Help Save 2.5 Acres of Costa Rican Rainforest!

**Help us save a precious hectare of Costa Rican rainforest from imminent destruction! We have just 30 days to raise $75,000 to protect this vital ecosystem and its wildlife forever.**

Hi, I’m Jai – founder of Wanderlust Villas Retreat Center & Wellness Paradise in Jacó, Costa Rica.

### Our Journey: From Barren Land to Blooming Sanctuary

In 2017, I started with a simple home on a barren plot of deforested land. Through years of dedication, sacrifice, and the guidance of permaculture ethics – Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share & Future Care – that space has blossomed into a sanctuary of healing, regeneration, and connection with nature.

Daily visits from toucans, scarlet macaws, monkeys, and sloths remind us of the sacredness of this place and the vibrant life it supports.

Purpose:

To raise the remaining $75,000 needed to complete the purchase of two hectares of land in Costa Rica, where a vibrant permaculture sanctuary will protect biodiversity, educate communities, and inspire a regenerative future—starting from one backyard at a time. When I moved to Jacó 22 years ago, it was a wild paradise—lush jungle, monkeys playing on the beach, and nature alive all around us. Today, Jacó is a vibrant, growing town—but the monkeys are gone, and the jungle has given way to high-rise condos and expanding development.

We believe progress doesn’t have to come at the cost of nature. This project is about showing that development and ecology can coexist—not one instead of the other, but side by side, in harmony.

The space today:

Wanderlust is now a vibrant sanctuary: three homes hosting up to 35 guests, lush gardens, two swimming pools, a hot tub, fruit trees, wildlife, and peace. People arrive and tell me they feel hugged by the energy here. That’s what I hoped to build—a place where transformation begins.

### The Urgent Threat: Paradise at Risk

Now, the land bordering our retreat – one of the last untouched hectares of primary rainforest in the Jacó area – is under immediate threat. In 2023, chainsaws arrived, signaling the start of deforestation. I managed to negotiate a temporary pause to the destruction, but this is a fragile reprieve. Unless we can purchase this land, it will be lost forever to development.

Since day one, I’ve lived with deep sacrifice. I started in my car, then moved to a tent with a porta-potty. Eventually, I settled into a glassed-in storage space—where I’ve remained since 2018. I haven’t had a proper kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom for eight years. But I’ve had a vision—and I’ve watched it come alive.

I’ve poured everything I have into this, raising most of the funds needed – but I urgently need your help to raise the final **$75,000 by May 24th** to permanently protect this irreplaceable land.

Current Status:

• ✅ Land Size: 1 hectare

• ✅ Already Funded: $215,000

• Remaining to Raise: $75,000

• Lead Contributor: Jai, a local woman living next door, who has funded the majority to protect the land from deforestation

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Immediate Goals:

• Save the land from being bulldozed for development

• Preserve wildlife habitat and create a safe sanctuary for animals

• Plant a diverse food forest using permaculture principles

• Build a small eco-home for a live-in permaculture volunteer

• Grow organic food and eggs to donate to local families in need

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Permaculture Ethics Guiding the Project:

• Earth Care – Regenerating soil, protecting biodiversity, and honoring nature

• People Care – Supporting local communities with food and education

• Fair Share – Sharing surplus food with those in need

• Future Care – Protecting natural resources for generations to come

### Our Vision: An Earth Embassy for a Regenerative Future

This is more than just land conservation. It’s a chance to expand our vision and create a living Earth Embassy – a beacon of hope and a model for regenerative living. We envision this expanded sanctuary as a haven for wildlife, a center for permaculture education, and a healing space for visitors and future generations to reconnect with the natural world.

Without your help, we could lose this precious ecosystem forever. But with your support, we can protect it – now and for generations to come.

### What Your Immediate $77,000 Support Achieves

We are so close to making this dream a reality. Please donate today – every single contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Every hour counts.

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## Our Vision Unfolding: Stretch Goals for the Earth Embassy

While our immediate and most urgent goal is to raise $75,000 to rescue the first hectare of rainforest, this is just the beginning of the Earth Embassy vision. Your continued support can help us achieve so much more, transforming this land into a thriving sanctuary for generations to come. Here’s how additional funds will make a difference:

Community Impact & Vision:

• Educational Programs:

Teach people how to grow food in their own gardens and yards—bringing nature back into urban and residential areas

• ️ Urban Permaculture Model:

Inspire transformation of concrete jungles into edible, regenerative landscapes

• Neighborhood Connection:

Encourage local food trading, building deeper community ties and shared abundance

• Scalable Vision:

Begin locally, but inspire permaculture-based redesigns across all of Costa Rica in the towns like Jacó that are being deforested for development: it’s not too late to integrate this plan!

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Why Now?

Costa Rica is at a pivotal moment—experiencing rapid development and expansion. There’s still time to influence national infrastructure in a way that:

• Blends green space into growing urban areas

• Embeds nature within future development

• Protects and honors the unique ecosystems of Costa Rica

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Bigger Picture & Long-Term Goals:

• Create a Nonprofit Organization focused on land conservation, food justice, and permaculture education

• Secure Larger Tracts of Land:

Begin fundraising for hundreds of hectares of rainforest and jungle to become protected conservation zones

• Wildlife Protection & Reforestation:

Offer sanctuaries for animals and rebuild rainforest ecosystems with native plants and food forests

• Global Inspiration:

Expand this model beyond Costa Rica into neighboring countries—creating a ripple effect of earth stewardship, food resilience, and conscious community

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Why Rainforest Protection Matters for All Life:

• The rainforests are the lungs of the Earth, producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide

• They host over 50% of the planet’s biodiversity, making them critical for preserving life on Earth

• Protecting rainforests helps regulate global climate patterns and safeguards indigenous knowledge and natural medicine

• By protecting them, we protect the future of all species—human and non-human alike

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Final Note:

This project is just the beginning. It’s not just about saving a piece of land—it’s about igniting a movement rooted in love for the Earth, connection to community, and creating a regenerative future. Together, we can protect what’s sacred, inspire new ways of living, and co-create a world where nature and people thrive in harmony.

https://www.villawanderlust.com/

Click Here for a special presentation created just for the FUTURE VISION BUSINESS Project. (Last updated 11:00AM, 05/20/25)