforestation and restoration efforts. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, like much of the world, are facing rapid forest loss. Curbing illegal logging and clear cutting and planting robust seedlings will help reduce the problem.

Workshop attendees from government and non-governmental organizations expanded their knowledge about restoration and learned the physical skills necessary to collect high-quality seeds, such as knot tying, equipment maintenance, limb walking and rescue techniques. Forest Service instructors also covered safety standards.

Jose De Jesus Vargas Gonzalez from the Peregrine Fund in Darien, Panama, noted that the workshop will help him pursue wildlife conservation in his home country.

Víctor M. Prado-Marcano, biological science technician for El Yunque National Forest, said, “I felt fully honored for serving our brothers and sisters Latinoamericanos in this unique opportunity. Teaching local tree-climbing techniques for coworkers and partners is always great experience, but this one went beyond boundaries. Thank you, Forest Service, for providing the network to expand the conservation efforts in Latinoamérica.”

The newly collected seeds help reduce the cost of reforestation initiatives by providing stock for seed banks shared by the countries of the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, which all participate in free trade agreements with the United States. The Forest Service has been supporting the environmental chapter of these agreements since 2017 with funding from the U.S. Department of State. The International Programs Office manages technical exchanges and supports natural resource management programming throughout Latin America.

Technical exchanges such as the tree-climbing workshop integrate cultural and scientific networks in a way that maximizes the efficiency of conservation initiatives. Their existence is integral to maintaining adaptable yet self-sustaining systems in countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.