Conservation project
The program takes place in Intag a Zone of the Imbabura Province, Northern Ecuador. It is part of the Ecuadorian Chocó bio region, which is one of the ten biologically most important zones or hot spots in the world, according to international organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank.
This is a great chance to get hands-on, practical experience in the fields work of the reserve.
A place for developing environmental technology tools and their application for harmonious integration of human communities with the ecosystems they inhabit.
In the center participants might participate in a variety of different activities depending on what needs to be done. Amongst some of the things that they might work with are:
-Responsible harvesting of forestry resources.
-Cleaning the land to be reforested.
-Preparing areas for replanting.
-Transplanting.
-Help develop a good organic agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry practices.
-Help with the research on species or plants and animals.
-Collecting and identification of specimens and seeds.
-Help with English teaching in the community schools.
-Help with environmental education in the community school.
-Work in the botanical garden.
-Work in the terr nursery.
Getting there
Participants goes alone or with other participants but they will be taken to the bus station to make sure they get the right bus. On arrival to Otavalo somebody from the reserve meets them at the bus station to accompany them the last part of the journey. The trip takes about 5 hours.
Accommodation
The volunteers will live in the reserve with other volunteers in shared rooms and they will have a shared bathroom. They will have their 3 meals together and everybody helps out to prepare the food as well as doing the dishes.
The volunteer need to understand that the accommodation is basic though they have everything necessary.
Location
IntagRequirements
Beginner Spanish.
Interest in working people and nature.
Open-mindedness to work and live in a different culture.
The participants need rubber boots and gloves to work with.
Something warm to sleep in as nights are cold.