The School for Field Studies (SFS) Center for Sustainable Development Studies, located in the friendly town of Atenas, has been buzzing with activity this summer in preparation for another fall semester of exciting activities and rich academics. In addition to a wealth of inspiration from our summer students, the Center has recently received several modifications to its infrastructure and operations, including a new kitchen and dining room. The organic garden and fruit groves offer opportunities for community involvement while the new research agenda is being launched under the guidance of recent faculty hires. This is all overseen by Center Director Gerardo Avalos, who has been actively engaged in all aspects of the Center's operations with an emphasis on building community relationships since 2007.

The SFS Center for Sustainable Development's strategic location affords students access to Costa Rica's precious tropical forests, beaches, mountains, and volcanoes within just a day's travel. These tropical ecosystems shelter as many as 6,000 plant species, 500 species of butterfly, and 800 species of bird, as well the world's largest known nesting site for sea turtles. As the country undergoes rapid and largely unplanned development, these critically important areas require thoughtful protection when land use agendas such as urban growth, tourism infrastructure development, and large-scale agriculture are in competition with conservation. SFS research in Costa Rica focuses on understanding the natural environment and socio-economic conditions in which rapid environmental and economic changes occur. While field expeditions remain a favorite among students, plenty of learning takes place at the Center which boasts an organic garden and outdoor classroom overlooking the Rio Grande River in the fertile Central Valley.

The organic garden on campus is responding nicely to the green thumbs of our two ground keepers, Angie and Luis, who continue to increase and diversify production. One such strategy was the construction of a new shadehouse nursey, incubating ornamental plants that eventually will be offered to the greater community. The garden currently offers produce and herbs that accent recipes brought to life in our newly built kitchen and dining area, inaugurated in April of 2008 on the site of “La Vista,” an area of our center that overlooks the Valley. The new dining area comfortably seats 45 people, who enjoy a spectacular view while they eat freshly prepared local cuisine. 

Often times, harvest is thwarted when natural die-off occurs as it did recently in our citrus and mango groves.  In the face of adversity, Avalos used this as an opportunity to expand relationships with members of the local and broader conservation communities in Costa Rica. Local agricultural extension agents are working with SFS to protect the healthy trees and continue to cultivate the grove.  SFS staff continues to make lemonade when life deals it lemons.

The new five year research plan, driven by local concerns, is being launched this semester.  New topics in field work including quantification of ecosystem services, ecosystem fragmentation, and urban development, will augment continuing research on economic valuation of tourism in parks and communities, wildlife extraction, and biodiversity assessments.  Two new lecturers; Achim Hager in natural resource management and Sergio Molina in socio-economics, join ecologist Edgardo Arevalo to implement and enhance the research agenda and educational curriculum. 

New energy, ideas, and expertise keep SFS sites running at the highest standards, making for a fulfilling semester and a flourishing community.

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