Tierra Oscura properties are known for their thick layers of Magrove forest, that frame the land in bright green tufts and border the coast lines and deep water bays. It may be tempting to some investors to cut these forests down to open views or offer direct swimming access to the their ocean front homes, but it’s important to note that these eco-systems serve as homes and nurseries for many coral reef fish, sponges and anemones and the fishing targets Tarpon, Jacks, Gruper and Snook. A study on the Mesoamerican reef showed that there are as many as 25 times more fish on reefs close to mangrove areas than in areas where mangroves have been cut down. Mangrove forests are vitally important to coral reef protection , and in fact, your new real estate investment too! The dense root systems of mangrove forests trap sediments and prevents erosion from lapping tides and storms. Thankfully, it is illegal in Bocas del Toro to cut down these irreplaceable eco-systems.

The landscaping work at the Tierra Oscura Sanctuary is an excellent example of how working with nature, can inspire a beautiful result. The coastal garden on this property is what dreams are made of, using the natural ebb and flow of the gentle Caribbean tides, the owner has created a large pond where cranes and other preditors like Camen, arrive for their daily catch. The earth around the pond has been built up and a rock sea wall has been added to create a prominent divide between land and sea, while respecting the space around the mangroves, thus honoring the hundreds of species that call this property home. It is with this respect for nature that we encourage clients to design their lives. It is essential to tame parts of the jungle to live peacefully in Bocas del Toro, but the impact we have as developers should be as minimal as possible.