EDITORS’ NOTE
Written by Kelvin Gorpospe and Anna Herforth
Photo D. Sherman
Written by Kelvin Gorpospe and Anna Herforth
Photo D. Sherman
Compliment this with the luxury of a state-of-the-art laboratory or the romanticism of a candle-lit, palm-thatched hut as in the days of pioneering biologists, and scientific ideas take root. Mix in a diverse team of research expertise, knowledgeable local guides, and passionate students, and you have an inspiring climate for ideas to grow. Add just the right amount of salsa and merengue, canoe-capsizing, and relaxing on the beach, and you have the time of your life.
Sounds like a dream come true? Believe it or not, these are not images from a fairy tale or evenexcerpts from a 19th century trailblazer’s diary. These are just some of the vivid memories that were realized by participating in one of the most unique opportunities that Cornell has to offer: a summer of researching traditional medicines and biodiversity in either the shores of the Dominican Republic or the dense forests of the Peruvian Amazon. We were fortunate enough to participate in both of these programs over the course of two summers. We were joined by other undergraduates from Cornell University and other colleges across the country and abroad to be immersed in these amazingly biodiverse areas through field and laboratory research and contact with the people who live there and know it best. The research itself is unique in that it exposes students, many for the first time, to such interdisciplinary fields as ethnomedicine (the study of medicine through cultural investigation) and zoopharmacognosy (the study of natural medicines used by animals), as well as entomology, chemoornithology, chemical ecology, and marine biology. While absorbing the natural history of their surroundings, students are forced into a new multidisciplinary mode of thinking. An emphasis is placed on creativity and observation to develop their own independent projects.
However, students gain more than resume-building scientific research experience. Although not all of the students who participate in these summer programs are going to become tropical biologists, they all come away with a better understanding of science, an unforgettable experience, and a new appreciation for another culture. Visiting another country (preferably not simply as a tourist) is an experience that everyone should have as part of a basic education. In both field sites, we worked closely with local guides, became friends with the local people, and shared with them our research as they informed us about their country. Such experiences enable the next generation of scientists to become more aware of cultural and biological diversity, which is increasingly important in this age of globalization.
As our world continues to shrink through international communication and commerce, issues concerning conservation of that diversity must be addressed. In our economic paradigm, there is no way to fit biodiversity and its intrinsic value into monetary units like GDP. How can one put a price tag on the exhilaration of sloshing through a genuine rain forest rain, or the peacefulness imparted by a monkey and cricket chorus echoing through tree trunks deep in the forest? The inspiration of that certain translucent cyan above the purple coral in Caribbean Sea is difficult to quantify. But these things do have value. It may be hard to envision why one insect species out of the umpteen million is important to conserve. Or why just a few fewer hectares of rainforest would make a difference, when there is oil to be drilled, roads to be built, and money to be made. But the ecosystems as whole sustains the planet and sustains us.
These research programs help put the non-quantifiable value of biodiversity into perspective. The two research sites (the Yarapa River Lodge in Peru and the Punta Cana Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic) have made agreements to ensure preservation of the areas surrounding them. The presence of Cornell research programs at the sites helps to further validate and confirm the importance of conservation. As researchers, our goal is to open the eyes of the public and of the private interests to the inherent value of biodiverse areas. The world must develop, but these research sites make development sustainable rather than exploitative.
The fact that we fly thousands of miles to study in their home and experience what is only available in their corner of the world is a message that we share with the communities hosting us. Our hope is that as outsiders, we help to put the billboards urging protection of “la selva” into perspective. The rainforest and coastal areas conservation efforts are certainly put into perspective for us by having been there. Having experienced the energy found only among century-old trees emanating life of all sorts, it would be unconscionable to sit back and let it disappear.
In this journal, EMANATIONS from the rainforest, we are publishing our research and experiences as a call to the world that biodiversity IS worth saving. We cannot help but feel nostalgic when we leaf through the various research papers and abstracts and vivid student perspectives and photographs. We challenge you to read this publication without feeling a spark of interest or inspiration from just a few of the myriad fascinations the Amazon and the Caribbean have to offer.