Today, we started our day off bright and early (5:30am) at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This wasn’t your average hike; it was a true look into what a thoughtful and put-together conservation looks like. We were above the rain line since we were in the clouds, so it was misty! We saw lots of different animals, mainly birds, though. One bird that I found interesting was the white treated thrush because its call is often said to predict the rain!

During our talk with Evelyn Herrera at the Monteverde Institute, the tension between productivity, conservation, and sustainability became clear. Monteverde, like much of Costa Rica, sits at the intersection of these competing interests. On one hand, the country has remarkable achievements, like how 26% of its land is protected, it hosts 5% of the world’s biodiversity, and 99% of its energy comes from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric. Monteverde faces some unique challenges as well. For example, about 8,000 people live here and are responsible for taking care of a forest that’s important to the whole world. But it also shares concerns common across Costa Rica, pressure to maintain economic productivity through agriculture and tourism while guarding against biodiversity loss and the long-term effects of climate change.

If I had to prioritize just one pillar, productivity, conservation, or sustainability, I would choose sustainability. It’s the only path that allows the other two to coexist. Without sustainable practices, conservation efforts can’t endure, and productivity becomes extractive rather than regenerative. True sustainability means building systems where the forest thrives, local communities benefit, and future generations have something worth protecting.