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.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Mind blowing

Suzan Nasona
June 27, 2010

Hallelujah, praise the lord for he is truly marvelous and all mighty! That was the first thought that came to mind as soon as I laid my eyes on Costa Rica and its bountiful wonders. Costa Rica’s plant and animal biodiversity is mind blowing. Furthermore, the fact that I feel at home while I am walking through the rainforest is crazy. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would see the day! Yet I am here and I love it! Today, during the start of our first field work as a part of the bird team we were able to perform some test runs, recording bird sounds in areas of low, medium and high density, and bird counts as well in these areas. Along the way, we saw the rainforest come to life. White faced monkeys, Toucans, hummingbirds, ants, lizards, wood-peckers and much more were among us left, right, down and up and in all and every corner. What is amazing is that although we might not be able to see all of the animals around us, they are nonetheless amongst us. We notice this biodiversity because although we might not see these animals we were sometimes fortunate enough to hear them.

There is never a dull moment in Costa Rica. That goes both ways in terms of being in the rainforest and out and about Costa Rica learning about it and having a great time.

Adios,
Suzan Nasona
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