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School For Field Studies

Sustainable Development in Costa Rica

This is a field based program for E3B, Ecology & Environmental Studies, & Biology students. Students will examine the effects of globalization on classic sustainability issues such as agro-ecology, national park protection, economic development, urban sprawl, population growth, trash management, air quality, etc. Student research focuses on evaluating the success of Costa Rica's world renowned management systems as well as developing alternative strategies, such as organic agriculture, that conserve biodiversity and protect natural resources. Visits to cloud forests, dry forests, volcanic parks, lowland rainforests, and plantations offer opportunities to examine management schemes, identify the benefits of protected areas, and determine which systems offer the best option for economic development, the maintenance of cultural norms, and the preservation of biodiversity. Understanding the forces that are driving Costa Rica's policies will be key as students develop natural resource solutions for Costa Rica, and hopefully, beyond.

For more information, contact and or SFS