Humberto,
Greetings from Chicago. I hope all ...... I
begin teaching next week as many .....
I am including some statements about the course you may use in any way
you would like. Please feel free to have anyone interested in the
course to contact me via email or telephone for a reference.
(Underlined was made by Humberto Jiménez Saa)
The course is an outstanding introduction and foundation to tropical dendrology. I would highly recommend it to any serious student or
scientist who is interested in developing a comprehensive foundation and in advancing their knowledge of tropical forest systems.
There are three primary reasons the course is so outstanding and
rewarding.
In addition, to the science, the course offers opportunities to see a
wide range of life zones, ecosystems, the country of Costa Rica, and to
interact with the people who are on the cutting edge of sustainable use
of the tropics at the Tropical Science Center the sponsoring
institution.
>In summary, the Tropical Dendrology in Costa Rica course is a unique,
efficient, well taught, scientifically valid means to understand further
sustainable use of the tropics.
>
> Dr. Alan W. Bjorkman
>Keep in touch Humberto if I can be of further help.
>
>Vaya con Dios!
[Notice: You may contact Sara for additional information. See addresses below]
From: Sara Rose
· Humberto,
> Heidi Hopper contacted me last week about your Dendrology course. We spoke
on the phone, and I told her about my trip, and how much I learned.
> I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the class. I did not realize
how much I learned until I returned home. You have exposed me to such a
wide range of plant features, and given me terrific insight into plant
identification and understanding plant families. I feel this has helped me
become a better teacher.
I have also added many tropical plants to the greenhouse at my college so I
can show the students a wide range of plant families, and different types of
structures.
> This note is long over due: Thank you, your class was wonderful. I learned so much from you, Pablo, and Luis.
>
> Sincerely,
Sara Rose
· Ms. Sara Rose
[By Allan P. Drew, State University of New York]
[Notice: You may contact Dr. Drew for additional information. See addresses below]
I was a student in the course, "Tropical Dendrology", offered June 26-July 8, 2000 in San Jose, Costa Rica. Most of us in class were from the U.S., but with several students from Latin America. Instruction was in English by Dr. Humberto Jiménez Saa who was assisted by three other dendrology experts from Costa Rica. We met initially at the Tropical Science Center to cover some basic botanical characteristics using local species, then spent the remainder of the two weeks travelling around Costa Rica to other life zones: dry forest, cloud forest and rain forest. Since I teach dendrology (northern hardwoods) I was interested in the topic. Also, because my career is taking a turn towards tropical ecology with increasingly more time being spent in the tropics, I took the course to gain a greater understanding of tropical tree dendrology.
I was very pleased with the increased capability I gained in tropical tree identification and of the geography of the different life zones of Costa Rica. The course fully met my expectations in this regard. The quality of instruction was excellent, the course was well organized, the lodging was fully adequate or more so and the transportation was very dependable. Dr. Jiménez knows his material and one could not have come up with more qualified local dendrologists than Bill Haber, Luis Poveda and Pablo Sánchez, all of which have written books on plant identification. My only suggestion for improvement was to have included more ecological background as context relative to the various life zones visited. [Notice: This suggestion was taken into account by course coordinator for next courses] .
The course begins with a review of basic botany relative to key features used in tree identification such as types of stipules, branching and patterns of leaf arrangement and leaf venation. Species from different life zones are studied and a key to families of trees based on dendrological features is developed. Sketches were made in my notebook of tree species encountered along with other important information. I came away from the course with a wealth of information, organized in such a way that it is useable to me when working in tropical regions.
Based on the information I learned in "Tropical Dendrology", I recently developed a key to the 33 families of trees and shrubs found at the Springfield Centre for Environmental Protection, Research and Education (S.C.E.P.T.R.E.) in Dominica, W.I. where I regularly take students each year for a course of study in tropical ecology.
I expect to be spending more time in Latin America and this course will be of great benefit in my work with tropical ecosystems and their woody flora. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about tropical botany and tree identification.
Allan P. Drew, Ph. D. |
