One of the main changes in the use of soils in Costa Rica by the 1950s was the transformation of native forests into pasture fields and agricultural lands. This situation greatly affected the ecosystem and caused erosion, a reduction in the infiltration of pluvial waters in the soil, flooding, and the subsequent deterioration of natural basins. Nowadays, thanks to government and private actions and to international assistance, Costa Rica is taking measures for the protection of forests.

“Finca Tori” (Tori Farm) was born as a private initiative for the protection of nature, founded by Carin and Christian Spinelli in 1999. Local scientists have supported the team of Finca Tori in order to determine the reforestation method based on species of trees native of the region and the local sensitiveness with regards to the protection of nature has been promoted.

Before Carin and Christian Spinelli purchased the Finca in 1996, the property was dedicated to dairy production. The action of cattle and men had affected the soils in great measure but some patches of forest still existed, mainly on the border of the Ciruelas River. The Spinellis decided to set forest corridors, an initiative that allowed the enhancement of both the appearance of the farm and the habitat for the fauna, in special birds and it also favored the infiltration and improved the soils.

Finca Tori is located at an altitude that oscillates between 2000 and 2400 meters (6000 and 7200 feet) at the “Central Mountain Range” of Costa Rica in Central America, at 15 Km(11 miles) from Barva de Heredia, between GPS points 10.05.800 and 10.06.750 N and 84.06.450 and 84.06.570 W. The Ciruelas River borders it to the East; this river is born some few miles from the Farm.

It is a zone of humid tropical forest, classified according to Holdridge: A very humid low-mountain forest. The average temperature varies between 13 and 18 Celsius degrees, with minimums and maximums of 3 and 25 degrees. The annual precipitation ranges between 2800 and 3500 mm (110’’ and 140’’) of rain (3800 in 2002).

There are native species of forestry importance in the remaining existing forests of the farm, such as big specimens of Quercus, in many occasions centennial.