Conservation and Management of Altochoco Reserve

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Otavalo,  Intag,  Cotacachi

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Fundacion Zoobreviven is a South American charity based in Ecuador. It was established in 1997 to protect Ecuador's ecosystems and wildlife. We manage three reserves in North Western Ecuador, two in the cloud forest of the Choco Bioregion and one in Esmereldas. We work to preserve these important environments through wildlife, plant and tree conservation work, community education, environmental management, volunteer projects, community ecotourism and scientific research into the flora and fauna of the region.

Fundacion Zoobreviven's past projects include our Andean Spectacled Bear reintroduction program and community initiatives to provide alternative income to people living in the areas surrounding the reserves. We also run a volunteer program on our Alto Choco reserve where volunteers can assist with reserve management tasks, such as reforestation, organic farming, area patrolling, plant and tree development studies and more recently, coffee farming.

The very serious threats facing the reserves include mining, illegal logging and hunting of Andean Spectacled bears and rare Mountain Tapirs. There is an urgent need to both protect the reserves and educate people about preserving these ecosystems. Fundacion Zoobreviven is also actively creating programmes of sustainable agriculture and development of natural resources to aid the local community and the environment.

If you are interested in voluntary work with us, contributing or simply finding out more please contact us.

The volunteer will live in the cloud forest station, near rivers and waterfalls, and big biodiversity of plants, animals and birds. Outside of reserve the volunteer find communities with their culture, archaeological places.

Highlights: The work of volunteers is very important and will help conserve the cloud forest and the biodiversity of Alto Choco Reserve, and the community with environmental education and English classes to children.

Qualifications: You have to really want to conserve the environment and help the community.

Cost in US$: 320 dollar/month

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Young of 18 to 40 years, with many desire to work in the conservation of the cloud forest and help children of communities.

Age Range: 18 and above

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

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 25

Application Process Involves:

• Resume

Fundacion Zoobreviven's Mission Statement: The mission of the Zoobreviven Foundation is to improve management of Ecuadorian ecosystems to protect their biodiversity and natural reserves with volunteer to protect the could forest including the 2500 hectare Alto Choco Reserve. The volunteers work in the folowing activities: Collect native seeds in the could forest, work in the nursery trees with native species, reforestation of tree native species, activities in the botanical garden, work in the organic farm, project of reproduction of worms and humus. Project of native bamboo in the cloud forest, bulding of bear santuary, plantation of corns to wild spectacled bears inside of reserve. Monitorin of marks of spectacled bears and pumas in the reserve. Class of english in the school of community, environmental education focus in the spectacled bear and communities (not permanent). Experimental project with handycrafs of bamboo.The bioregion Choco where is the Alto Choco Reserve is listed in 10 hotsopts of the world by WWF

Year Founded: 1997