Individualism, in a broad sense, can be defined as the principle of being independent and self-reliant. It is a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control. As I reflect upon these definitions, the one term that continually runs through my mind is the term “self-sustainability”. In Costa Rican culture, a fine example of individualism and self-sustainability can be found within the practice of farming.

Surprisingly, more than one-fifth of the labor force in Costa Rica belongs to that of the farming occupation, making agriculture an extremely important national asset.  However, the makeup of these farms are far more interesting than one might expect. Many Costa Rican farms range from three to ten hectares and are family-owned and operated, with no distinct specialization in product type. Because the main goal of these farms is self-sustainability, many different crops and animals are grown to ensure both a balanced diet and diversity on the dinner table. First and foremost, these farms are worked by families to feed and care for their own. What is set aside after personal utilization and consumption is then sold. When one works on a farm, they are not working a profit – they are, most importantly, working to live. For this reason, the poverty level in Costa Rica sits at a much higher rate than the nation’s hunger level.

After a few brief visits to small family farms in Costa Rica, it became readily apparent that being self-reliant by growing and harvesting for oneself is not just a job, it is a way of life. In this culture, it is not just one family member who takes on the everyday endeavors of the farm, but every family member. Each day, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even small children contribute their time and effort to help with farm chores.

Chrisley, a local dairy farmer, runs a three hectare farming operation alongside his family outside of San Jose, Costa Rica. His farm has many assets, including milk, pork, poultry, and crop production. Each day Chrisley and his wife Patricia, along with their three children, tend to the farm, milking dairy cows, making cheese, collecting eggs, harvesting crops, and feeding the many animals that rely on their care.

The only day of rest for his family is on Sunday, when they attend church and spend quality time as a family with their friends and the rest of the community. The other six days of the week, the united family labors over the farm’s many chores, with the biggest tasks being linked to dairy production.

Each week, the family sells an average of 350 balls of mozzarella cheese, of which sixty-six percent of it is bought by a ‘middle man’. Interestingly enough, this ‘middle man’ then sells the product for nearly double the price at the market. When asked why he did not sell directly to the market for full profit instead of selling to a middle man, Chrisley provided a response that both touched my heart and shook my American-oriented mindset.  “It is not about the profit,” said Chrisley, “it is about the community”. Because of the selflessness of this farmer and his family, more jobs are created so the local community can succeed as a whole. For this reason, I believe the best example of individualism comes from independent and selfless farmers like Chrisley.

As students and faculty in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M, we are committed to our Grand Challenges, including Improving Our Health. The past week in Costa Rica has really opened my eyes and taught me a lot about our different cultures and how our lifestyles affect life expectancy in both countries.

Citizens of Costa Rica, often called Ticos, have a cleaner diet than American citizens, which creates a much healthier way of life in Costa Rica. We have experienced this first-hand during our two-week study abroad trip. Typical meals in the country consist of “slow food” including rice and black or red beans, lots of fresh fruit and salads. Also on the menu are lean meats including poultry, beef, pork and fish. Meanwhile, the majority of Americans are consistently eating fast foods and unhealthy diets which often create health issues.

According to data from the World Bank, Costa Ricans outperform U.S. citizens in life expectancy. The mortality rate in the United States is 18% higher for men and 10% higher for women than that of Costa Rica. The average life expectancy for Costa Rica was 79.4 years in 2014 while the United States was only 78.7. We might conclude that cleaner diets and a more active lifestyle result in the longer life expectancy in Costa Rica. This is despite Costa Ricans having a per capita income about $40,000 less than U.S. citizens’ averages.

As we know, obesity has become a significant problem in the United States. According to CDC, more than one-third of American adults are obese. However, obesity is much less common in Costa Rica and does not pose the same health threat to the country as in the U.S. This is in part because of socioeconomic status. Ticos do not have disposable income for fast food and premium goods that Americans include in their everyday diets.

While we have been in Costa Rica, one of the things we’ve noticed is the “no smoking” signs posted everywhere. They have strict laws against smoking in any public places, and have imposed a high tax on tobacco products with intentions of discouraging the purchase of cigarettes. Enforcing these laws helps create a cleaner environment, and therefore a healthier life for Costa Ricans.

