The International Course on Tropical Agroecology and Agroforestry was held in Turrialba, Costa on July 15 to 28, 2002.  The event was organized by the Department of Environmentals Studies, University of California-Santa Cruz and the Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE). We are very pleased with the outcome and consider this first attempt to do joint courses as a great success. Twenty six participants from 12 nationalities attended lectures and activities taught by instructors from 10 countries.  The course combined conceptual lectures with field exercises, farm visits and participant presentations.  The group’s enthusiasm is further illustrated by the creation of an email group called “agroecologiayagroforesteria”, an initiave taken by Argentinian participant Monica Dorado.  This list allows fast and consistent communication between participants, instructors and other selected guests.  The course was chosen to launch the publication of the Spanish version of Dr. Stephen R. Gliessman’s textbook “Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture”.

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