• Restoring and reconnecting basin forests and generating income: To restore and reconnect forest ecosystems in the river basin, communities have planted some 54,000 trees in degraded forest areas.  Many of these are species of native hardwood trees, but at least 20,000 are fruit trees common in the area, including mango, cashew, loquat, sapote, guava, star apple, citrus, and avocado, with another 20,000 fruit trees slated for planting each of the next three years.  Produce from these trees has provided farmers the opportunity to participate in local farmers markets, creating another income source.  Planted trees have also provided other services, such as providing shade for cattle, and creating wind breaks for crops to reduce soil erosion. Trees for reforestation are grown in a new government nursery, with local farmers participating by collecting fruit tree seeds to be raised at the nursery, and also participating in tree grafting in exchange for tree seedlings. Tree planting, along with installation of 5 km of fencing, has also been a key strategy in protecting river banks, springs, and headwater areas from farming and cattle damage.  In addition, 13 farmers have each agreed to set aside 1 ha of their farmland for forest restoration in exchange for annual PES payments from the government.

• Reforming grazing practices and diversifying income: To mitigate the soil degradation problems faced in the middle basin, zero-grazing livestock production systems have been put in place along with the implementation of silvopastoral activities, such as live fences, and the construction of silos and paddocks. To date, some 150 structures have been built for stabling cattle in zero-grazing systems and storing fodder to feed them. Fodder banks planted with species such as sugar cane and maralfalfa grass have been established to help provide high-quality feed for livestock during the dry season. Planting legumes as fodder crops also increases yields of subsequent vegetable crops due to their nitrogen-fixing ability, which will be increasingly important in areas where population pressure exists. About 313 hectares of land have been dedicated to fodder banks by producers so far. One side benefit of the zero-grazing systems and reorganization of livestock farms has been the diversification of income-generating activities on these farms. Some livestock producers have begun to produce organic fertilizer for sale, to make cheese, and to process fruit to augment their livestock incomes.

• Harvesting, storing, and managing water for agriculture: Farmers have started using new techniques for harvesting and conserving water using rainwater, small dams and water intakes in spring areas. The water is used for drip irrigation, mini-irrigation, watering livestock, the cleaning and maintenance of pigsties, and to feed aquaculture fishponds. In addition, 12 out of a planned 25 water reservoirs have been constructed for on-farm water storage, with local Community Water Committees identifying the appropriate location for the reservoirs. These small reservoirs, designed by university graduate students, are built to provide water for agricultural activities during the dry season.

• Implementing soil conservation measures: Through a systematized and practical training module on soil conservation practices, producers have learned techniques such as building guard channels, constructing soil terraces, and applying organic fertilizer. There are now some 99 miles of ditches built to prevent soil erosion, promote water infiltration, and address soil degradation in the target landscape.

• Promoting organic agriculture: Some 280 farmers have received training in organic agriculture systems and have visited demonstration projects in southern Costa Rica to exchange best practices. In addition, an environmental education curriculum was introduced at six elementary and high schools in the area, in which students were trained in organic agriculture. Many of these schools have created an organic gardening area in which to practice these skills, with the crops raised there used at the community dining halls.

Documenting, organizing, and making available information on sustainable production practices: Several knowledge products have been assembled so far for use in different applications. One is a toolkit for Agricultural Extension Agents that documents 44 sustainable production practices implemented in COMDEKS projects in the river basin. In addition, an alliance between COMDEKS project leaders and three government departments produced a planning tool that famers can use to track their farm production, and which also disseminates soil conservation practices. Another alliance with the academic institution CATIE produced a series of documents that documented traditional and scientific knowledge about best practices implemented in the target landscape.