Improving Our Health goes beyond just clean eating and regular doctor visits. Being in another country, even for just a short period time, has greatly impacted my views on health in the United States. To improve our health, we must constantly try create a better environment and lifestyle. We have observed different methods of farming, and tried new vegetables and fresh fruit from local, family-owned farms in Costa Rica. When I return from studying abroad, I will be eager to implement these practices and spread my new knowledge throughout our own country. The next time I go grocery shopping, I will definitely visit an H-E-B or Central Market to search for fresh starfruit, my new Costa Rican favorite!

What does the word community mean to you? Community gives me a sense of closeness with the people who surround me. They could be members of a church community, the people who live around you, or an organization. When you become a part of a community, you take on the role of looking out for your fellow brother or sister with the mindset that everything you do not only benefits you, but the others around you. Typically, Americans try to do things with their own best interest in mind. In Costa Rica, I have seen a very different attitude when it comes to doing things for others. I’ve noticed that Costa Ricans look at the big picture and how their actions can benefit the entire community.

On Day 3 of our Costa Rican adventure we had the pleasure of visiting a local farm run by a man named Chrisley. He and his family produce fresh cheese that is used at a lot of the local markets. Even though Chrisley had his own milk cows, he bought milk produced from other families. He also sold cheese on credit to five families who worked as middle men between him and the markets. Chrisley did this to ensure that everyone in his community could make a living and support themselves.

Francisco our tour guide at the A&M Soltis Center and native of San Jose, gave insight on what’s happening in the Costa Rican urban areas. Some families in cities do not have the means of supporting themselves and therefore rely on their children to become street beggars. Families in the cities do not have the pleasure of or having a constant supply of their own food. These families must work to buy food and sometimes it is hard to find employment, so they go without eating.

In my hometown of Austin, we are facing our own food crisis called “food deserts.” The FDA defines food deserts as impoverished areas going without fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods. According to an article in “Speak Up Austin,” Ted W stated that places such as east and south Austin are facing this crisis. Residents in these areas do not have easy access to fresh foods, so they eat processed and fast foods. Residents who do have the means to get fresh produce and meats have to drive out of their way to get them. Ted W wrote that “Big businesses are unwilling to expand closer to customers because it will lower the business at the stores they travel to.” However, this leads to people going without or making unhealthy choices.

The trip to Costa Rica has really opened my eyes, not only to the things that are going on around the world, but what is going on in my own community. I think it’s important to gain awareness on trips like this to reflect and figure out a way to make an impact at home in Texas.

Costa Rica makes me think of sunny days, crystal blue water, and luscious natural beauty because tourism is Costa Rica’s leading industry with more than two million visitors annually. But, it was not until we dug further into the true and raw Costa Rica that I was deeply impacted by one individual and realized what this country was truly about, love and happiness.

During my time in Costa Rica, we had the opportunity to tour several farms, including a dairy farm owned by a man named Chrisley. He owned 7.5 acres of farmland including an array of fruit trees, five cattle, a handful of pigs and piglets, and worked hard with his wife daily to make a living primarily from homemade cheese. Right now you may think this sounds like an ordinary farm. I know I did, but it was not until I discovered who Chrisley was on a personal level to find out there is more to his production than meets the eye. His way of growing the economy meant sacrificing his cheese prices so that the surrounding families in the community could make a living and not surrender to poverty. He also displayed several acts of love to his children and wife, Patricia, by commonly addressing her as “Mi amor” which translates to “My love.”

Chrisley taught us the process of making the string cheese mozzarella balls and even let us roll them to enhance our experience. He told us that he makes this type of cheese because he is one of the few farms that specializes in it, so it is in high demand. He and his wife worked like a well-oiled machine without speaking to one another while they effortlessly stretched the cheese, almost like it was a motion embedded in their memory. It was truly mesmerizing to see two individuals work so well together with so much love and still have a strong work ethic each and every day.

Chrisley’s cheese production prices were also another amazing factor on how he contributes to the growing economy in San Carlos, Costa Rica. They make roughly 59 cheese balls a day, resulting in 350 balls weekly. They sell to five different families for $3-$4/ball; those families sell to local markets for $6-$7/ball. Local markets sell to consumers for $8-$9/ball, which is priced roughly $6 more than Chrisley earns.

At first glance, it looks like Chrisley makes quite a living with $1,400/week, but you have to calculate the production costs it takes to produce the cheese balls. These costs include the imported bacteria from the Netherlands, curing agents, milk bought from local farms, and the propane gas he uses to heat his water. All these calculated costs add up to $2/ball, for an actual profit of $1-$2/cheese ball, or $350-$700 a week.

