LABverde Day One

It is less than two weeks ago that my Speculative Ecologies residency began in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve – all thanks to LABverde. It’s hard to summarize so many adventures and experiences with nature and individuals. But in the next 10 posts, I will make the effort to share some of my impressions and discoveries.

On Thursday at around 9:30 we all gathered to be picked up with our luggage to travel to the Reserve, which took about an hour. We arrived at a gated entrance and drove up a long tree-covered road. It already felt like being in the rainforest. We were then asked to be with three partners and sent to our barracks. There were two rows with a small courtyard and laundry lines in between.

Lillian Fraiji welcomed us to our “Speculative Ecologies experience” outlining the next seven days we would spend in the Duque Forest Reserve. She explained that we would learn through lectures and through our interactions with the forest, by entering and feeling the landscape. She also welcomed the input, artistic understanding, and camaraderie that would evolve throughout the experience. We would spend three dates in a boat, she said, beginning at the meeting of the waters. Lilian introduced the rest of the staff: BRUNA, the documentarian and LABverde producer; TAMMY, the artist and social scientist; and ANNA, the translator and LABverde producer. 

 We had a few moments to settle in before our first lecture by Dr. Cintia Cornelius, a biologist and professor from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (IMPA). Cintia is an ecologist specializing in Ornothology, studying how interaction with humans has changed bird populations. Her research team was just completing a nine-day study in the forest. She explained that the Amazon is home to the richest variety of bird species in the world. The equator has remarkably stable light and energy, with less glaciation and less dense human occupation than regions to the north or south, which has created a great opportunity for the evolution of countless unique species.

We had our first lunch, which was located down a many step path, closer to the forest, with an outdoor kitchen, tables, and shade. It was delicious.

 At around 2pm, Cinita guided us through our first walk into the forest. She spoke about the quality of the soil in the Amazon, the lack of nutrients, and the sandy ground we could see as we walked through the forest. Along the way, she stopped to point out many plants and other aspects on the ground. She also explained how her research team mapped out the gridded research areas called “test grids,” about 3 meters by 3 meters each.

 After walking for about a half hour or more through the muddy main path, we arrived at the first research path. We turned right and went deeper into the forest. We headed back towards our camp at about 5pm, and it began to rain. We all had headlights because by 6 we knew it would be dark. Some were prepared with raincoats – not me! But it was so warm it didn’t matter. I liked feeling the rain on my body. The rain came down harder and harder— so much so that as the forest darkened, it was difficult to see two feet ahead of you. I needed windshield wipers on my glasses! It was an arduous trek and certainly a real introduction to the rainforest.

 We dried off and immediately went to our classroom, where each of us delivered a 5 minute artist’s talk to introduce our practices to the other residents. Then off to a delicious dinner and a good night’s sleep.