THE PROJECT TEAM
Genevieve (Jenny) Giddy, a nature-loving displaced South African now living in upstate New York and Vancouver, BC. Formerly a research librarian at Environment Canada, Genevieve founded Cloudbridge with her late husband, Professor Ian Giddy.
Tom Gode is Manager and Program Director of the Cloudbridge Reserve, and is working hard to improve access and to protect the forest, old and new. Imaginative and dedicated, his experience with managing a large not-for-profit in the US, and environmental background has equipped him well for this position. He can be found at Casa Catedral Verde, just up the pathway from our Casa. Or contact him at tom.gode@cloudbridge.org
Linda Moskalyk is the Cloudbridge’s resident arborist. A Canadian from Saskatoon, she developed “Schools Plant Legacy in Trees” an educational forest initiative for local schools in that city. Linda continues to find new and exciting things as she explores the forests of Costa Rica.
Cloudbridge is run by an Advisory Board which reports to Genevieve Giddy, Director. Members of the Board are Jean-Guy Trussart, Adrian Arias, Oren Marciano, Tom Gode and Omar Elizondo. Cloudbridge receives no government funding, and relies on donations and funds generated by Genevieve Giddy, hikers, visiting school groups, and online donors. Thanks to all for their contributions.
Dr. Ian Giddy
Founder of Cloudbridge
18th January 1948 – 14th June 2009
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing”
- Helen Keller
Research Volunteers form an integral part of the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve. Year after year, they have contributed to an ever-increasing body of knowledge about the flora and fauna and recovery of the cloud forest. Their contributions may be found at the Research Reports section of this web site. Some, like John Tingerthal (information management and GIS) and Toby Jacobs have continued to be involved with Cloudbridge research long after their initial stay.
The people of San Gerardo de Rivas are bringing local knowledge, supplying experienced planters, gathering saplings from the neighboring forest, and encouraging schoolchildren to participate in planting and learning activities. Pictured at left are Mauricio Marín, a local who has helped us with the reforestation project, and his family.
The Government of Costa Rica has fostered a regulatory environment conducive to efforts such as the Cloudbridge Project. Costa Rica has an ambitious conservation program, perhaps one of the most developed in the world for a country with rainforests. It includes restrictions on deforestation, financial and property-rights incentives for private preservation and environmentally sound forestation, and a national park system that covers more than 15% of the country. The biggest of these, La Amistad, adjoins Chirripó National Park and encompasses most of the Talamanca mountain range.
One day, once all titles are clear and boundary issues with neighbors settled, we hope to be able to benefit from the government’s financial incentives to preserve forests and watersheds.
Join the Team!
To get involved, email Genevieve Giddy at jenny@cloudbridge.org and Tom Gode at tom.gode@cloudbridge.org