In 1998, an unusual forest restoration experiment began in northwestern Costa Rica. About 1,000 truckloads of orange peels and pulp—roughly 13,200 US tons—were dumped across 7.4 acres of degraded cattle pasture. Fifteen years later, researchers returned to find something remarkable: the once-barren plot had transformed into a young, dense forest.
The experiment was conceived by ecologists Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs in partnership with orange juice producer Del Oro. Under their agreement, the company could send its processed orange waste to degraded land inside the conservation area. In return, Del Oro would donate forested property to the conservation effort.