Chrisley could be making nearly double that amount and when asked why he does not sell to markets directly to achieve this profit, I was truly impacted by his response. He said, “I know I can make more, but I do not care about the money, the money means nothing to me. I sell for low prices to the surrounding families so that they can make a living.” This made me realize that his way of growing the economy was not competing with others and being selfish to make a large profit; it was allowing others to make a profit off of him to reduce poverty in the surrounding community. I think that simple, yet impactful lesson is something that I can take home with me and utilize in my everyday life.

By itself, the word “worth” has many different meanings. By definition, worth can be the quality that presents something desirable, the material or market value of something, wealth or riches, or a quantity of something that may be purchased for a certain amount. But how is worth defined in a country such as Costa Rica? It isn’t the economic value, the GDP, or a price put on imported and exported goods. These things, although important, don’t even begin to measure the true worth of such a beautiful place.

In just the short time I have been here, I’ve seen a number of things that make Costa Rica worthy, not because of their ability to increase any kind of numerical or economic value, but simply because they exist. Costa Rica is home to many natural plants, animals, and insects that have a way of helping out on their own. The country is highly dependent on pollinators including different types of bees. According to the Earthwatch Institute, there are more than 400 species of wild bees in Costa Rica and they play a very important role in the production of fruits and vegetables. For example, because corn is not a self-pollinating crop, farmers will plant flowers on the edge of their corn crops to attract bees and other insects to help the pollination process.

Bees are beneficial in other ways as well. The Tetragonisca angustula, sometimes referred to as Mariola, is a specie of bee native to Central America. This type of small bee creates a special type of honey that is not only sweet, and healthy too. It has a unique flavor, medicinal properties that can help prevent infections, and in some areas, costs ten times more than regular honey.

Although they are very important, bees are just one of the many different examples of Costa Rica’s natural worth. When visiting different farms we were able to see how each plant played a beneficial role in the production of another.

For example, Roberto’s family planted banana trees among potato plants so the banana leaves shaded the plants underneath. Potatoes need a little bit of shade to grow so they used a very natural way to solve this problem. To me this is extremely worthy. They didn’t have to spend money on any sort of man-made structure, they simply let nature do what it was meant to do. They were able to have a successful banana and potato production on the same area of land.

The most important thing I’ve learned while being here is that Costa Rica is an extremely natural country. The country’s inhabitants embrace nature and let it be the power behind their success. The bees and the example of the plants are just two among the many things that make Costa Rica worth something more than money. Albert Einstein once said, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” It’s hard to see the worth of something so small like the placement of plants and the importance of bees, but Costa Rica shines a special light on its intrinsic value and worth.

Pura Vida – not just a greeting, a thank you, or a goodbye. In Costa Rica, this is a way of life. The phrase means many things to the Ticos but literally means pure life. Pureness in this country is at an all-time high and can be found around every winding road.

Ticos are native Costa Ricans and they have worked hard to maintain this name throughout their generations. The sustainability of their culture comes at the price of persistence and patience. This was confirmed when we visited a small farm run by a man named Chrisley. His 7.5-acre farm was passed down from his father. It produces many quality products that are native to Costa Rica. Chrisley taught us how to milk cows, produce cheese, grow numerous fruits and vegetables, and how to keep your family close throughout the process. He works hard Monday through Saturday to keep his farm running to provide for his family. His family is ever-present in the operation of the farm. He told us Sunday was their day to relax and reflect on the week of hard work, while they rewarded themselves with good food and quality bonding time.

Costa Rica sustains its economy with exportation of various products. One of their most important exports is coffee. Costa Rica collects about $370 million (U.S.) annually from coffee exports. The quality of their coffee is superior compared to many coffee products worldwide. Costa Rica also has one of the highest coffee yields. Costa Rica requires by law that farmers cannot grow anything below the standard of Arabica beans. These beans are of the highest quality and can only be grown in few places worldwide. The high altitude and warm climate in Costa Rica allows the beans to thrive, while the volcanic soils provide rich nutrients.

