Today we went to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Monteverde Institute. In the Cloud Forest, we hiked on the Heart of the Forest trail, seeing wildlife unique to this terrain. We learned about the distinctions between a cloud forest and a rain forest and about the sustainability efforts the reserve has been implementing. At the Monteverde Institute, we heard a talk about environmental impacts, the importance of community approval, and Costa Rican efforts for sustainability and education. As we walked around the cloud forest, the experience was controlled with paths blocked off and signs to guide the way that you had paid for. I believe that limiting tourism in places like the cloud forest are good for its protection. Good stewardship means that the priority is protection, a careful management. I can see how it can be a burden for the local economy, as tourism is so important in Costa Rica, but it’s a necessary tradeoff to stop the gradual damage to the biodiversity.

While travelers have certain expectations and goals when visiting forging countries, especially such unique places like Costa Rica, there’s a certain amount of research that has to be done. If tourists want to be fully immersed in a country, doing things that go against their values and hurt their land is not the way. There are many ways to still experience their culture without doing harm and many business have implemented them. I would say that inadequately experienced the cloud forest with its cool wind and its wildlife. Even on our limited trail, an alpha monkey had noticed us, so I believe it’s important to keep restrictions to not further disrupt wildlife and to protect the terrain. The cloud forest specifically is so unique, with certain animals found only here, so it’s crucial to protect.

However, sustainability also means that the local community is protected too. When they lack visitors and lack money, they are put at risk. While slowing down tourism slows the financial pressures put on them and the damage to their land, many livelihoods depend on visitors. Therefore, a balance is crucial, like the one from today where we got to experience the forest without unlimited freedoms. You can involve communities and businesses in these decisions to ensure that the efforts are truly sustainable and representative of good stewardship.