Conservation Biology

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose
• Monteverde: 
Monteverde

Term: Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Winter 
Dates: Year-round

Description: Located in Monteverde and San Jose, Costa Rica, I.C.E. has contracts with two highly respected conservation organizations. Project: In the cloud forests of Monteverde join a non-profit organization in their effort to restore native Costa Rican vegetation. Learn firsthand about the plight faced by native species as a result of deforestation and unsustainable land management practices. Your contribution will benefit Costa Rica's endangered bird species as well.

Days are spent in the field, assiting in the office, or educating children groups. In addition, there is some work around camp that needs to be done, including maintenance and other odd jobs. Your reward is the knowledge that you are contributing to the long-term benefit of the cloudforest.

The San Jose position focuses on raising awareness of ecological concernes in an office environment. Working with staff members you will assist in fund raising, event planning, and website updating.

Highlights: About Monteverde

Several of our internships are located near the town of Santa Elena which serves as the commercial center for the surrounding wilderness. Main street has all the expected pizza restaurants and tour agencies. It also boast two well-populated discotecs that are larger than one would think for a wilderness outpost. So, there is nightlife apart from that of insects and bats.

The region lays claim to some of the best-kept cloud forests in the entire country and is a paradise for bird watchers. Several nature preserves have sprung up to make sure this stays the case. Because of the beauty of the area, it is only natural that Monteverde has become a major part of the Costa Rican tourist trail - despite the poor roads leading up to and through it..

Considered by many as the world's premier cloud forest, Monteverde straddles the continental divide and rides the Carribean winds in grand fashion. Here, massive figs are enshrouded in a cascade of orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and ferns. Amidst this humid wonderland no less than 2500 plant species thrive. Some 400 species of birds, both resident and migrant, have been identified. Add to this mix a 100 species of mammals some 500 species of butterflies and you have a forest of unequaled value. The altitude offsets the otherwise oppressive humidity found at the coast and creates comfortable temperatures that range between sixty and seventy-five degrees.

About San Jose

San Jose is the capital and largest city in Costa Rica. Located in the center of the country at 9°562N 84°52W; it is on a mountain plateau at an elevation of about 1,170 meters (3,839 feet) above sea level.

According to the 2000 census, the city had a population of 309,672 people. The latter half of the 20th century was a period of rapid growth for the city, considering that in 1950 its population was a mere 86,900. The metropolitan area of San José exceeds the canton limits and surpasses one million inhabitants.

Culture

The National Theater and the Melico Salazar offer hectic calendars of cultural activities featuring theather and dance groups and orchestra music throughout the year. Besides the nightlife in San Jose, there are many museums and other attractions offering alternative ways of exploring the city. One of these is the Gold Museum, which offers a rare look at various gold artifacts of the ancient Latin American civilizations. An interesting attraction for the less adventurous is the Lankester Botanical Gardens just outside of San Jose. There are some cafés in the downtown area, in the Central Mail building, Mall San Pedro is near the University of Costa Rica and is a hub of shopping and social activity.

Climate

San Jose City lies in the Torrid Zone, like the rest of the country, but its elevation gives it a mild climate. The temperature ranges between 60 to 78 degrees. The rainy season is from April to late November but cloudiness and rainfall can occur during the dry season. Relative humidity tends to range between 60% and 90%.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: 2000

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and European Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Institute for Cultural Ecology's Mission Statement: The Institute for Cultural Ecology was founded on the conviction that visits to exotic destinations imply a commitment to cultural sensitivity and environmental stewardship. Our programs match the interests, academic goals, and passions of the participant to select host organizations and researchers. Once you connect with a place and its people, they become a part of you. Forever.

Year Founded: 1999