As XTERRA returns to Las Catalinas next weekend, one of the activities introduced during last year’s event will also be making its return, giving participants and members of the community another opportunity to leave something growing behind.
On Saturday, August 22, from 1 pm to 3 pm, the XTERRA Tree Planting Campaign will return to the Nursery, where 300 native trees donated by Coopeguanacaste will be planted as part of this year’s activities. The planting will continue the development of the arboretum that began during XTERRA last year, when 150 trees were planted in the area.
Beyond adding another 300 trees, the initiative is intended to support the active recovery of the Pan de Azúcar watershed. As native species become established and grow, they can contribute to carbon sequestration while also providing additional habitat and resources for the wildlife that forms part of the surrounding ecosystem.
This year, the activity will once again be hosted and organized by XTERRA and Las Catalinas, led by the Agroforestry team. It will also include the participation of Coopenae and Abriendo Mentes, a nonprofit organization that works with rural and underserved communities in Guanacaste. Through educational and community development programs for children, youth, adults and women, Abriendo Mentes helps participants build skills that can lead to greater educational and economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
The tree planting is free and open to the public, whether or not you are participating in an XTERRA race. Everything needed for planting will be provided, so residents, visitors, athletes and members of the wider community can simply join in and plant a tree of their own.
Between races, cheering, trails and all the excitement that XTERRA brings to Town, Saturday afternoon will offer a quieter way to participate in the weekend. Long after the finish lines have been packed away, these 300 young trees will continue growing alongside the 150 planted last year, making this an XTERRA tradition we hope will keep taking root year after year.