This week was the very first time I was able to leave my unfortunate home country of the US. For this reason, there were so many new things for me to see for the first time upon my arrival to Costa Rica. Within these novel things were seeing the major cultural, technological, and ecological differences. One of my main goals within my previous travels to most ends of the US, from Florida to Maine, to Washington and Southern California is noticing where the differences in the environment lie. While my hiking and city exploring in these varied areas has always yielded some observations in different flora and animals, it is no secret that the US as a whole does not value environmental integration nearly as much as places like Costa Rica. From our cities containing a majority of paved roads and parking lots, to most protected areas being state/national forests(controlled logging), natural proximity and integration is just obviously less of a priority than it is here. This phenomena I noticed starting with pictures from Costa Rica, the flight into San Jose, and even the airport boarding zone itself with palm trees grown along the sidewalks and other natural landscaping. Going from there, I was careful to watch the city go by as I assumed this trip will have less of a focus on urban areas than I would normally have in my trips. Throughout the bus drive from the San Jose airport to La Selva, I was happy to see plentiful plants and trees scattered around, in addition to less pavement and more bikes. Although dirt roads have a bad reputation in the race for development, I do think that they have some ecological significance in absorbing more water to counter flooding, and personally I find aesthetics much more pleasing.

On the cultural and technological side, I’ve notice that everyone I’ve interacted with here so far expresses a level of environmental awareness and concern that dwarfs that of the average person I know back home. Our tour guides and OTS hosts spread their values in the preservation of the local wild life by limiting our direct interaction as not to disturb force the creatures and flora of the rain forest to use more energy because of our presence. On a more depressing note, I was sad to find out that despite being a leader in ecological preservation, Costa Rica uses the 2nd most agricultural chemicals per square kilometer. Even one of the few producers of organic pineapples that we visited on June 3rd has certain fields that do not produces organic pineapples because the process is so much more difficult. In addition, the organic label that farm used does allow certain chemicals such as ethylene as it is vital to the process of fruiting pineapple plants. The sense I’ve gotten is that Costa Ricans broadly view the chemical use as a hazardous practice. Mecca Burris answered my question about pesticide perception stating 70% of the local Puerto Viejo agriculture community believes there is significant risk with being around these chemicals is dangerous. In spite of producing all of these agriculture products, rural communities have very high rates of food insecurity. This fact, along with the previous two lectures by her and Dr. Libby shows the struggle of existing as a developing nation where the economically powerful global North writes the trade rules for the whole world to be influenced to agree on. It is impressive that Costa Rica is able to maintain the level of conservation and happiness that they do given the economic pressure pushing the country towards export oriented agriculture. I hope that the continued social research will help advocates form coalitions to demand change in policy for the good of Costa Ricas public health.

On the brighter side of this trip, I’ve been awestruck by the shear amount of species we see throughout the rain forest. Local tour guides and our trips resident plant expert talk about how even researchers who have studies La Selva for years often will broaden their scope from species to family or genus. Although I’ve encountered a lot more gnarly bugs that I’m not a huge fan of, the payout of being in a biodiversity paradise has been well worth it. In my eyes, the shear amount of biomass and energy being circulated in these forests makes it easier to understand the simpler and smaller phenomena that are going on back home; Concepts like plants selecting for very specific types of animals it wants to encourage because of their behaviors beneficial affect on spreading their pollen or seeds, or how the many termites work to recycle dead wood matter back into the soil. Although I’m sure everyone will talk about them given how much of a staple they are here, the leaf cutter and are much more fascinating than I ever expected an ant species to be. Once in my childhood I was playing in a backyard only for my mood to instantly change when I stepped on a nest of fire-ants and subsequently having the whole layer of ants crawling up my legs and biting. Needless to say, ever since I’ve not been a major fan of ants and the large amount of ants here, but somehow the leaf cutter ants just humbly farming up their fungi with little pieces of leaves being delivered along neat little paths is incredibly satisfying to watch.