A new stream of consciousness
(pg 2 of 3)
As a young man, Dan Janzen's appetite for
exploring the natural world was nourished by the
Mississippi River, but now this premier ecologist
is feeding new ideas to us about nature's services.
His abundant intellect and energy are sparked by
his work in the tropical dry forests of the
Guanacaste conservation area in Costa Rica, where
Dr. Janzen and his wife, Dr. Winifred Hallwachs,
have tirelessly worked to make wildland
conservation an entry on the budget sheet.
Not only do these scientists live, study and
teach tropical ecology in the Area de Conservacion
Guanacaste, but they have created a model for
conservation and restoration of rainforest that
inspires others worldwide. Dr. Janzen and Dr.
Hallwachs have been instrumental leaders in
fundraising to expand conservation areas,
recruiting local residents to participate in
environmental programs, and experimenting with
tropical "crops" such as new molecules, carbon
sinks, and ecotourism.
For more information, go online to visit
janzen.sas.upenn.edu and www.acguanacaste.ac.cr.
