Tierra Pacifica Environmental Commitments and Innovations

• Beginning with 88 hectares of deforested cattle pasture and abandoned rice farmland Tierra Pacifica developed a Master Plan to achieve a residential development that also restores ecological assets, including forest cover, water resources, soil fertility, river and mangrove areas and habitat.
• Roads follow land contours to minimize erosion and help retain rainwater onsite. All roadsides and stormwater crossings on roads have permanent cement and rock drainage ways to control and capture rainwater runoff. Roads are gravel and permeable.
• Mature trees are protected and thousands of new native trees have been planted and are maintained. Plantings are drought resistant and water conserving wherever possible. Majority of irrigation is done with highly efficient drip systems.
• Soil stabilizing vetiver, forage peanut and other ground covers are planted to combat erosion, capture moisture and improve fertility.
• Lot shapes are designed to provide green zones owned in common and to protect and restore existing trees, canopy “highways” and seasonal streams. Large lots with limited building envelopes assure low density for the entire project.
• 40% of the property is protected as green zones. This is the most ecologically valuable portion of the property encompassing seasonal streams and bordering the river and mangrove. It will be maintained forever as a protected nature reserve, organic farm and recently completed wildlife ponds.
• Mi Tierra Organic Farm supplies fresh fruits and produce to the area and serves as a demonstration farm to teach other local farmers how to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, pineapples, passion fruit and more.
• All power and telephone lines were installed underground to protect monkeys, birds and other wildlife and to preserve unobstructed natural views.
• The swimming pool at Club Arbol uses a saltwater system requiring less chemicals and releases fewer harmful fumes into the environment. Solar power heats water at the Club.
• Houses and community buildings use terra cotta roof tile, ceiling insulation, polarized glass on all the windows and glass doors, and large overhangs to conserve energy. Construction wood is almost exclusively from reforested trees such as teak and melina, grown and purchased locally. Decorative fascia rock and river rocks for drainage ways all supplied from local quarries. Sand, rock, and cement for concrete mixes all supplied and purchased locally.
• All septic systems are designed with no need for chemicals and to avoid any environmental contamination.
• Unlike many larger area developments local workers are employed for all jobs to support the local labor force.
• Community Outreach supports many local groups and activities including sea turtle protection, estuary and mangrove preservation, “Blue Flag” beach cleanliness, local and migratory bird habitat improvement, waste recycling, environmental education and safety, and community security programs.
• Tierra Pacifica is a key partner in the program to restore the 10,000 hectare Nandamojo watershed and the Restoring Our Watershed NGO. Road and lot layout, natural landscaping, green zone design and organic farming techniques are employed that retain rainwater runoff on the property as long as possible to help recharge the critical Nandomojo Aquifer. New storm water management techniques were employed throughout the project including check dams and road gabions, engineered swales and percolation pits, habitat and settling ponds, and berms planted on contour lines. These innovations are being promoted for use by land owners and developers throughout the region.
• The Environmental Committee of Tierra Pacifica is responsible for ensuring residents’ compliance with the environmental norms of the project and performs regular oversight of developing problems in the green zones, especially during the rainy season.