GOOD NEWS! Scientists revived a Costa Rican national park using... orange peels!
In 1997, researchers of the University of Pennsylvania had a brilliant idea that would lead to a win-win between a big corporation and mother nature. They convinced Del Oro, a Costa Rican company producing orange juice, to donate part of their forest property to the neighboring national park "Área de Conservación Guanacaste". In exchange, the company will be authorized to dump its organic wastes into the park.
In a year, 12,000 metric tons of orange peels and pulp was dumped within the three hectares concerned by the study, before a lawsuit filled by Del Oro's competitors, arguing that they were putting the park to risk, put an end to the operations.
Because of that, the site was overlooked for over seventeen years, until a team of researchers from Princeton decided to come and measure the changes in the concerned area. The results were astonishing:
Where there was only rocks a decade earlier, the scientists had to climb roots and look for a paths between vines. To measure the changes, the scientists measured the vegetal variety and the diameter of the trees in the concerned area, as well as in a neighboring area that didn't receive the peels dumps.
The study showed dramatic improvement : its soil was richer, the tree population and diversity greater (by 176%) and the canopy closure tighter. Lots of our problems are linked to waste management, here is a proof that in some cases, waste don't even need to be wasted but can be used for the greater good!
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That's amazing the good the orange peels did!
Who would have thought it? But what a grear combination where both parties benefit. Great stuff.
Yeah, with a bit of thinking, a problem can become a solution!
It makes a lot of sense :c)
Anything that can work well in a composter will also be beneficial to the richness of the soil.
Of course there is a lot of wisdom that we have lost in the wake of weening ourselves off of the land and into the profiteering arms of big corporations. A food monopoly within the next few decades is a real possibility - and one that should not be taken lightly.
Thank you for sharing this @stoodkev!
You're welcome, totally agree with you!
Wow! Now I am going to save all my orange peels for my garden. Thanks! @stoodkev. I do hope you are very well, neighbor!
Have a good life always!
Upvoted too.
Cheers.
Thank you, I'm doing great indeed and it is very satisfying to see that this kind of project resonates with the people here! Wish you the best too!
Its great to have a good news story about industrial concerns and the environment. Maybe more big business will happen across ways to benefit themselves and the planet.
Indeed! Last year I watched a conference by Idriss Aberkane talking about the "blue economy", showing that practically every waste could become an asset. It is very interesting but in French, ill check if I find it and post about it :)
Wow! This is an amazing story, I love it! :)
In every problem there will always be a solution which does good to all participants! We just have to hold together, communicate and search for it! :)
Resteemed!
Agree! Thanks for your support!
This post received a 1.5% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @stoodkev! For more information, click here!
Kool article !!
17 years is a long time.
If you want to change wasteland in to a garden you just need 1 year for the first step. You use certain leguminose, You plant trees and bushes in between.
If You have to many orange peels, You build heat-compost-boxes (>60°C inside) near the orange gardens, after 2 month you can use this as compost near the trees, or You ask Sepp Holzer what to do.
It is important not to spray any chemicals onto the oranges (Orthophenyphenol , Biphenyl, etc)
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