September is the month in which Costa Rica commemorates its Independence from Spain in 1821, with typical dances, parades and other civic activities. This month also marks the beginning of the lowest months of the year for tourism, and this year is no exception. We currently have availability in our charming rental casitas for the next few months, including the beautiful Casita Blanca, pictured above. We would love to have you come and stay with us, please write to Anthony at bookings@cloudbridge.org to inquire for our low season discounts (for stays through mid-November).
We´d also like to remind our readers of the upcoming tree course with Nelson Zamora. We´ve had some last-minute cancellations, so if you were thinking of maybe signing up, it´s not too late.
Program Participants
As many of you know, our research and volunteer program is at the heart of Cloudbridge Nature Reserve. The comfortable facilities on base allow for researchers and volunteers alike to share with people from other cultures, but with a common love for nature. In this image, long-time Cloudbridge worker Edgar Madrigal and his family joined in on the weekly potluck dinner. If you would like to learn more, please visit our website!
My name is Levi Ward, I am 18 years old and I came to Cloudbridge to help make a difference in protecting the cloud forest. Since arriving I have been researching freshwater macro invertebrates, what environmental factors influence their abundance and biodiversity, and how they can be used as bioindicators to assess the health of a water system. I know my time at Cloudbridge gives me the opportunity to not only make the reserve a better place, but the world as a whole.
Hi, my name is Alice. I’m a student in Belgium. I’m studying Biology of Organisms and Ecology. I came to Cloudbridge Nature Reserve for 3 months to study the effect of the presence of herpetofauna. This experience at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve is an excellent opportunity to study the human impact on organisms in a magnificent setting and to contribute to the conservation of species on a small scale. What’s more, this internship will allow me to see species that are new to me and extraordinary to observe.
Pics from around the reserve
Suggested Reading
- Cloudbridge Nature Reserve was founded by a philanthropic couple who envisioned a healthy ecosystem in which wildlife and visitors could thrive, with a long-term vision. In this TED talk, Kristine McDivitt Tompkins describes how she and her late husband executed a similar vision, on a much larger scale.
- In this essay, journalist Eve Andrews explores how the cityscapes in which a majority of Earth´s population live are suffering from the effects of climate change. Cities are ecosystems, too.
- Given the severity of the climate crisis, many activists are desperately trying to make their voices heard through various forms of protest. Climate Rights International has released a report stating that protesters can be “on thin ice” even in Western Democracies.