Over the summer from June 6 to July 31, I participated in Duke Engage Costa Rica, a program focused on conversation and reforestation in the Bell Bird Biological Corridor along the country’s Pacific slope. The primary goals of this program were to restore habitat and connect sections of rainforest by planting a variety of tree species indigenous to the region on various ranches and farms. The trees were only 1 year old seedlings, so the process of planting was meticulous and methodical, but worthwhile. Altogether, my group and I planted 5,034 trees, of which at least 55% will survive. Furthermore, we constructed a water retention pond to aid in abetting excess water flow during the rainy season. Lastly, for the whole month of July, I collected soil, microclimate (wind speed, temperature, and humidity), and insect data for a research project in which the Monteverde Institute has been engaged for years. The purpose of the project is to compare whether a 15 year-old reforested area is behaving as ecologically similar as a 50+ year old secondary forest is. Our results indicated that the recently reforested area is on track to behaving and acting as a secondary forest, which just emphasizes that reforestation is working. Overall, I believe that this trip has been an experience I could never forget and has truly shown a new light on conservation and research. For the remaining weeks of my summer, I visited friends and family and frequented the beach. Below is the link to my blog post on my thoughts for Duke Engage Costa Rica 2019.

https://dukeengage.duke.edu/reflections-on-monteverde-so-far/?fbclid=IwAR1KSrWWZLkftQHH50LP90Y-_BREuyGp6KLeUUwQN_Lfn2InKaYIsEe2m-Q