NRES 285/ 499

NCI Lecture 1

NCI Lecture 2

This lecture from Mike McColm was intense. I would like to call it "NCI Crazy Town". He basically told us everything that NCI does and gave us a good idea of what it’s like to work for a conservation-oriented NGO. For those planning on entering the profession, keep these paraphrased tips from Mike in mind:

• You should be resourceful in new conditions, and respectful of the diverse types of people with whom you collaborate
• This is a lifestyle choice—how willing are you to “jump into the river of insecurity” to work in unfamiliar places?
• Your values to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place will probably trump your other values of American ideas of comfort and financial security

These tips all pretty much say the same thing, which is to say, you gotta be cool to work for an NGO.


Mike discussed NCI’s role in Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico. In Ecuador, massive deforestation efforts to clear land for biofuel propagation have resulted water supply issues. Challenges also arise from lucrative grazing and mining opportunities. This also puts the astounding diversity of tropical plants and animals at severe risk. To counteract these effects, NCI has worked with local governments to reforest logged patches and set aside other species-rich areas as preserve. There is ongoing research by NCI and local people on species preservation, potential non-timber forest products, and shade-grown coffee. Finally, NCI seeks to involve more of the community through education. In Peru and Mexico, NCI has adapted similar strategies in palm conservation: hiring local people, promoting sustainable livelihoods through responsible resource use, and educating communities. It’s an effective pattern, and one that could probably be adapted in many places.

I think the coolest thing about NCI is the attention it pays to local people. These people have a much richer understanding of culture, traditions, and local politics than outsiders, and are therefore incredibly valuable as a resource to effect change. NCI recognizes this fact by partnering with locals to preserve precious ecosystems. The resources, from palms to freshwater, are connected to the land and to the people. Maintaining this relationship, within the goals of research, conservation, and education, is what makes NCI so successful. What a sweet organization. --Lenna O.

Tropical Deciduous Forest

This January, we are going to a very cool place, ecologically speaking, on earth. Let it suffice to say that the TDF has it going on. Because of its temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration regimes, the TDF can be classified as a unique ecosystem. This can also be viewed in Köppen’s climate classification and Holdridge’s life zone chart (check out that pdf).

During this lecture, I’m thinking, palms and cacti at the same time. Whaaaa?? How is this so?


Temperature and wacky seasonal precipitation cycles have something to do with that. We also have to consider the variety of topography in the Sierras. Slope and aspect create specialized microclimates that support different species. Three levels of vegetation appear with changing altitude in the TDF. They are the thorn scrub at lower elevations, TDF at middle elevations, and the pine oak forest at highest elevations. It is at these middle elevations where palms and cacti coexist (piquing my academic curiosity).

There is a high degree of plant species richness and endemism here, allowing for amazing diversity of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. As such, resource management decisions must carefully consider both the people and the native resources that support them. --Lenna O.

photo from Stephanie L.