Volunteer in the Ecuadorian Amazon for Rainforest Conservation

Volunteer for Rainforest Conservation

Volunteer Description-Evolve to Ecology is a not for profit based in Ecuador for the benefit of indigenous people and conservation of the rainforest. We need volunteers to work on several exciting new projects which are ungoing and have no deadline to apply to work with us in the Amazon Basin:

Keys to the Amazon
http://www.evolvetoecology.com/#/keys-to-the-amazon-project/4556359342

The Shaman's Apprentice Project
http://www.evolvetoecology.com/#/ecuador-shiwiar-project/4551744793

Requirements:
Basic Spanish is necessary. Volunteers simply need to have enthusiasm and a passion for tropical wildlife conservation and indigenous people's rights. There are many aspects of these two projects that people can get involved in helping with our work from building Tree houses in the Rainforest to Biodiversity Surveys and making a wildlife refuge. We encourage and welcome personal initiative and creativity, we value this as an important aspect to Evolve to Ecology projects as your work and ideas is a contribution to the evolution of these projects. These projects are not suitable for volunteers whom expect to be told what to do every moment of the day or suitable for those whom are not prepared for basic living conditions in the Amazon Jungle. Please do some research before considering a project such as this, as working in the rainforest can be very challenging, it is hot and humid and many insects such as mosquitos will bite during your daily activities, so a positive mindset is necessary. We need people whom are flexible and have Independence and personal initiative that at the same time can understand our mission to work as part of a team to contribute to an amazing opportunity to help preserve the Amazon Rainforest, work will be at least 4 hours a day but at whichever times suit you best to keep out of the hottest part of the afternoons, mornings are usually the best part of the day to work.

Keys to the Amazon
With the Keys of the Amazon project we are working in collaboration with Patricio Cardenas Ugalde, a well known journalist whom is the owner of 130 hectares of pristine rainforest adjacent to the Morona River which has five rivers from the Pacific ocean that run to Morona, for this reason and the fact it is adjacent to the border of Peru, there are some exciting opportunities for developing Eco-Tourism and a Wildlife Refuge. We are working with Cuenca University and some high ranking politicians from Brazil and Ecuador whom are in support of this project. Volunteers can work along side Ecuadorian students and the Shuar indigenous people to help preserve the rainforest. We need volunteers whom are interested in participating in producing data for biodiversity surveys which involve collecting field data and photos in the Rainforest on a daily basis, we are also building eco-tree houses, zip lines, tree bridges and a wildlife refuge for rehabilitation of ex-captive rainforest animals. It would be beneficial to have a basic knowledge of sample collecting for Ecological field work (though not entirely necessary) and setting up long transects and quadrats, humane traps for insects, reptiles, bats and for the larger animals photo trip lines for non invasive biodiversity inspections. For those interested in Amazon fauna of the riverways there is an opportunity to start biodiversity surveys on the fish, reptiles and river dolphins that inhabit the region. Much of the Amazon Rainforest Biodiversity is in the Tree Canopy, so we will need help to build some outposts and observation towers for documenting birds, amphibians, insects and mammals. We will also be covering inventories on all kinds of plants and bryophytes. All data will go to supporting further international acknowledgement and preservation of the Morona Rainforest site which is also part of supporting new jobs for the indigenous people to create an ecological sustainable community.

The Shaman's Apprentice
For the Shaman's Apprentice Project, it is more difficult to access the Shiwiar Territory which is one hours flight in a small plane to the territory. We require strong commitment from groups of volunteers so that we can organize cost of the private flights to the jungle for groups of 3 people to the Shiwair territory one way is $500 (to be shared between three persons each way), the flights for 6 to 8 people is($1,500) depending on how big our volunteer group is the price will be between these two flight prices into the Shiwiar Territory, so it works out around 200 to 300 dollars per person. So a group will need to commit from 2 weeks to up to one month in the territory and working between the territory and the closest town Puyo. Volunteers will assist by laying foundations for the groundwork of the Shaman's Apprentice Project which focuses on conserving the knowledge of local plant medicines in the region, taking plant samples to produce the worlds first tropical plane medicine 3D database with ecological related information and a geomapping system, where you can identify the medicinal plant from a 3 dimensional picture and learn about its symbiotic pollinators, ecology and medicinal usage. We will also need help with creating the database and website for the Shaman's Apprentice Project that will help protect the Shiwiar people from exploitative pharmaceutical companies and also serve to empower them with an income once the database is up and running for academics and plant medicine researchers to utilise. Most of the work on this project is for documenting and scanning medicinal plants working with shamans to identify the plants and learning about their usage. We are still in the process of gaining a 3D scanner for this project, we require grant writers and people whom can also help us establish working relationships with other non-profit organizations that will collaborate with us.

For those interested in documenting rare indigenous languages we are working with some European universities and several indigenous groups, setting up schools to preserve knowledge of indigenous languages which is one aspect of preserving indigenous knowledge.

How to Apply:
Visit our website at www.evolvetoecology.com. Tell us which project you would like to participate in, the time period you can commit for with a curriculum vitae and two references, Include a cover letter of your background, interests, experience and what you feel you can contribute and how you would benefit from participating in these projects, personally and career based. We have consideration to the financial status of some volunteers and can offer fee waivers for internships in certain situations, we are the most affordable volunteer organization that offers work experience in the Amazon Rainforest because we realise that most advocacy volunteers and environmental volunteers look for reasonable terms in exchange for their time and energy to our projects. At the same time volunteers will understand we are a not for profit and all funds go to keeping our work sustainable, we rely on volunteer donations, creative ideas, initiative and time to keep our work in the rainforest ongoing. We also seek volunteers interested in assisting with online work with grantwriting and advertising Evolve to Ecology projects.

Flights to Ecuador are not included, travel and health insurance is sole responsibility of the participants.
Sectors- Ecology, Wildlife, Conservation, Forestry
Education, Training, Community, Tropical Rainforest Conservation, Sustainability
Campaigns, Fundraising, Philanthropy
Location- Ecuador
Town/City -Oriente-Puyo and Morona
Salary -Volunteering
Job Type- Temporary / Contract / Seasonal
-Voluntary & Interns
Contact Name Carlita Shaw
Company Name Evolve to Ecology
Website www.evolvetoecology.com