A live update from the Honduras jungle
As part of Operation Wallacea, a series of biological and social science expedition projects, I am spending a month high in the trees of the Cusuco National Park in Honduras.
Working alongside gap year, degree and PhD level science students, my job is to use rope access and climbing techniques to aid researchers with access into the tree canopy, so they can take cuttings and record findings. The results will help inform many areas of research, such as assessing the suitability of different tree species for sustainable timber production.
Rain, thunder and lightning, followed by intense humidity are some of the difficult working in conditions here, and are unlike any I have seen before. In these conditions, we have been carrying out night time surveys and have seen a selection of really cool insects, snakes, lizards and transparent frogs! I have also seen some incredible plants, Pinus oocarpa, Carpinus tropicalanis, Drimys granadenisis, Liquidambar sp, Ilex sp, Quercus sp, and a vast amount of plants that could be absolutely anything!
The climbing is relatively straightforward, but occasionally we have to climb at altitudes in excess of 2000m, which is hard work. The food is also an experience out here – mostly rice and beans but unfortunately there is a distinct lack of meat. Today is day eight for me here and it was the first day we have been lucky enough to have some.
We have seen some beautiful places on the trip. We’ve visited and stayed in the local village. Here we are able to order food and ‘essentials’, so on Tuesday I am returning to pick up my order of coffee, roasted with cinnamon and chilli; which they said I could help pick, roast and then grind - about as fair trade as you can get.
The generator at the internet post will shortly run out of fuel, so I’d best be off. I look forward to updating you all with more when I get back!
