Professor Troy Abel from Huxley College of the Environment and his students share their insights on ecological citizenship, political biogeography, and immersions in one of the most biologically intense places on the planet. Costa Rica is translated as rich coast, a name originating from Spanish conquistadors who mistakenly thought the land was filled with gold. Many now recognize that Costa Rica’s riches are more green than gold with more than 4 percent of the world’s estimated biodiversity. Costa Rica has universal health care, a longer life expectancy than the U.S., and no military. Only by expanding our attention to all of these facets can one begin to see “Ecotopia’s Prism,” or Costa Rica’s intersections of ecology, economy, and culture fostering and inhibiting sustainability.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Living la Pura Vida!

by Skylar Hinkley (Policy Team)

Life in the rainforest is never dull. Yesterday I woke up at 4:30am to sounds of howler monkeys, birds chirping and insects buzzing (the rainforest never sleeps). We had to be up before 5 to go monitor scarlet macaws at a nearby lookout. Everyday they fly from their homes in mangrove forests across the Tarcoles River to a feeding area to feast on fruits. We counted 147 of these beautiful birds fly by us and overhead. It is truly an amazing sight to see. I never thought I could smile so much, so early in the morning. Then the rest of the day consisted of the usual rainforest treks with all sorts of creatures crawling, and flying around. Although I have grown accustomed to it over the past week, waking up to the rainforest right at our porch never gets old.


Today there was an ant-eater in a tree right over our station (a rare sight)...so I snapped a quick pic:

Not only is the rainforest exciting and beautiful, but so are the local towns. The policy team gets to interact with the community through interviews. The other day we went to a nearby school and interviewed the principle about environmental education programs with Carara Park. The students were excited to see us and have there pictures taken…to say the least.

Over the weekend we had a little play time to relax from our week of field work. We went to a popular ecotourism attraction in Costa Rica where you get to zip line over the canopy of the rainforest. It was as cool as it sounds. It was another hot day in paradise, so John decided to wear his usual short-shorts uniform (crocs and all), even on the zip line. The employees got a good laugh out of his unique gringo style. It's so hot though that it is hard to blame him.


Today we got to go on a boat ride through the mangrove forest on the Tarcoles River. We got to see crocodiles bathing in the sun. They looked more lazy than vicious.




Just another day in Costa Rica.
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