This project allows the volunteer to know, research and participate in actions of conservation of the Alto-andinos Forest of the Central Andes of Ecuador in one of the areas fewer studied, the Llanganates National Park.

Program Description

This project of investigation and Conservation of the birds of the Alto-andinos “Llanganates” is an environmental project of the Simbiosis Foundation that it is centered in the conservation of the Alto-andinos Forest from “El Triunfo “ village through the investigation, environmental education and the local residents, training: promoting sustainable economic alternative.

The project has three main components:
- Investigation
- Environmental Education
- Training

Volunteer Work Activities

Investigation:

Participating in the component of “Biology and Ecology of the Alto-andinos Forest from El Triunfo village” in activities like:

- Supporting and/or carrying out censuses of bird in the different places of sampling of the project.
- Carrying out monitories of species in the area.
- Creating and managing a database of registration in the area.
- Carrying out photographic and auditory registrations of the specie of the area.

Also if your interest is other groups of the taxonomy you can carry out your own investigations by the zone in the areas like as: botanical, ecological, mammalian zoology, entomology.

Training an Environmental Education

- Participating in the component of “Conservation and Handling of the IBA Llanganates National Park through the invigoration of the administration capacity environmental of the local actors”

Financed by the UICN, and gathered to execute with the Simbiosis Foundation an Aves & Conservación (Partner of Bird Life in Ecuador) in activities like:

- Training to local residents in the observation and identification of the birds.
- Qualifying and teaching the value from the local environmental resources to the children and young through the Program of Environmental Education.
- Developing the bird tourism strategy for the zone.
- Gathering scientific, historical, social and cultural information of the area for the implementation of a Plan of Conservation.
- Working together with the local government for the implementation of conservation actions at level.

Volunteer Profile

Specially, we look for volunteers specialized in areas such as Biology, Ecology, Environmental Education, Ecotourism; job with the communities or people that have the interest of contributing from now to the conservation of the biodiversity and they can stay in the area 3 weeks ahead.

Services near to the Project

In the El Triunfo village exists a health subcenter where there is a basic medical attention. Also, in the Baños city to 45 minutes from the project, there are specialized attention by medical doctors and dentists; inclusive there are excellent private hospitals.

Accommodation

The volunteer’s House is a traditional housing with the basic comforts: tube water, electric light, bathroom, hot water shower.

The volunteer´s house is divided in 3 areas
The first one, where there are the rooms equipped with bed bunks
The second one, is the kitchen-dining room; and
The third one is the bathroom
The foundation will provide of sheets, blankets and hand towels.

What does the Volunteer need to bring?

• Lantern
• Rechargeable pile
• Coat of water
• Rubber boots
• Shampoo biodegradable
• Sun block
• First- aid kit
• Ecological soap (to wash the clothes)
• Warm clothes
• Shoes or boots for trekking
• Cap
• Camera for pictures
• Sleeping bag for cold climate
• Books and materials for their project

Duration

One month is the time required for this work and the six month is the maximum .
The volunteers work 8 hours a day the following schedule 8:h00-17h00 but it depends on the activity that is carry out since it is work in the component “Biology and Ecology of the Alto-andinos Forest in the “El Triunfo”, in this place the job can begin from 05h30 o’clock up to 18h00 or in the hours of the night. In general, the work is carried out from Monday to Friday with free weekend except for the time that are carried out field exists for five days ahead.

Free Time

The Volunteer will have free weekend and near the area of the project there are many tourist place to visit as:

To 45 minutes from the project there is Baños de Agua Santa city, where it can be carried out the following sports: cannyoning, rafting, tree king, mountain bike, they can visit markets of crafts, zoological, bars, discotheques, etc.

To 60 minutes from the project you can visit Patate city where you can known an taste the fruit-bearing orchard, to carry out walk and taste their typical food.

To 60 minutes from the project you can visit Salasaca that is a typical native community where you will find typical crafts of Ecuadorian Andes Chain of Mountains.

To 90 minutes from the project you can visit Puyo located in the Ecuadorian Amazon and you can known its hotels, aquatic parks, recue centers, zoo, bars.

Also, you can visit Quito city, the Ecuadorians capital; Puerto López, Machalilla, Cuenca, Loja and more interesting cities and places of this wonderful Ecuador.

Requirements

All the volunteers need to have an intermediate knowledge of the Spanish language before starting their volunteer work. If the volunteer is not at this level, Ecuador Volunteer could help him/her to find the best program to improve his/her Spanish skills before starting the project.