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Costa Rica is home to over 400 species of native wild bees and about 50 species of hummingbirds. But habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change threaten the health and survival of pollinators around the world. How can we better protect these important species?

The tropical forests of Costa Rica are home to some of the most important pollinators in the world—bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These species play a crucial role in the health of ecosystems and agricultural productivity, as more than three-quarters of the world’s crops rely on pollination. Unfortunately, these pollinators face growing threats from climate change, pesticide use, and habitat loss. As climates shift, pollinators may need to migrate to higher elevations, which could jeopardize crop production and potentially lead to the extinction of certain species.

One way to mitigate the effects of climate change is by planting “agroforests”—or forests that grow in pastures around or among crops—that could benefit pollinator communities. As part of this expedition, you will meet local farmers and learn about their farms and farming techniques. Additionally, you will help set up experimental biodiversity islands within pasture areas, which could help pollinator communities and demonstrate to farmers how planting additional plant species can simultaneously protect biodiversity and ecosystem function and provide livelihoods for low-income families in the region.

In the rugged tropical forests of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve or the lower elevation site of San Luis de Monteverde, home to one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems, the tropical dry forest, you will join the research team to investigate how threats to bees and butterflies will affect the critical pollination services they provide.