Student Trip Blog

DAY 4

June 30, 2026

Chitre_2A_June-26-2026

Theme of the day: Biocultural Diversity

Today’s main objective was to learn first hand what biodiversity is and also understand how it impacts the community around us. Not only that, but we also experienced first hand what biodiversity does to envirnements and communities. By going to Sarigua National Park and; in addition we discussed doing activities at the hotel to really understand the importance of learning about topics such as bioculture diversity.

Many of you may be wondering what bioculture diversity is? From our experience we learned a lot of the effects of lack of biodiversity and the harm that comes with that setting that space back. For example, based on today’s experiences in going to a national park, we learned that Sarigua is going through an environmental reconstruction, they want to redo the deforestation that happened in that part of Panama. For example, the cutting of trees, extintion, and relocation of certain species.

We basically went on a hike and looked around the trail. It was a mix of green and many many cactuses which later changed to desert dry endless miles of dry dirt with small patches of green. However, for the most part it looks like endless desert due to that area’s lack of biodiveristy.

For a duration of a hour we walked what seemed like 100 miles in hot Panamian weather and many types of bugs all over the place. We also learned that Sarigua used to be a trash dump which causes for glass shards to be found in that part of the trail. The land is rich in minerals such as Sulfer, Magnesium, and Iron making the gorund different shades of color such as purple, red, and dark brown.

Everything we do in Global Glimpse is for a purpose, that purpose is adapting to the culture and fully emerse in the Panimanian culture; however before we do that we must understand problems communities around not only Panama have and also understand that diversity is very important for an environment to thrive. It will expand resources and also seem like a harmanious envirenment. Now, we can all comfidently say and explain to people . what the causes and effects of biodiverity are and also give real world examples of such.