Even though Costa Rica is a very pure and organic country, it does have challenges. Costa Ricans way of living is composed of production through farming and agriculture. However, Costa Rica has beautiful rain forests that are essential to the land. Over the years many farmers looked to expand their production efforts and wanted to cultivate these areas. This is a huge conflict within the community and many steps have been taken to curtail their expansion. Laws such as the SETENA and MENAET have made it difficult for farmers to cut down certain trees to preserve the precious rain forests.

While in Costa Rica we stayed at the Soltis Center, a rain forest preserve bought by a former Aggie, Charles W. Soltis, who donated the resources to those seeking higher education. We explored this piece of land and learned of many species that depended on the habitat. This was an eye-opening moment and showed the true values of these precious rain forests.

Costa Rica is a unique country which keeps its traditions true throughout each generation. The country’s citizens produce what they need and never complain about what they do not have. They have sustained their native cultural heritages with the Pure Vida way of life.

Rural living in Costa Rica is pure, relaxed and simple. In the San Isidro area of Costa Rica, where we have been staying for the past week, community members have an extremely sustainable way of living. We visited many farms on our journey and have learned the process of self-sustainability and community-supported initiatives. Hunger, however, is an issue for residents in the Costa Rican cities.

In 2015, the Household Survey reported the poverty rate in Costa Rica was 21.7 percent. This statistic shows that a large number of families are living in poverty. Residents in urban areas struggle to obtain food supplies when they don’t have enough money.

In rural areas of Costa Rica, citizens are supported through family farming and sustainable living. They may not have much money, but are able to stay healthy and nourished because of the agricultural advantages provided by a rural lifestyle. Based on income, farmers could be considered living under the poverty line, but are not impoverished or malnourished because of the food they make themselves through agriculture.

In 2014, it was reported that 12.4 percent of Costa Rica was employed through agriculture.

We’ve had the opportunity to visit a local dairy farm owned by Chrisley, a local farmer. He and his family support themselves through their land. They have a small herd of cows for their milk. They use the milk to create different types of cheeses.

During our tour of Chrisley’s farm we had the pleasure of helping the family make the cheese they needed to produce for the day. We rolled the cheese into balls. Each week they make 350 cheese balls to sell.

The remarkable aspect of Chrisley’s farm is that he supports his family making the cheese, and many families who do not have the means to produce milk or cheese, or the land needed to raise animals and different crops. Chrisley will sell these families the cheese balls for a low price allowing them to become the middleman in the selling process. The families then sell the cheese for a slightly higher price to local stores and citizens.

An important aspect of the process is that Chrisley allows the families to purchase the cheese balls on credit and then return at the end of the day to pay their debts in cash. One family purchases 50 percent of the cheese balls.

In this area of Costa Rica, the community members look out for each other so no one goes hungry. Without Chrisley’s farm and his service to the community, many families would be unemployed and unable to support their families and provide for health care.

Chrisley told us that sometimes they do not feel rich because they do not have expensive phones or television but he knows that his family will not go hungry and that is what is important.

Chrisley’s story relates to hunger issues in major cities, such as San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. There is not much land for purchase in those areas, therefore people cannot support themselves through farming.

In March 2015, the president of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, created a program to help at least 54,000 families out of extreme poverty. The plan is called “Puente al Desarrollo” or the “Bridge to Development.”

According to the Costa Rica 2016 Economic Assessment, the plan is a “…strategy to reduce extreme poverty. Such strategy encompasses social assistance, to ensure the basic needs are met and also a social protection component whereby social workers establish a family plan composing education, training, health and childcare.” This program works if those receiving aid comply with the conditions, such as sending a child to school and going to training programs. If the participants stay in the program, they receive $140 a month.

This effort is ongoing and the goal is to pull around 40,000 families out of poverty by 2018. The “Bridge to Development” solution is an opportunity for children not receiving proper nourishment and healthy living to establish an education and life for themselves outside of poverty.

There is a program in place in Costa Rica called Scaling Up Nutrition. In 2014, this program was established to improve Costa Rica’s health and nutrition problems. The program report stated “The challenge for Costa Rica is to increase financial and human resources in order to strengthen actions on malnutrition.” This is an ongoing effort in Costa Rica and has made significant advances in the last two years.

My hope is that the programs in place will continue to improve lives in Costa Rica’s major cities. During our study abroad, we have had the opportunity to witness how a community helps itself work and grow together. I hope the idea of community and sustainability can find its way into the lives of those living in inner cities.

