Monteverde’s Example for the World | Interview with the Director of Bosque Eterno de Los Niños

Monteverde has become a global model for environmental conservation and sustainability in small communities, and that success comes mostly from the forward-thinking and hardworking people on the ground in the local community.

From the trail guides and park rangers to the tourist industry and local businesses, everyone contributes in their own way, and throughout the community, leaders like Lindsay Stallcup, Executive Director of the Monteverde Conservation League, bridge the gaps between global resources (informational, technological, and financial) and the work happening every day in Monteverde. 

Recently, we sat down with Director Stallcup to discuss the day-to-day work running Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, which is managed by the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL), and what Monteverde represents to other communities around the globe trying to grow sustainably and protect their natural resources. 

Becoming Executive Director | Passion for People and A Search for No Boring Days

Director Stallcup has been leading the organization that oversees the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños for nearly nine years. Her journey to this role is marked by a deep-rooted connection to Costa Rica and a passion for meaningful, challenging work. 

Stallcup’s academic path began with a Human Biology degree from Stanford, followed by graduate studies at the University of Georgia (UGA), where she conducted research in Monteverde and worked with groups on UGA’s Costa Rican campus.

During her time working in San Luis, Stallcup supported study-abroad students and immersed herself in the vibrant conservation community of Monteverde. After eight to twelve years of hands-on experience in the area, she eventually transitioned to the MCL, seeking a role that would never leave her bored. 

Her tenure as Executive Director has fulfilled that wish, though she admits it has come with a steep learning curve. Stallcup’s drive to make a difference has shaped her role at the MCL, where every day brings new challenges in conserving one of the world’s most vital cloud forests.

Strong Roots in a Growing Community

Since moving to Costa Rica in 2008, Director Stallcup has witnessed Monteverde’s transformation firsthand. After years in San Luis, she settled permanently in Monteverde, where she’s seen a steady influx of new residents—both Costa Ricans and international transplants—and a booming tourism industry that has reshaped the area. 

However, alongside this tourist boom Director Stallcup has noticed that over the years, as tourism cycles through periods of growth and downturn, there’s also been increasing effort toward diversifying the local economy, to ensure that Monteverde remains resilient no matter what changes lie ahead.

The Projects and Purpose of the Monteverde Conservation League

As a nearly 40-year-old Costa Rican nonprofit, the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) has one guiding mission: to protect the tropical ecosystems and biodiversity of Monteverde. 

Originally, the organization never anticipated managing 23,000 hectares (56,000 acres) of protected land, but over the years, the MCL has acquired ownership of this patchwork of land through a series of strategic land purchases, ultimately preserving a vast, roadless wilderness.

Today, MCL’s operations extend across multiple locations, with several key areas open to the public. Visitors can explore the Bajo del Tigre area, visit trail stations with lodging, and visit La Tigra de San Carlos, where trails and facilities offer a unique immersion into the forest. 

Guided tours, environmental education, and the work of dedicated rangers are all part of MCL’s community-facing approach, which encourages guests both local and international to connect deeply with conservation, empowering them to make a difference in their own lives and beyond.

Daily Life Overseeing Monteverde Conservation

Director Stallcup’s role in the Monteverde Conservation League involves a blend of office work, field visits, staff coordination, and even assisting with academic research. On any given day, Lindsay balances paperwork, manages funding and partnerships, and tackles the logistical challenges that come with preserving such a vast natural area. 

As Director Stallcup explains, conservation isn’t only about protecting land; it’s about managing unseen operational needs — finances, research, and planning — that keep the team of 32 core staff and 70 contributors/volunteers effective and functioning.

It’s a process that requires all hands on deck. As Director Stallcup shared, members of the team pitch in with everything from building infrastructure to hosting tours, all in service of protecting, preserving, and sharing the Bosque Eterno de los Niños with the world.  

“We have an incredibly diverse, adaptable team, where everyone does a little bit of everything. Makes sense for those people to be protecting a diverse, adaptable natural resource.”

Work for the Whole World 

As one of Costa Rica's oldest and most respected reserves, the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños (BEN) holds a special place both locally and globally. When we spoke with Director Stallcup, she emphasized that working within the BEN presents an incredible legacy to uphold and an immense responsibility. 

BEN thrives to this day because of the commitment of thousands of people across over 40 countries, making it a true testament to international grassroots conservation that began with the dream of children wanting to make a difference.

For Stallcup, this global effort is a powerful reminder, especially on difficult days, that no action is too small. The work at BEN transcends any individual, reflecting a shared mission to protect biodiversity and ensure clean water for future generations. The message to each supporter is clear: every contribution counts, and together, they are making a real difference.

“We don’t want anyone out there to think maybe I’m doing something small and insignificant, I should just stop. Because every bit of effort matters.”

Bringing the Beauty of Monteverde to A Worldwide Audience 

The global reach of the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños (BEN) has its roots in the 1980s, when the deforestation of Monteverde’s forests raised alarm worldwide. Although the Costa Rican government had officially protected the land, it lacked the resources to fully enforce those protections.

