Monteverdensis Thoughts...
     I met Colin Garland in 1991, at the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.  Back then visitors from all over the world were starting to discover and visit this Cloud/RAin forest sanctuary.  Colin and his group showed up one day; the typical backpackers group, wishing to visit, learn and help in any way possible, thus began a new long-term friendship.  In subsequent years, Colin continued to come, year after year, always bringing some donation for the reserve.  His visits I compare to the Neotropical migratory birds, that so graciously land in the Cloud Forest of Monteverde.
    At some point in time, Colin began talking to me about his Global Classroom Project, we both joined in ideas as to where would be a good site in the Cloud Forest area to build such student outposts.  This brings us to this year, when it appears as if Colin's efforts may become a reality.
    I spent over four of my best years living in Monteverde, learning about the natural history of the area, sharing the community's dilemmas; as expressed by  Colin in his Global Classroom appealing document to the world, it is a race against time, we are indeed loosing ground to the fast-disappearing rain forests. Monteverde lodges over 75000 acres of protected  Cloud and Rain forests in what is known as the Cloud forest with the most biodiveristy in the world.  The would-be Global Classroom property, sits in the middle of it all.  Monteverde has a well established stature, among the world of conservationists worldwide, a sort of a Mecca for researchers, naturalists, students, biologist, ecologists, among others.
   Its patrimony includes treasures such as:  over 500 species of orchids, over 400 species of birds, some 180 species of ferns, of this total about 150 were new to science.  Some 700 tree species.  Over 3000 plants have been identified in the region.  THe local infrastructure which I compare to a huge university green campus, includes a butterfly garden, two biological stations, an ecological farm, three main private reserves, an herpetological exhibit, the Monteverde Institute, an orchid garden with over 400 live species in a 12000 square foot area, an Etnohistorical museum, some estimated 50 miles of trails, a wonderful local public high school, in charge of their own Cloud Forest reserve (Santa Elena).
    Monteverde also has a small army of resident researchers, scientists, and lots of very  enthusiastic young local students, with lots of know ledges and experiences to share with peers from abroad.

Luis Saenz Sr.

Dear Friends of the Global Classroom,
     My country, Costa Rica, is a land of volcanoes and majestic mountains.  Her shores are bathed by two great oceans.  Thanks to the Creator and our geographic position we are blessed with a great and diverse natural wealth. 
     It is possible that this diversity makes the tropics unique among all the other places on the planet.
     In past decades, thanks to the visionary sense of many people, the economic support of international organizations and the endorsement given by the Costa Rican government, a network of National Parks and Biological Reserves has been created.  With each passing day more than 20% of our national territory becomes protected.
     Nevertheless, these areas are not adequately linked by the biological corridors necessary in order to guarantee the permanence of species through natural genetic interchange.  My community, Monteverde, is highly esteemed in the International Scientific Community for the presence of an impressive amount of the aforementioned biodiveristy including a rich aviary population; for example, the quetzal whose unique song and resplendent plumage makes it seem to be a creature straight out of Eden.  In it's daily search for food, the specimen completes an altitudinal migration that takes it outside of the Reserve during certain parts of the year.  In order to guarantee the food source of this exotic species, along with others, ingenious efforts are being made to educate rural farmers to not only avoid clearing their forested land but also to plant the lauracae trees that provide the fruit which attracts these species.
     In addition, environmental education programs have been developed to make the public conscious  of possible future benefits.  Still I am quite aware that we still have much to do.  They study of these species up to this point has only just scratched the surface and we are still in danger of losing endemic species.
    Throughout his four years of visiting Monteverde Colin Garland has voiced the necessity of developing a base of operation on land near the Reserve which could also serve as a laboratory and a place for excursions with student groups; projects such as these are invaluable to this area in that they encourage more scientific investigation.
    I send out this plea to you all:  that we unite in the mission to guarantee the perpetuity of the tropical forests and all that lives within.

Sincerely,
Israel Mendez Anchia