Mountain Waters of Czech Republic

  Czech Republic

Rural Areas

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Inquire for specific dates.

Description: Research Mission
Help restore the vital links of ecosystems damaged by acid rain.

Situation Report
Jizera Mountains, northern Bohemia, Czech Republic - When the Eastern Bloc collapsed in 1989, acid rain from coal-fired power plants from countries to the west had already damaged more than two-thirds of these forested headwaters. Forests were dying, water quality was diminished, and mountain streams had been without fish for 40 years. Now, 17 years later, things are looking up. Sulfur deposition has dropped and forestry practices have improved. Mountain ecosystems, streams, and lakes are recovering. Researchers Dr. Josef Krecek and Zuzana Horicka first started working here with Earthwatch teams in 1991. Their data help set management plans for mountain watersheds and lakes. You can help Krecek and Horicka continue their rehabilitation efforts in the headwaters of northern Bohemia.

Meals and Accommodations
You will stay in a cozy mountain pension, a 200-year old farmhouse made of stone and wood, in historic Bedrichov village. The pension has double rooms, television, hot showers, sauna, internet connection, and simple laundry facilities. You will also use the pension as your field lab and briefing center, and will take continental breakfasts there. You will take packed lunches into the field, and after a full day in the field and lab, you will stroll to a neighboring restaurant for substantial, three-course traditional Czech dinners with sweet and savory dumplings, as well as soups, vegetables, and potatoes.

Highlights: On the Expedition
In the gently sloping Jizera Mountains, you will collect water samples and take temperature, pH, conductivity, and oxygen readings from more than 30 streams and reservoirs. You will also help catch and examine reintroduced fish and sample other aquatic organisms. Hiking through beech and spruce forests, you will evaluate tree vitality, collect soil and vegetation samples, and study the relationship of erosion and plant succession. After a day of working in the field, you will test samples and record data in the lab, using the skills that Krecek and Horicka teach you. In your free time, you can hike or bike in the beautiful Jizera Mountains, or visit nearby castles, museums, botanical gardens, glass factories, cafes and restaurants.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Cost in US$: 2,746 - 3,046

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: teen (16 - 18) and adult (18+) teams

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Czech Republic Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 2-8

Scholarships are Available. - Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971