Tropical Ecosystems & Culture: The Central America Project

Central America has one of the most diverse landscapes on earth, from lava-spewing volcanoes to lush rainforests to tropical reefs. The region’s biodiversity is world renown. With 25% of its land in national parks and reserves, Costa Rica alone contains 5 % of the earth’s biodiversity, including more than 6000 plant species, 500 butterflies and 800 birds. The region also hosts a diversity of human cultures, from modern cities to indigenous communities to ancient Mayan ruins.

Natural and human communities have co-existed here for thousands of years with varying degrees of success. Yet Central America enters the 21st century at a crossroads. An expanding population, free trade agreements, and export based economies threaten both traditional livelihoods and tropical biodiversity. The region’s political history and economic dependence upon the US have also had significant environmental impacts. Numerous communities, however, are exploring new and innovate ways to restore damaged ecosystems and continue traditional lifestyles.

THE PROJECT

We begin in Costa Rica by exploring the country’s incredible biodiversity, basing ourselves out of biological research stations deep within the rainforest. We will also visit several outstanding national parks to consider land management issues, examine firsthand complex environmental challenges faced by Costa Rica’s growing economy and assess the nation’s strategies to keep these special areas wild. Camping and backpacking along the way, we will investigate the complexity of tropical ecosystems and wildlife populations with a view toward understanding how these are impacted by human activities. By gaining an understanding of conservation biology we can better asses Costa Rica’s conservation program and examine the role and challenges of ecotourism.

With this as a foundation, we explore human land use impacts, visiting banana and coffee plantations, both traditional and organic in order to examine the difference. We will also visit agroecology, permaculture, and ecotourism projects that promote sustainability. Exploring the question of how human activity can preserve biodiversity, we will assess the conservation prospects of these projects.

In Guatemala, our emphasis shifts toward exploring issues of environmental justice and cultural sustainability. Unlike Costa Rica, Guatemala has a large indigenous population that continues to practice their traditional lifestyle, scarcely unchanged since the height of the Maya civilization. The indigenous people, however, have long suffered political oppression. On this segment of the program, we will explore the connection between environmental degradation, political oppression, US economic policies and consumer demand. With the opportunity to engage in home stays in traditional villages in the Maya highlands, we will experience the daily life of the indigenous people, including planting corn, and weaving textiles.

Guatemala also hosts the largest unbroken rainforest in Central America, the Peten. In the latter part of the program, our visit to this area will allow us to explore Maya ruins, discuss theories of ecological collapse, assess current conservation challenges and visit communities committed to sustainable development. Team members will leave this special region of Central America with a better understanding of the connection and challenges of economic growth, environmental protection and land management, as well as a unique glimpse into the lives of the indigenous peoples and their everyday struggle for justice and sustainability. In-country fee: $1950.

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PROJECT LEADER

GREG GORDON has taught university and field study programs since 1992, focusing on U.S. conservation policy. He currently teaches ecology courses for Wildlands Studies and Environmental History courses at University of Montana.