Nebliselva El Jaguar

Catching up on posts with these next few. Domitila was the first reserve I visited and the only one so far to get a report on the blog.

The next set of field visits were to Nebliselva El Jaguar and Finca Esperanza Verde. Jaguar and FEV could not be any more different climatically. Jaguar is near Jinotega, in the north and in the mountains, so high in those mountains in fact that it is cloud forest. Every night heavy rains drummed the tin roof of my cabin. Every evening and morning clouds obscured everything, heavy wet clouds bookending the rain.














Birds are everywhere. I saw my first wild toucans here, three of them sitting in a tree just outside the cabin. Chachalacas, large noisy birds, could be heard calling from within the forest. flew from tree to tree. My driver Norlan had a near obsessive need to see Chachalacas, something he got from his father. I suspect this comes from hearing they are good to eat. Norlan was very disappointed not to see the flock of 8 flying from tree to tree near the cabin. (Note: the photo is not mine.)















El Jaguar grows organic shade-grown coffee in the reserve. They have an exclusive contract with Whole Foods through Allegro Coffee for all their coffee This is interesting in conservation
circles. The shade can come from native trees and plants which serves to preserve native flora and fauna, increase carbon absorption, and allow multiple crops to grow on one area of land. I really don't know much about it. What I just said there could be total bunk.

A big chunk of the reserve is unmanaged cloud forest. Thick forest. The kind of forest you imagine when imagining JUNGLE. Things growing everywhere, on everything, taking advantage of any sunlight from a fallen tree to canopy and all points in between.














The cabins fit the surroundings very well. This one is barely visible at the top of the mountain, seen over coffee and bananas.