Today was full of adventures through the cloud forest reserve here in Monteverde. We got to see so many species of birds, snakes, insects, and mammals unique to the cloud forest and to Costa Rica. Seeing the indescribable beauty of the forest and of the region in general was an important backdrop to our later lecture on sustainability.

The cloud forest faces many challenges due to development and primarily climate change. As temperatures rise, many species of animals at these high elevations either die or become prey to the species that would usually reside at lower heights but have now migrated upwards. Additionally, while the forest once only had 25 days with no rain annually, that number has now increased to around 110, threatening many amphibian species that rely on that moisture. These are all reminders of the need to protect the natural resources that give us this source of beauty, as well as providing us with everything we need in life.

Later in the lecture we learned about sustainability, which is the equal balance of societal needs, the economy, and the environment. While producing goods for people and for the economy is vital to human life, and conserving what we have is equally as important to ensure we continue to maintain resources and diversity, I believe sustainability is the most important concept. This is because sustainability is the equilibrium point between the other two. To be sustainable means to be able to maintain life and its cycles, to ensure humanity and other species can coexist for years to come.

Balance is key to everything, whether it be maintaining life or happiness. Learning about sustainability not only inspires me to search for solutions and bring my community together, but also to invest in my mental and physical resources so that I can continue pressing into the future in a sustainable way.