The views while hiking through the Cloud Forest of Monteverde were unbelievable. My new favorite view from this trip was the continental divide, which looks to the east and west of the country. Additionally, all the unique animals living in the Cloud Forest are fascinating because of how they interact together and build the forest’s ecosystem.

Climate change can have severe and detrimental effects on the health of plants, insects, and all the living creatures in the ecosystem. The organizations in charge of the upkeep of the forest have a few features in place to monitor the plants and insects. As we learned yesterday during the night tour, there are sure pipes that provide water to plants in case of a drought. This can ensure a plant stays healthy and provides its resources to other creatures. Today, in our presentation, we learned that there are, on average, four dry months a year. In the 70s, there was only one, on average. The planet’s temperature is rising and lasting hotter for longer. 

Monteverde’s current focus is to reduce water waste. Water waste from using the bathroom or showers flows through septic tanks and eventually into rivers. This pollution and ways to reuse this water are at the top of Costa Rica’s sustainability goals. Additionally, Costa Rica owned much marine territory on its Pacific border. Because of this extensive access to water, they used it without caution, which also led to a lot of water waste. They have since toned back and are continuing to improve.

Additionally, water can flow down the mountain towards the west or central part of the country because of how the continental divide is shaped. Species such as frogs can end up in these streams and be transported to different parts of the country. This can be disastrous because the climate the animal is used to can change, and its life is severely compromised. To help this, buffer zones against rivers are currently being implemented. A tactic the government utilizes is the Environmental Payment Service. Farmers can apply to the government where they choose not to use specific acres of their land and, in return, receive a check from the government. EPS helps conserve land if farmers can afford to take a pay-cut for much less work. 

Sustainability should be a priority over conservation and productivity. Reusing items and not allowing them to go to waste is critical for our environment. Receiving all the benefits one can obtain from an item reduces waste and creates a cleaner environment.