Administration, Maintenance and Development of La Selva Biological Station

该项目将继续为热带研究组织（OTS）的核心项目提供支持，因为它在全球努力中发挥着越来越大的作用，培训学生学习热带雨林生态学，了解、可持续地管理和保护湿热带的生态系统。在过去的17年里，培训和研究机会通过海外培训中心大大增加。壮观的生物多样性，多样的观察和实验栖息地，教室空间，训练有素的现场技术人员和自然历史导游的可用性，先进的实验室设施，最先进的地理信息/数据库管理系统，以及温馨的社会政治环境都有助于OTS的持续发展。毗邻La Selva遗址的国家公园增加了长期的生态安全，一个全面的总体规划和独立的咨询委员会指导管理和设施发展。每年有60多门研究生和本科生课程以及250多名研究人员使用拉塞尔瓦站。La Selva为美国学术界异乎寻常的广泛部分提供服务，并且在拉丁美洲和其他地区的科学发展中发挥着越来越重要的作用。因此，OTS值得长期支持。出于经济原因，在潮湿的热带地区，只有少数几个地点可以在拥有完整生态系统的大型保护区附近开发设备齐全的野外监测站。很少有其他大陆热带地区有如此悠久、持续的历史，可以让美国学生和科学家轻松进入。La Selva拥有特殊的设施和受保护的栖息地，位于哥斯达黎加民主共和国境内，以及美国科学学术界的激烈活动，是热带雨林及其相关生态系统研究的世界中心。因此，该站是美国本科生和研究生教育、生物多样性和全球变化项目的重要组成部分，并为远远超出OTS成员机构的选民提供服务。

This project will provide continued support of core programs of the organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) as it takes on an increasing role in global efforts to train students in rain forest ecology and to understand, sustainably manage, and conserve ecosystems in the wet tropics. In the last 17 years training and research opportunities have increased dramatically through OTS. Spectacular biodiversity, diverse habitats for observation and experimentation, classroom space, availability of well-trained field technicians and natural history guides,advanced laboratory facilitates, a state-of-the-art Geographic Information/Database Management System, and a welcoming sociopolitical environment have all contributed to OTS's continuing growth. The National Park adjacent to the La Selva site increases long-term ecological security, and a comprehensive Master Plan and independent advisory committee guide management and facilities development. More than 60 graduate and undergraduate courses and over 250 researchers use the La Selva station each year. La Selva serves an unusually broad segment of the US academic community and is playing an increasingly important role in the development of science in Latin America and beyond. In so doing OTS merits long-term support. For economic reasons there will be only a handful of sites in the humid tropics where fully equipped field stations can be developed adjacent to very large protected areas with intact ecosystems. Very few other continental tropical areas have such a long, continuing history of easy access by US students and scientists. La Selva--with its exceptional facilities and protected habitats, location within the democratic Republic of Costa Rica, and intense activity by the US scientific academic community--is a world center for the study of tropical rain forests and their associated altered ecosystems. As such,the station is a valuable element of the nation's programs for undergraduate and graduate education, biodiversity, and global change, and serves a constituency that extends far beyond OTS member institutions.