| Advancing Integral Heritage Management |
WHERE WE GO
UM students pose in front of Arenal Volcano taken from Mistico Park  Costa Rica is well known for its macaw conservation programs |
In Collaboration with the University of Montana 3-15 January 2025 4 Credits Course Size: 16 Students Price: $3,350 INTRO TO COSTA RICA There may be no better place than Costa Rica to both glimpse protected area evolution throughout the world as well as hold a study abroad program on this topic given the variety of protected area management regimes in such a small, easily accessible, tourist-friendly country with a storied park history. Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, with its eco-tourism garnering much deserved attention. Its biodiversity is due to its rich combination of lush rain forests, mountains, volcanoes, and coastal plains. Located in Central America, the country enjoys coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. "Pura Vida" is a common phrase, meaning a way of life that is focused on happiness, optimism, and living life to the fullest. Other Resources CIA World Factbook: Costa Rica State Department on Travel in Costa Rica The Tico Times (Costa Rica´s oldest English paper) IMPORTANT LINKS
Typical view of the cloud forest in Monteverde |
Worldwide Evolution of Protected Areas Seen in Costa Rica
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS University of Montana student testimonials to come. COURSE INSTRUCTORS
JON KOHL Jon is founding director of the PUP Consortium. Since 1997 he and PUP have a long history in innovating holistic approaches to heritage planning, visitor or public use management in protected areas, and heritage interpretation in particular. He co-authored with Dr. Stephen McCool PUP’s foundational book that applies Integral Theory to heritage planning. He has many years of experience in heritage interpretation and tourism management in protected areas as well as being a writer on these topics (see his ResearchGate profile). He earned his degrees at Dartmouth College and the Yale University School of the Environment. Jon is also a dual citizen in the US and Costa Rica where he lives with his family and teaches at the University of Costa Rica.
DR. JENNIFER THOMSEN Jenn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Society and Conservation at the University of Montana and serves as the Director of the Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management Program. Her research focuses on protected area management, sustainable tourism, outdoor recreation, and large landscape conservation. Jenn has worked on many projects in the Crown of the Continent including visitor use management for Glacier National Park, Flathead River System, and Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. She has also worked on stakeholder collaboration for transboundary conservation and hopes to expand her work in the Crown of the Continent.
César is a Costa Rican ornithologist and birdwatcher. For the last 25 years, César has been observing and conducting field work across the Americas. César is interested the ecology and evolution of neotropical birds, which he shares as a professor or facilitator in citizen science projects such eBird or iNaturalist. Nowadays, he combines his days by leading the Costa Rican Ornithologist’s Union. Previously he worked as Bird Program Manager for the Macaw Recovery Network, a leading macaw and parrot conservation organization, one of whose principal facilities is the Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve. |
CESAR SANCHEZ