How I Got Involved in Rainforest Adoption in Costa Rica
Drawn to the Rainforest
I didn’t always dream of Costa Rica. But after hearing vivid stories from friends and family who had been there—about the incredible biodiversity, the colors, the life—I became curious. Through their stories, photos, and videos, I became so inspired that I started painting many of Costa Rica’s wild animals.
When one of my friends began volunteering for a foundation called Adopteer Regenwoud, something clicked. I wanted this project to grow as big as it could, and if there was any way I could contribute, I would love to be part of that.
That’s how the idea was born to support the foundation with my art. I painted a jaguar and a toucan—two iconic rainforest animals—which are still gifted today as digital downloads to people who support the foundation through monthly donations.
Since I first got to know the foundation years ago, it has grown steadily—making real progress toward its goals. Beautiful projects and collaborations have taken shape, aiming not only to protect the rainforest, but also to work with the people who live there.
Among them are indigenous communities who never left the rainforest—people who have lived in deep relationship with nature for generations. They’ve not only preserved their ancestral culture, but also safeguarded a kind of wisdom we’ve largely forgotten in the West: a deep understanding that we are not separate from nature, but part of it, physically and spiritually.
These communities know the medicinal power of plants. They approach animals and trees with reverence. Even the act of planting a tree is not just a task but a sacred act, done with presence, ritual, and care—an offering to the earth, rather than an intervention.
As I see it, it’s time to re-embrace this way of living, so both we and our planet can return to greater health and harmony. I hope to visit Costa Rica and the Adopteer Regenwoud project in the near future. Until then, I hope I can inspire you to participate—and adopt your own piece of rainforest.
The People Behind the Mission
Adopt Rainforest (in Dutch: Adopteer Regenwoud) was founded by Maarten van der Beek and Matthijs Bol—a biologist and a philosopher—both deeply connected to nature and driven by a shared love for the rainforest. What began as a heartfelt idea grew into a fully registered foundation with projects in both the Netherlands and Costa Rica.
Their approach is refreshingly holistic. They don’t just protect land; they work with biologists, indigenous communities, and local farmers to restore degraded rainforest and create ecological corridors where wildlife can safely move and thrive.
They plant native trees—including fast-growing pioneer species and fruit-bearing trees—so that birds and animals naturally support the regeneration process.
For just €2.50, you can adopt one square meter of rainforest! It’s a small gesture with a big impact—helping preserve biodiversity, support reforestation, and empower local communities to protect their land and legacy.
If this speaks to your heart as it did to mine, you can learn more—or adopt your own piece of rainforest—here: https://www.adoptrainforest.com/
Together, even from afar, we can help something wild and beautiful thrive.
The photos and videos that inspired me—and which you see here—were kindly shared by Adopteer Regenwoud.
