We started off our week with three consecutive visits to nearby farms. In their own ways, these farms displayed methods of agriculture that differed from the harmful practices carried out by giants such as Dole and Chiquita, embracing sustainability and organic production. For instance, the organic pineapple farm utilized plastic coverings as a way to guard against pests. Although significantly more expensive, this technique serves as a substitute for the multitude of pesticides sprayed on the pineapple by Dole and other large-scale, entirely profit driven farms. These pesticides are effective, but they have devastating effects on the biodiversity in the area and impact surrounding ecosystems in negative ways. With particular regard for humans, they serve as endocrine disruptors and can have harmful impacts on hormone levels within the body.
This example of the plastic covering being used instead of pesticides had strong ties to my research project and the literature I read in preparation for it, which made it stick out to me. Our project was originally related to global amphibian decline and how pesticides are playing a role in that. Although we have since shifted to focus on how variables affected by climate change (i.e. CO2, temperature, humidity) impact frog encounters in the forest, we are still concerned with putting forth the troubling narrative that is amphibian decline, of which pesticides are also a key component. The literature we went through strongly indicated that pesticides, through mechanisms such as endocrine disruption and in turn increased susceptibility to infection, decreases the survival and growth of amphibian populations. The contribution of pesticides to global amphibian decline is noteworthy because of the fact that their decline threatens to have large-scale impacts on the ecosystems they inhabit as well as surrounding ones. Furthermore, amphibians serve as an important bioindicator, with their absence/presence often being reflective of an onsetting change in environmental conditions, and as such their loss will dampen scientists’ ability to recognize environmental changes early on. This is just one of many examples why pesticides – and other agricultural practices carried out by these big corporations – are detrimental to the well-being of the environment, and in turn to us as humans.
Fitting in with this theme of sustainable agriculture that we observed at the three farms was the short documentary we watched on how some farmers in Costa Rica are utilizing biodiversity to their advantage, rather than destroying it in favor of monocrop agriculture. It showed how a coffee farmer had surrounded his crop with forest. This decision actually helped his yield, with the birds, insects and other animals within the forest acting as natural pesticides. I found the experience of watching this documentary to be inspiring, as it gave me hope regarding the future of agriculture. It made me realize that these two seemingly competing motivations of profitzing agriculture and maintaining biodiversity and a healthy environment don’t actually have to be in competition with each other; they can reasonably coexist. With enough awareness about the potential of combining production with biodiversity, along with compelling policy to facilitate said combination, considerable strides can be made.
During this week, we also finished up data collection. All went well for us, and we worked hard to collect solid data. Perhaps we were a little too dedicated, however, as after our very last run, my phone stopped working and has not returned to life since. This is almost certainly because on this last run, it was pouring down rain for much of the time, and we decided to go out and collect anyway. I had to continue pulling my phone out to record the data, and it must’ve gotten too much water in it. I have attempted to fix it by leaving it in a bag with silica gel packets, but this has not worked. I don’t anticipate it making a recovery. The loss of my phone has been an interesting experience to say the least, but I would not characterize it as a negative one. I have been unable to participate in the usual mindless scrolling that everybody our age is accustomed to, and that has been quite freeing. I feel much more present here. When we are traveling or just have normal down time, I can’t check my phone; I am forced to engage with my surroundings. It is influencing me to ponder over things and engage different parts of my mind that don’t get as much attention. I also can’t take pictures, which seems like a negative thing, but it honestly feels like a weight off my shoulders. The pressure to capture the moment with a photo isn’t present. I’m just there, fully observing everything I see and taking in the moment into my own consciousness rather than a device.
After finishing up our data collection on our last day at La Selva, we headed to Tortuguero on Friday. We took a couple hour long bus ride to get to a boat, which took us another hour and a half in the water to our resort at Tortuguero. The resort was fantastic. Nothing was better than the pool, which was an amazing treat after the time spent in the rough conditions of La Selva. We got to engage in and learn about some of the history of ecotourism in Tortuguero during our stay. We went on a hike in the forest and a boat tour as our first two activities. Then, we got to go into town, which consisted of a stop at the beach and perusing the village and all the shops it had to offer. On our hike in the forest and the boat tour, we were both engaging in ecotourism ourselves while also observing other groups of ecotourists. By partaking in a tourist service that utilized nature – whether the forest or the river – as a venue for teaching visitors about wildlife and the importance of sustaining it, and simultaneously provided jobs (tour guides) and supported the local economy, we were in effect acting as ecotourists. On these tours, we saw other groups doing the same thing, being introduced to the biodiversity of Tortuguero by tour guides whose livelihood was supported by the visitation of these tourists; this too was a prime example of ecotourism. When we went into town and stopped at the beach, our tour guide gave us a history lesson on ecotourism in Tortuguero. He talked about how the many turtles found at Tortuguero used to be hunted to a great degree, but then a man by the name of Dr. Archie Carr initiated turtle conservation and changed the culture of Tortuguero. From that point on, many people in Tortuguero began using the vast amount of turtles, along with the other amazing wildlife within the town, to their advantage in a different manner. People from around the world began coming to see this wildlife, and the citizens of Tortuguero started offering them tours and using it as a way to make a living for themselves. This established ecotourism in Tortuguero, where tourists would come to engage in the nature there in a way that was non bothersome to the environment, job-providing, and community-supporting. His story about how he and his family participated as tour guides in this early wave of ecotourism particularly struck me. I thought it was quite beautiful to see him light up when revealing this personal connection to ecotourism. Furthermore, it made me more aware in that moment of the great significance that ecotourism experiences can have to the tour guides, who have great pride in their country and what they have done to uphold its biodiversity. After this talk, we got to explore the town and hang out at the beach. It was so amazing to get to see the ocean. We left Tortuguero today and have arrived at Arenal. I am extremely excited to see what the last week of this trip has to offer
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