Field to Forest: Human Actions Are Not Isolated

By Hanna Levin

Palo Verde National Park: picturesque sunset, light fading behind the mountains in the distance, reflecting pink on the marsh. The only noise is the overwhelming calls of birds – I lose track of the number I have spotted through my binoculars. The vast biodiversity and interconnectivity of species is obvious. Relationships between animals, plants, and humans are complex; they can be beneficial, as food and medicine resources come from the forest. Alternatively, these connections can be tenuous, as we saw just outside the park boundaries.

After a short drive to nearby Bagatzi, we entered farmland. Plots lay before us, long rectangles of tall cane and vibrant rice sprouts. An irrigation canal ran under flood gates to our right, while to the left, young men, one barefoot, sprayed the fields from tanks strapped to their backs. They refilled their reservoirs from a barrel of noxious looking neon pesticide, though they assured us that they had been told it was safe.

            We were accompanied by Manuel, who had been here since the government had given out the plots and built the irrigation system some thirty years back. He was among the first farmers, and helped to form and lead a co-op through which they independently controlled the sale of their goods. This worked until he left, and mismanagement led to current loan debts and a crop consumption monopoly by large corporations. These companies use their influence to take water free of charge from the local Tempisque river, while small farmers must pay for theirs, from far away.

            Our professor Sabrina supplemented Manuel’s account, telling us about other obstacles, like government trade policy. Farmers are encouraged to grow rice, but Costa Rica also imports much cheaper rice from abroad, creating unfavorable competition. Whether they plant rice or sugar depends on the needs of controlling large companies. I worry about the lack of autonomy and power that farmers have over their own livelihoods and lands. Sabrina also mentioned that farmers would pursue organic methods to preserve health and environment, but are too afraid to risk losing profit and consequently the ability to support their families.

The complex array of factors leads to the current lack of agency for small farmers in Guanacaste, and the implications and effects could reach even further. The farms border Palo Verde, essentially a part of the park’s ecosystem. Palo Verde is therefore greatly affected by the mismanagement of the relationship between humans and the environment. I look forward to the rest of our time in Costa Rica to see what actions are taking place to ensure that we, as humans, can use the land without destroying it though overuse, chemicals, or other irresponsible behaviors.