“One’s identity is in large part a function of one’s membership and role in a group…The survival and success of the group ensures the well-being of the individuals, so that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects oneself. Harmony and interdependence of group members are stressed and valued,” said Craig Storti, former Peace Corps Volunteer and trainer.

A primary group’s inclination to sacrifice its goals and values for the greater good of the group, or society, can characterize Storti’s idea of collectivism. The group or society is the primary unit of moral concern to which the individual adds value. The practice of collectivism gives priority to the greater good of a group over individuals within it – a practice that I have seen demonstrated in Costa Rican society.

After a week in the northern rain forest regions of Costa Rica, I observed a sense of collectivism for family and community through a number of characterizing points. At each farm we visited, the family members were always willing to lend a helping hand if needed, sometimes without even being asked.

Chrisley, the owner of the dairy farm we visited, gave us an insightful tour of his property. His youngest daughter joined along, walking hand-in-hand with her father. During the tour, we also had the opportunity to meet Chrisley’s wife, who he only referred to as “amor” (“my love” in Spanish). Children and dogs were running around on the land, excited by the 32 visitors to their home. It was evident that family was everything to this successful, humble farmer.

“The philosophy of the family is to produce enough for the family to eat and if we produce more, then we sell it,” Chrisley said.

Each family built their lives around the fertile land that they lived on; cherishing it for the nourishment and capital it provided for their families and communities. In this sense, the term “collectivism” not only applies to an entire community of people, but it can also apply to a single family who collaborates to serve the greater good of their loved ones.

Francisco Morazon Fernandez, a Soltis Center biologist, said there is a higher value placed on community in the more isolated areas of Costa Rica – something that is “lost in urban zones.” As opposed to the booming metropolitan cities, such as San Jose, Fernandez’s home city, collectivism is demonstrated in rural areas through protection and awareness of friends and family.

However, collectivism varies in Costa Rica, depending on geographic regions and cultures. For example, the eastern border facing the Caribbean Sea may differ from the western border with the Pacific Ocean, according to Fernandez.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began the People’s Garden Initiative to establish organic gardens worldwide, breaking ground in San Jose, Costa Rica’s capitol city, in Fall 2009. This initiative will help to extend the collectivism-based ideals to more urban areas of Costa Rica. The main goal of this garden is to help strengthen the community and environment, contributing to the greater good of Costa Rican society.

“With our People’s Garden, we not only come together as a community to grow healthy foods, we also grow respect for the earth and for those who farm,” said Anne Slaughter Andrew, the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.

The positive purpose of this program reaffirms the information that I have gathered while speaking and listening to the locals in San Isidro de Peñas Blancas.

On a national scale, Costa Rica demonstrates collectivism, concerning humans, animals, plants and the environment, by practicing significant conservation and preservation methods that ultimately serve the greater good of society. For example, Nectandra is an organization that promotes the conservation and restoration of the cloud forest ecosystems of Costa Rica through public education, scientific research and watershed stewardship. This organization, founded in 1999, initiates education, scientific research and community outreach, while encouraging others to take the conservation-based knowledge learned at the facility out into the rest of the world.

I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to visit the cloud forest during my time in Costa Rica, because of its immense beauty and rarity of existence. Arturo Jarquin, Nectandra Cloud Forest Preserve Manager, described the cloud forest as the “stairway to heaven.”

As I reflected on my visit to the cloud forest, I immediately linked Nectandra, and other similar organizations, to the concept of collectivism, because of their work to improve the world using natural methods, even if the effect is small. Their efforts are purposefully for the greater good of society and the world.

I feel fortunate for learning about the importance of conservation and utilizing natural means to benefit society. As a journalism major, I was intrigued by the biodiversity of Costa Rica and look forward to delving deeper into conservation methods through research. Through my reporting, I hope to stress the importance of conservation of rare ecosystems.

I can apply this learned sense of collectivism to my personal life, as a student at Texas A&M University, by making small decisions that will contribute to preservation efforts that will benefit the greater good of society, if only in a small way.

A 10-year-old girl wakes up to hollering monkeys in the Costa Rican city of San Ramon. She smells the aroma of fresh coffee nearby. She readies herself for the day and heads off to school with a group of friends who have just finished a breakfast of nutritious plantains. She carries no stress for the day, just the excitement of beginning a new semester of classes.

