Miles away from civilization, two PCVs, John and Cyrus, were the first to live and work on the recently created reserve.  They mapped trails, marked off the limits of the reserve and created its first management plan. Cyrus, a landscape architect, oversaw the construction of cabins, latrines and the two-story field station.  All of the building materials had to be hauled in by mule.  John, a botanist, aided in the construction and dedicated his time to studying plants for the National Herbarium. Over the course of his time at the reserve, John collected more than 3,000 plant species, 20 of which were previously unknown to scientists.  John’s discoveries provided further evidence of Bilsa’s unique environment, warranting its protection.

John Clark (PCV, '94-'97)  A Passion for Gesneriads