Local farmers, who had hoped to cultivate the land, suddenly faced restrictions on cutting trees, which created tension and a pressing need for an alternative solution. Recognizing the forest’s immense ecological value, international conservationists reached out and found an unexpected ally via connections to schoolteachers in Sweden. 

The schoolteachers introduced their students to the cause, who felt a powerful call to action, launching fundraisers that spread across Swedish schools and later inspired children in Germany, England, Japan, and beyond. 

Supported by like-minded adults and conservation organizations, this movement grew to involve young supporters from 44 countries, forming the backbone of BEN's preservation efforts. Decades later, BEN is protected not only by its formal boundaries and park rangers, but also by a network of passionate global supporters, exemplifying the strength of grassroots conservation on an international scale.

The Vision for the Future of BEN and Monteverde Conservation

One major goal for the MCL is to safeguard the forest of the BEN for eternity, which includes improving the organization’s financial stability, and expending their efforts for environmental education, research, land acquisition, and global outreach.

Another major aim is for BEN to be a strong model of how conservation can protect valuable forests, and this is exemplified by the collaborations they have with other reserves, organizations, and the community. 

BEN, along with its neighboring reserves, comprise a biological corridor far larger than any single organization could manage, so various organizations throughout Monteverde are constantly working together to share information, resources, and ideas on conversation. 

As Stallcup explains, there’s little need for territoriality in this shared vision. There’s plenty of work to go around, and these groups work to complement each other, and through their combined efforts foster a thriving protected ecosystem that benefits everyone involved.

Partnering with Local Businesses and Workers

The Bosque Eterno de Los Niños (BEN) has developed strong relationships with various community partners to enhance its conservation efforts and visitor experiences. Key partners include operators like our team members at Ocotea Tours & Transfers, who work with BEN and Bajo del Tigre to provide a seamless booking and visiting experience for guests. 

For visitors to the BEN trails, the experience is enriched when they explore with a knowledgeable local guide, who offers valuable interpretation of the environment, helping guests better understand the forest’s unique biodiversity. 

These partnerships with local providers ensure that both the local community and visitors can experience and contribute to the conservation of this vital ecosystem.

Ocotea Group’s History with BEN and Believing in the “Bigger Bottom Line”

In Monteverde, strong community relationships support professional ones. For example, Director Stallcup has a personal connection to Ocotea through Karen Fallas’s mother Rosie Fallas, who worked with the conservation league since it was founded (more than 30 years). 

The Fallas family grew up with their mom working with this organization, and their experience navigating the challenges of owning family lands with both farmland and protected forest helped shape Karen’s vision of tourism that persists to this day. 

Today, one of the things that Director Stallcup admires about the Ocotea Group and companies like them is their dedication to implementing responsible, sustainable practices rather than simply talking about them. 

As Stallcup explains, with Costa Rica’s sustainability-heavy destination image, some companies in the country talk about conservation as a marketing tactic and then do not follow up with action. 

Meanwhile, she’s seen Ocotea and companies like them that actually believe in the “bigger bottom line,” a mentality that sees a business not only as a profit-generating entity but rather as a vital supporter of the community.

“There are real benefits here to be found in environmental and community investment, and whether you personally put an economic value on them or not, we all depend on them. We definitely wish there were more businesses out there that understood this like the team at Ocotea Group.”

A Million Reasons to Love Monteverde

It became clear throughout our conversation that there remains a deep connection to the natural world in everyone who lives in Monteverde, and even more so for those who work to protect it. We finished with a few short questions about Director Stallcup’s personal thoughts on Monteverde.

What’s one thing about Monteverde that you wish more people in the world knew about or appreciated?

“I wish that everyone who visited Monteverde knew the BEN and the reserve. I wish that people realized how incredible these things are, and how much of an ongoing accomplishment and backbone these forests are. Everyone who goes to La Fortuna or Monteverde is benefitting from this incredible natural resource.”

For our readers and listeners, what’s one reason they should absolutely visit Monteverde?

“I think people should visit because the current region of Monteverde represents something grassroots and beautiful. Within the Monteverde area, you can encounter an incredible amount of biodiversity found in a small area, but it’s more than that. It’s an ambitious example of human resilience, biological protection, climate work, human resources, and financial innovation that everyone can learn from.”

What do you get up to in your spare time in Monteverde?

“Well I’m a mom of an 11-year-old, and I’m on several boards and community organizations outside of my work with the BEN, so I don’t get much spare time, but when I do, I love going for a hike out in the forest. It rejuvenates, restores you, and it always gets me ready to go back to work protecting it.”

A Window Into the Beauty of Monteverde

As we wrapped up our conversation with Director Stallcup, we took a moment to see some of the wildlife footage from the reserve, an audiovisual representation of their success. 

That the ecosystem can support pumas and jaguars is a strong indicator of environmental health, and seeing these fierce predators lounging in their natural habitat is an experience beyond words. 

We thank Director Stallcup for taking the time to meet with us!

To learn more about the BEN and the creatures in it, you can explore their Instagram and YouTube pages. To explore the BEN for yourself, you can reach out to our team members over at Ocotea Tours & Transfers on your next stay in Monteverde.