Seven students at Lakeland University have returned from Belize after conducting tropical ecology research.
This study abroad program allowed the students and faculty to perform research in the Belize rainforest and coral reefs off the coast.
The research was highlighted by nine days spent at the Belize Foundation for Research and Environment Education (BFREE).
This is a private, protected area of 1,153 acres of land, which is part of the largest tract of uninterrupted rainforest north of the Amazon.
Three days were spent conducting coral reef research and exploration on a barrier key 15 miles off the coast.
Paul Pickhardt, Lakeland biology professor and the program’s creator, noted that due to climate change, the coral reef has degraded exponentially over the 16 years they have making the trek to Belize.
The seven students included Hunter Kuester of Sheboygan.
Kuester is now a biology graduate of Lakeland and works for Kohler’s River Wildlife properties as a land manager.
More information on the extensive research conducted can be found online at Lakeland University’s website.
