Primary Habitats:

• Guanacaste Province — The namesake region, abundant throughout
• Nicoya Peninsula — Common in pastures and along roadsides
• Central Pacific Coast — Puntarenas area
• Northern Lowlands — Santa Rosa National Park area

Elevation: Sea level to ~1,200 m (most common below 800 m)

Indigenous and Traditional Uses:

• Canoe construction — Massive trunks were hollowed for dugout canoes
• Medicinal — Bark used for treating respiratory ailments
• Soap substitute — Pods produce saponins for washing
• Animal fodder — Pods fed to livestock
• Shade — Essential for cattle ranching in hot regions

Why Guanacaste matters for conservation:

• Keystone species in dry forest ecosystems
• Nitrogen fixation benefits entire plant communities
• Critical shade for cattle reduces deforestation pressure
• Cultural importance increases protection likelihood
• Large seed crops support wildlife populations

National Parks & Reserves:

• Santa Rosa National Park — Historic groves in dry forest
• Guanacaste National Park — Protected mature specimens
• Palo Verde National Park — Wetland-adjacent populations
• Rincón de la Vieja National Park — Volcanic foothills

Urban & Accessible:

• Liberia town center — City park specimens
• University campuses — Often planted as shade trees
• Nicoya Peninsula — Roadside and pasture trees
• La Cruz area — Northern border region