What better way is there to start off the day than at sunrise? Today started off early in the morning with breakfast at 6:30. A hearty breakfast prepared us for the busy day's activities. The hike at Monteverde Cloud reserve was a chance for us to apply what we have already discovered about the environment and history of the UGA reserve while learning about the Monteverde Cloud Forest. |
The Monteverde Cloud Reserve is unique from the other forests we have seen so far. A combination of elevation, temperature, and condensaion creates the fog that lays over the forest like a cloud. Like much of the surrounding area, the land that is now a part of the reserve was deforested for pasture land and that changed the local ecosystems. In an valiant effort to preserve the natural environment, the Monteverde Cloud Reserve was created. After a brief history of the area, we followed the tour guides for a hike through the forest.
We saw a variety of plants and animals along the trail ranging from tiny millipedes to huge stranglers trees. We climbed to see the waterfall that the Quakers and original settles of the land used as a water source before the area became protected.
At the end of the hike we visited the hummingbird garden which is home to fourteen different species of hummingbirds. These small birds were a treat for the students, along with bread and sweets from the bakery and souvernir shop.
Next we returned to campus for a lecture on Ebola and infectious diseases and a student presentation on aquaponics. These lessons reminded us about the mission of One Health and the communication needed between the health disciplines. To wrap the day up, we had dinner with local families! The meals were delicious and the doughnuts for dessert were an extra treat. After dinner, some of the students went on a walk through the family's finca or farm and played card games with the host family. We appreciated the opportunities to brush up on our Spanish and learn about the local culture here. |