Duke Engage Costa Rica
Overview
Duke Engage Costa Rica brought twelve Duke students to the Monteverde Institute in Monteverde, Costa Rica for eight weeks to conduct service for the organization and the community. The first half of the summer was spent planting thousands of native tree species in reforestation efforts to create vital habitat. The second half was spent conducting research on new growth forests that had been reforested fifteen years prior to test for forest health. Students were able to develop their own metrics of forest health for an individual research project in the final two weeks. Throughout the experience, the students engages with the local community to share their research and volunteer in local art projects.
Skills Developed:
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Quantitative Research Skills
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GIS Mapping
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Dendrology Surveying
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Community Based Conservation
Written Work (click to access):
Relation to Environmental Justice
This course built the foundations for learning about sustainability. You cannot have one pillar while the other two are crumbling. Environmental justice preaches community and inclusivity, in connection with the surrounding environment. These communities are the base of the social pillar. They cannot flourish if they are economically disenfranchised, bringing in the importance of the second pillar. And finally, in order to flourish forever, these communities must have beneficial relationships with the planet.
