About Futuro Forestal

We wanted to develop an innovative model to produce fine tropical timber in a profitable, but also ecologically and socially sustainable way. We tried to find a way to improve the living and working conditions in rural areas of Panama.

Iliana Armien, Forest Engineer:

It all started with my work as a consultant for the OAS, a national park, which in the meanwhile became a part of the worldwide biosphere reserves: the Inter-National Park “La Amistad” on the border of Costa Rica and Panama. When I finished the project as a consulter, I had 3000 $ available. I thought I could reforest about 10 hectares with that amount of money with native species – all by myself, with my own hands. I talked with my husband Andreas about the idea and we both agreed, that we could make this kind of reforestation also profitable for investors.

Andreas Eke, Geographer:

At first I worked in development projects in Latin America and after in economically interested projects. Later, I went back to Germany to study Geography. We complement each other very well, Iliana with her forestry point of view and I with my geographical point of view. After the first discussion with Iliana I though: “yes, let’s try it”. We got a credit from the world’s best bank, my mother, of 20 000 German Marks. We also had people who believed in our project and wanted to participate. We thank our investors for the confidence in us, when they invested 10 years ago. At this time, our timber investment was only an idea.