Facilities
El Zota is a new Biological Field Station located in Northeastern Costa Rica (10o 33.437', -83o 44.177') near the Barro del Colorado reserve.
Habitats include lowland rain forest, lowland swamp forest, pastureland and reforested areas of monospecific stands of trees used for timber and paper. A small river and several freshwater lagoons (ponds) are found within the boundaries of the property.
El Zota Biological Field Station is owned by a Costa Rican family and is part of a research area utilized by the Fundacion Neotropical in Costa Rica whose primary interests center on reforestation and sustainable forest use. The majority of the property is natural forest (~700 ha), but parts of the station were originally cattle ranch.
The current owners, in an effort to utilize the land in a more ecologically friendly fashion, have converted many acres of pastureland to a functional tree farm that produces both native and exotic trees for harvest as a means of sustainable use of the land. In addition, the entire property is currently being used as a biological research station so that the natural portions of it can be conserved as undisturbed forest.
The station is designed to allow students to learn techniques that can be used in field research on ecological, behavioral and conservation questions in the tropics, and in so doing, to conserve the property of the research station.
The field school curriculum is designed by a group of seasoned faculty from various Universities. Together, all parties would like to conserve and promote conservation of land and its inhabitants in this portion of Costa Rica.
El Zota provides comfortable lodging for up to 40 students at its different cabins with personal beds and bathrooms. Also features a full size teaching classroom and laboratory. Meals are provided in a communal dining area and include a varied sample of delicious local cuisine.
Weather is warm (to about 93 F) and very humid, but can be cool (down to about 68 F) at night. During the wet season, rain falls almost daily, so be prepared for rain at all times in the field.
