During my hikes through the jungles of Costa Rica, with the calls of howler monkeys echoing throughout,
I began to realize how important it is to conserve these tropical ecosystems. 
My experience in Costa Rica makes me think of what Mahandis Ghandi once said,
“We must be the change we wish to see”.  In order to assure that these forests are preserved,
people all across the globe, even in Western New York need to come
 together and fight for conservation and live more sustainable lives. 

Kim Simon