The latest articles on Forem by sandgraal (@sandgraal). https://forem.com/sandgraal https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3545771%2F3e39362a-f502-446f-9ff3-635487dbd30a.jpeg https://forem.com/sandgraal en sandgraal Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:03:18 +0000 https://forem.com/sandgraal/i-built-a-bilingual-open-source-tree-knowledge-base-for-costa-rica-74-species-zero-ads-2nc4 https://forem.com/sandgraal/i-built-a-bilingual-open-source-tree-knowledge-base-for-costa-rica-74-species-zero-ads-2nc4 <h1> Introducing Costa Rica Tree Atlas </h1> <p>I've spent the past several weeks building something I'm genuinely proud of: a comprehensive, bilingual (English/Spanish) open-source knowledge base dedicated entirely to Costa Rican trees.</p> <h2> Why This Project? </h2> <p>Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Yet there's no comprehensive, accessible resource teaching people about these incredible trees. So I built one—and made it completely free, with zero ads and zero revenue model.</p> <h2> What's Inside? </h2> <h3> 🌳 <strong>Core Features:</strong> </h3> <ul> <li> <strong>74 tree species</strong> with detailed bilingual profiles, images, and scientific information</li> <li> <strong>Interactive identification guides</strong> - identify trees by leaf shape, bark, flowers, and more</li> <li> <strong>Educational tools</strong> - lessons, progress tracking, printable field guides for classrooms</li> <li> <strong>Live distribution maps</strong> - real-time data from GBIF and iNaturalist APIs</li> <li> <strong>Seasonal calendars</strong> - see what's flowering and fruiting right now (updated monthly)</li> <li> <strong>Personal collections</strong> - save favorites, create shareable collections, export as PDFs</li> </ul> <h3> ♿ <strong>Accessibility &amp; Tech:</strong> </h3> <ul> <li>Dark mode, full offline support (PWA), WCAG 2.1 AA compliant</li> <li>Built with Next.js 16, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS</li> <li>286 commits, actively maintained, MIT licensed</li> <li>Open to contributions from the community</li> </ul> <h2> Links </h2> <p><strong>Live Site:</strong> <a href="https://costa-rica-tree-atlas.vercel.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">costa-rica-tree-atlas.vercel.app</a><br> <strong>GitHub:</strong> <a href="https://github.com/sandgraal/Costa-Rica-Tree-Atlas" rel="noopener noreferrer">sandgraal/Costa-Rica-Tree-Atlas</a></p> <h2> Why Open Source? </h2> <p>Environmental education should never be behind a paywall. By making this completely open-source, I hope teachers, students, and nature enthusiasts can use it to better understand Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity.</p> <p>Would love feedback, contributions, or ideas for features. This is just the beginning! 🌿🇨🇷</p> opensource education