Naturalist Guide Carlos Chavarria Carlos Roberto Chavarría has been working on conservation and community development based on the sustainable use of natural resources since 1984. He has a Forestry degree from Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica and a post graduate degree from Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica) in Sustainable Tourism. Carlos has been involved with ecotourism and rural tourism in connection with Protected Areas, through the development of Management Plans and the design of Biological Corridors, as a way to involve the local communities on the conservation model, in Tortuguero, Talamanca, Siquirres, Sarapiquí and La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Worked as Executive Director of Tirimbina Rainforest Center, develop the NGO, promoting conservation, research and education,that became a model for sustainability around the country. He has also has been working as a member of the Directive Board of the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) (2004-2006), and from 2003 to 2010 was helping the Sarapiquí Chamber of Tourism (Catusa) as President.Carlos has taught at Ball State University and Johnson & Wales University on Sustainability and Ecotourism and has been a tutor of the Agro-ecotourism program of the Organization of American States. Today Carlos owns a Travel Agency: Costa Rica Rainforest Experience, specialized on Academic and Educational Tourism, and owns and operates the Rainforest Chocolate Tour at La Fortuna, a place to learn and enjoy the world of cacao and chocolate. Carlos has been great in organizing the logistics of this trip and will be with us to make things go smoothly. He will share his knowledge by giving presentations, bird walks and will be there to answer your questions. He will set up and oversee the bat program at Osa.
Guaria de Osa Host and Guide Jonathon Miller Weisberger Jonathon is Guaria de Osa s founder and steward. He is Guaria s principal rainforest guide, plant master, storyteller and much more! Jonathon is an intrepid and knowledgeable rainforest guide and ethnobotanist, with 15 years of ground level experience, having guided over 550 participants into remote regions of Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica. He also practices and teaches: Tui Na massage, Foot reflexology, Tai Chi and Dao In (Taoist exercises for health), I Ching study, Herbology and is Guaria's on site Surf Instructor. Jonathon is an enthusiastic storyteller who s extensive and knowledgeable understanding of rainforest medicinal flora and indigenous life and world view is unique. He has collaborated as an ethnobotanist and as a rainforest conservation advocate, living for over 10 years (1990-2000) in the Upper Amazon among 5 distinct indigenous peoples communities and tribes. Co-author of two ethnobotanical, bi-lingual educational books dedicated to indigenous youth in Amazonian Ecuador, Jonathon has published articles in Spanish and English. He has collected over 2500 plant specimens deposited in several herbariums in Ecuador and Peru. He has also collaborated on, initiated and overseen innovative rainforest conservation projects including the creation of biological reserves, de-colonization and the demarcation of indigenous territories, buffer zones around national parks, ancestral lands reclamation and cultural heritage revival. He has been influential in saving thousands of hectares of rainforest lands primarily in Ecuador on behalf of the projects. He has created an amazing resort in a beautiful setting at Guaria, built with wood from reclaimed local downed trees. He continues his work in nature conservation and education in addition to operating the resort and being an inspirational guide for the visitors. Jonathon's first book, by North Atlantic Press, August 2013: Rainforest Medicine: Preserving Indigenous Science & Biodiversity in the Upper Amazon by Jonathon Sparrow Miller Weisberger, ethnobotanist
Tree Climbing Guides Eric Folmer 1610 Seventh Street, Berkeley, Ca 94710 Eric came to adventure climbing and canopy research with a solid background of 37 years experience as a working tree climber and tree service owner. He is a certified arborist (WC-0853) and member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists. Eric has in the past 8 years gotten involved in climbing for research and adventure in tropical forests and guiding people into the tree tops. He has worked on multiple projects in the Brazilian Amazon and Costa Rica and has guided researchers, students and local guides into the canopy. He enjoys introducing people to the world of tree climbing and the magic of tree top exploration. You can contact him at: Treewolf@msn.com 510-410-8351
James Reed Treejam20@yahoo.com 415-532-4719 Fairfax, California James has a background in commercial tree work in California and Alaska. He has done a good amount of exciting emergency work after hurricanes and ice storms around the United States. James currently teaches recreational tree climbing in Marin County, CA. He enjoys travel and has climbed trees in Borneo, the Amazon, and Costa Rica.
Richard Mumford Atlanta, Georgia and the World richard@mumford.org 678-357-6812 Richard s job as a pilot takes him all over the world and he enjoys climbing trees wherever he goes. He is a cutting edge technical tree climber always trying out the newest tree climbing methods and gear. He marches to his own drummer and is constantly innovating and developing new methods and tools for climbing. Check out his great climbing videos on YouTube.
Vern Coffey is a working tree climber and certified arborist as well as a high wire circus artist extraordinaire. He performs and teaches acrobatics in addition to his tree work. His balance and agility makes him a natural smooth large tree climber. He resides in Oakland, CA and can be reached at vcoffey@gmail.com
Duane Hook is a very experienced recreational tree climber and climbing facilitator. He enjoys guiding people into the canopy in the woods in his home state Ohio. He has worked with the department of forestry by climbing and measuring some of Ohio's largest tree specimens. Duane has brought recreational tree climbing to Central Ohio through a series of Tree Identification geocaches, and now Columbus and the vicinity is home to over 30 rope access recreational tree climbers. He also teaches climbing classes for a local arborist crew in the Columbus area. Duane has climbed trees around the United States and in the Brazilian Amazon. He is an animal lover and always up for rescuing cats stuck in trees. drainhook@gmail.com