Children and young adults in Costa Rica are advantaged with low stress and high quality of life in a country of abundance and opportunities. With an adult literacy rate more than 90%, nearly every child has the prospect of quality schooling; the Ministry of Public Education requires attendance from the age of seven or eight, and provides it free of charge.

The Costa Rican government does not permit adolescents to work until age 16 to minimize disruptions of schooling. Students have the option of attending high school for an extra year, during which time they focus on a desired field and graduate with a diploma in their specialization. The diploma promotes “college readiness and career development,” which is one value of the TAMU Grand Challenges: Enriching Our Youth initiative. An extra year and certification as a technician allows job prospects for all persons, whether they are college graduates or not. According to costarica.org, the country abolished the military in 1948 and allocated part of its funds to school systems; since then, Costa Rica has been promoting education for adolescents in various ways.

Costa Rican schools, government, and private organizations host various extracurricular activities and volunteer projects. For example, Clubes 4-S is a government organization sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle that organizes lectures and projects for development of Costa Rican youth. Similarly, the Comité Cantonal de la Persona Joven, or CCPJ, is an organization created by cantones, or small provinces of cities, which meets to discuss youth development in smaller towns. It also funds non-profit organizations and focuses on instilling healthier ways of life for young Costa Ricans.

In addition to education, children are also provided with quality, affordable healthcare close to home. The government provides Equipo Básico de Atención Integral en Salud, or EBAIS, which is a rural clinic for basic healthcare services in towns where hospitals are no longer functional because of overpopulation. Children are covered for vaccinations with Seguro Social, or the social security system, which promotes a “focused community approach” for the health and wellness of youth, which happens to be another mandate of the TAMU Grand Challenges: Enriching Our Youth initiative.

Costa Rican youth are very much in touch with the “pura vida” way of life, and are gradually helping to shape the future of the country. What the Costa Rican government is promoting matches factors in the TAMU Grand Challenge: Enriching Our Youth. Costa Rica is working toward a smarter, healthier, more resourceful population of adolescents.

Costa Rican rainforests are home to millions of biodiverse organisms. This natural blessing currently attracts more than two million visitors annually to stimulate local economies through ecotourism, and to provide excellent year-round environment for the country. Residents prosper because of spring-fed water sources and pristine air supply aided by the abundance of trees. Both natural resources aid in hydroelectric production and provide employment for many.

Unfortunately, deforestation stands as the biggest threat to the ecosystems in Costa Rica. The Nectandra Cloud Forest Garden promotes the conservation of cloud forests and stewardship of watershed ecosystems in northern Costa Rica. The original owner of Nectandra Garden failed in coffee and banana production but quickly turned to deforestation to try profiting off the land. While deforestation might be attractive to landowners because it can be monetarily rewarding, the cost-benefit analysis does not equal sustainability.

The future of the rainforest is dependent on a collaboration of ethics, environmentalism and effective policymaking. The most important factor in balancing the equation of sustainability is having a common ethical goal for the future of these luscious green spaces. Social Contract Theory plays a huge role in this mountainous environment. Ideally, all residents and tourists need to agree on preservation tactics to allow this area to survive and prosper. It is important to educate the public on the importance of rainforests and their direct impacts. When the majority of people make a promise to preserve these lands, the desire to protect this natural resource will conquer many challenges.

Many hydroelectric dams have been built to convert the natural springs into power needed for homes and factories throughout the country. Several hydroelectric plants hold workshops in “asadas,” which are environmental community committees, to educate individuals about the importance of watersheds. Roberto Alfaro Rojas, a local asada president, explained that he does not lead his group because of money, but to help and educate his community.

As one of the founders of the Nectandra Garden, Luis Billa stated that to have harmony and success in the environment, communities need to find a balance between political systems to prosper indefinitely. The government has taken a hand in this preservation process by creating laws and categories to enact healthy practices and promoting a promising future for our world. The current policies have six categories ranging from protection of resources to availability to do management work. Rules and regulations have been put in place, not necessarily for the sole purpose of saving wildlife, but additionally to save anthropic species.

According to United Nations University, perhaps one of Costa Rica’s greatest contributions to the world can be its successful demonstration of environmental ethics shared by public and private sectors that benefit all. Humans depend on clean air and water to survive and by strengthening the knowledge, skills, and abilities of people in this community it will ensure a bright and near perfect living experience for the generations to come.