SCLC Director, Don Gerardo Vega sadly and untimely passed from our world earlier this month. He was a beloved husband, father of three, friend to many and our leader at the SCLC for the past two years. He spent the entirety of his life working for the betterment of the natural world, from his beginnings at La Selva Biological Station (OET), to his study of Dracontium gigas and then in his last years as the director of the SCLC. To honor Don Gerardo, I would like to take a moment to remember him for just a few of the things that he, himself was most proud of.

Don Gerardo was self-taught in English and began his 20 year career at OET as a young grounds man with a passion for birds. After years of cultural exchanges with international researchers at OET he expanded his knowledge of both English and the natural sciences, eventually becoming fluent in English and a professional guide, and researcher in his own rite.

As a researcher, he cultivated no less than 250 of the fly-pollinated Dracontium gigas which sprout annually from the ground to over a meter, opening into purplish black lanterns that waft of fresh carrion. His interest was so advanced that he gave a conference in Germany on the plant's dynamics in rainforest ecosystems. At the SCLC Gerardo once used our lone growing Dracontium to cure me of a persistent cold by telling me to stick my head in the flower. It worked.

In 2009 he joined the SCLC as our Executive Director and was a fierce advocate for preserving the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor and telling the truth. This sometimes made him longwinded and a little unpopular. However he was an honest man who would look at you, generally see the best, but tell you what he thought. He shared his wealth of Costa Rican natural history with foreign student groups coming to Sarapiquí for reforestation projects, and encouraged local student to follow in his footsteps through the use of English certification and environmental education. Don Gerardo also formed the partnership between the SCLC and OET ensuring that Club de Aves, (bird club) always has the scientific expertise needed to help create the next generation's guides and ornithologists.

To remember his passion and the skill with which he worked with young Costa Ricans to help them improve their scientific knowledge of birds through our Club de Aves, we would like to give people the opportunity to help support the reasons Don Gerardo Vega spent his time working with us. Any donation made through our website can be earmarked "Don Gerardo Vega" and will go to support one of our following programs: Ecology Club, Club de Aves or a reforestation project.

 Shala Racicky, Former SCLC Coordinator