We are near the end of our journey through the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and we have experienced so many new sights and sounds that it is hard to recount all of them in our updates. Each week we've focused on a different topic to pass on the information that we are gathering for you. This week we will focus on habitat.

A habitat is an area where certain organisms (plant and animal species) naturally live and grow. Like your home, habitats support life by providing the food, water, and shelter that is needed to survive.

Throughout our journey we have had to work hard to shelter ourselves from rainstorms, stinging insects, and the blazing sun. We have faithfully purified our water in order to make it safe for us to drink. Fruit from the trees, and fish from the river have added to the rice, beans, eggs, oatmeal, and other food we bought in Iquitos.

We have utilized equipment and skills that we brought with us from the United States. We also rely on our knowledge and resources that we have acquired during our journey. Our survival has not been overly hard, but I am constantly amazed by how the people who live here permanently can not only survive, but thrive in the flooded forest.

The people that we have encountered do not rely on Gore Tex jackets, GPS units, gas stoves, water purification tablets, large bags of groceries, or modern first aid supplies to provide them with the food, water, and shelter that they need to survive. Instead they grow and gather their own food, drink water straight from the river, and build sturdy, elegant shelters using simple tools and materials they gather from the forest. They rely on their knowledge of the plants and animals of the forest; something that we are only beginning to understand.

The knowledge the people in flooded forest have is irreplaceable. I believe using their knowledge of the forest, and working with them to develop ways to protect their habitat will protect the Amazon and other rainforests throughout the world.

Approximately 50% of the Earth’s plants and animals reside in tropical rainforests. It is imperative that we learn as much as we can about the world's most biodiverse habitat. We also must work to ensure that the plants, animals, and people living in this amazing environment will continue to thrive in the Amazon rainforest for many generations to come.

We have only scratched the surface during our brief time in the rainforest, and I hope you will continue to join us for many more adventures in the Amazon Rainforest.

Keep Exploring!
Dave

Student Explorers had a very tough Daily Dilemma to respond to on Friday. Fishing for endangered species poses a serious threat to fish populations. However, fishing is one of the only ways families can eat and make a living in the forest. Lots of students had great ideas including educating the locals about the role fish play in the ecosystem. Creating stricter limits for catching fish, and creating other jobs for locals were some of the great ideas sent to us from students.

Please join us in our chatroom on Wednesday, May 3rd from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM CST, and on Friday May 5th from 1 PM to 2:30 PM CST. Remember to log your class in as a single user.