Name:  Heather Luken

Type of Project: Study Abroad

My STEP Signature Project was Environmental Sustainability in Costa Rica, in which I learned about the country’s conservation efforts through discussions with park managers and business owners.  I traveled across the country to San Jose and nine conservation sites including the cloud forests of Monteverde, the wetlands, and the Tenorio volcano.

Rio Celeste

During this trip I developed an understanding of a unique culture and experienced a new sense of independence in an unfamiliar environment that took me out of my comfort zone.  I was forced to use the little Spanish I knew to communicate and I could see the challenges that arise with a language barrier.  It gave me a new perspective on how difficult it must be for some international students and new immigrants to adjust to a different lifestyle and form relationships.  In addition, Costa Ricans have a certain respect for the natural world and conservation is integrated into their way of life.  Even though I already have an appreciation for nature as a biology student, what I saw taught me how cooperation can have an immense positive impact on conservation.

Simple tasks such as ordering food, asking for directions, or having a conversation seemed to become a challenge in a different country.  One night, while we were staying at a hotel in the small town of La Fortuna, we tried talking to someone who was serving us food.  This was an opportunity for me to use my confidence in Spanish food vocabulary to try and connect with someone in another language.  Although I sometimes struggled to form a complete sentence, I could see the reward in what I was doing.  In my attempt at a conversation, simply making an effort to use their own language shows that I was taking an interest in their culture.  I can then more fully appreciate the energy many new Americans put into integrating themselves into a new way of life.

Border of Nicaragua

I was able to observe the importance of sustainability in a variety of settings in education, agriculture, and tourism.  We primarily focused on the coffee industry, visiting the main country’s producer in San Jose and a local coffee shop in La Fortuna.  The local shop seemed to be more concerned with farming practices that reduced waste and recycled certain byproducts for future production.  There was also a national park in Monteverde that hosted a program for a local high school to help with research in ecology, which was a way for students to become involved in sustainability.    They set up cameras to track the movements of prey in order to observe the roaming patterns of predators for conservation efforts.  The ecotourism industry also demonstrates how utilizing the environment in business can be beneficial in making money while still protecting the local ecosystem.  These experiences show how collaboration between different groups is essential for success in sustainability.

One of the main reasons I decided to do this particular study abroad program was because I wanted to see the biodiversity and range of ecosystems Costa Rica hosts.  This includes tropical forests, mountains, active volcanic areas, and coastal systems.  Growing up, I only saw temperate forests, grasslands, and a select group of animals and plants where I lived.  In Costa Rica, I helped with a mangrove restoration project next to Playa Palo Seco which prevents erosion and preserves the wetlands that are so important for the local ecosystem.  We also were able to see crocodiles along the Tarcoles River, monkeys in Playa Palo Seco, a multitude of birds on the Caño Negro, and so much more.  Spending time alongside these animals and taking part in service projects reinforced my appreciation of nature and the importance of preserving the biodiversity Earth holds.

From my admiration of the country’s natural environment to finding new ways I can integrate sustainability in all aspects of my life, Costa Rica has given me a new perspective as a biology student.  I have even decided to minor in Environmental Science since my trip as I now see the possibilities and impact that sustainability can have in a community.  Costa Rica has essentially turned its story around, restoring its forests after nearly all of them were gone just a half century ago.  The success of Costa Rica’s sustainability has inspired me to use what I have learned to preserve the natural resources in my own backyard.  In addition, I can use my understanding of the challenges many face when entering into a new culture to form meaningful relationships with people I would normally not get to know.