Today we started our day hiking through the Cloud Forest Reserve. Here we learned how they heavily rely on the rainwater that runs through the mountains and is naturally delivered. With deforestation they would not have access to these natural resources. On the tour we had the chance to see different species that live in the forest. Our tour guide put a lot of emphasis on how they work really hard to preserve the environment and promoted conservation. For example, their key cards to get in were even made of plastic and reusable and the habitats of the animals felt very natural.

At our lecture today we learned about how to economically produce goods in an efficient and conservable way. We got to do a hands on activity were we had our own product and decided how we would change and improve the way it’s produced. For example, a can of vegetables can be held in a biodegradable plastic. The vegetables can be more organic and consist of less pesticides, which in turn will help the soil and land because there will be less pollution and toxins in the environment. In regards to productivity, Monteverde does its best to serve its population with local food, ingredients, and supplies. A challenge that was unique to Monteverde was during COVID-19 people could not come to their academic center and could not properly help people face to face. To accommodate this issue they posted videos and helped people one on one with growing their own crops at home. They were able to still promote conservation and advocate for the environment and sustainability but in a different platform.

I think Monteverde faces challenges in regards to people wanting to come in and take out the forests and replace it with new things. For example, wiping out forests to put housing or tourist attractions in its place. This is not good for species who live there because it disrupts their way of life. After hearing the lecture and visiting Cloud Forest, it is evident that the people of Monteverde care a great deal about their surroundings and will do anything in their power to advocate and preserve their environment. If I were to prioritize only one of the 3 I would say that sustainability is the most important. Sustainability by definition, is the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. It does not mean that everything will be perfect all the time but it means maintaining the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in harmony to support present and future generations.