Amazon Conservation Project in Peru

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Throughout the Year

Description: Have an incredible experience learning about the rainforest and working on a research and conservation project in the Peruvian Amazon.

* About the Placement

You will be based at our jungle research and conservation center on the Madre de Dios River in the Amazon jungle. The center is leading the field in combining research with conservation and local community development. Work at the center is closely tied in with supporting the local community and you will not only be involved with scientific research programs in the rainforest but also with community development programs close to the center.

The placement starts in the ancient Inca capital city of Cusco with a day of orientation and preparation. During the day you'll also do a tour of this fascinating city. The next morning starts with a journey through the high Andes from Cusco to the cloud forest on the edge of the Amazon. You stop in the town of Paucartambo on route to visit a mountain community and then in Acjanco Park Guard Station to learn about the high cloud forest. The road then descends down into the Amazon rainforest where you'll stop at a 'Cock of the Rock' lek (a display ground in the forest) and hopefully spot the national bird of Peru. Then the final part of the journey to the center is by motorized canoe down the Madre de Dios River. The road (and river) to the center is one of the most diverse and incredible journeys in the world.

Once at the center your first few days will be a mix of time on the trails with guides and time at the center in a more structured learning environment. During this time period you will find yourself immersed in all things rainforest and should find yourself learning a huge amount. You'll then be ready to get into the work at the center. You may find yourself collecting specimens in the forest, monitoring endangered Macaw's from the hide at the clay lick, digging seed beds in the bio garden, carrying and planting seedlings as part of the reforestation and carbon sequestration program or working with local children in the ecology club.

At weekends the group visits the town of Salvacion the capital town of the district. Whilst in Salvacion you will be involved in some community development volunteering which is a chance to give something to the local community as well as giving you a real insight into how people live in jungle towns.

Highlights: On-going volunteering

The longer you stay, the more you will become involved in the on-going work of the jungle center. Your main focus will be volunteering on the sustainability projects such as the bio-garden and reforestation. You can also get involved in the monitoring projects depending on the needs at the time. Current projects include:

* Fauna - wildlife monitoring and capacity building program
* Mapping - using GPS to map the area and record areas of special interest
* Water purification - using local plants and biomass to filter and cleanse water
* Carbon initiative - offsetting greenhouse emissions through forest regeneration
* Reforestation - planting new forest to provide renewable commercial timber
* Education - educating local children in rainforest and sustainable development practices
* Field guide - producing an illustrated educational tool
* Night monkeys - studying the habits of the night monkey
* Jungle exploration - maintaining and expanding the trail system and exploring the area

* The jungle expedition

A 4 day jungle expedition is included every month for volunteers at the center. This takes you out into the rainforest away from the center on small rarely traveled trails. You will visit a native community and will sleep out in the jungle. If you stay for 2 or 3 months you will take part in 2 or 3 expeditions. The 4 day expeditions have proved to be one of the most popular elements of the placement in recent years. Its an amazing experience that you are unlikely to ever forget.

Cost in US$: Varies. Please contact us for details

Experience Required: no

Age Range: must be at least 18 years old.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Peru Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Normally 3-8

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Personal Overseas Development (PoD)'s Mission Statement: PoD provides the opportunity for people to volunteer and make a difference overseas, while experiencing incredible parts of the world that are rich in culture, variety and natural beauty. We also arrange placements and courses for people wanting to develop their skills in amazing locations. We aim to provide a framework for development and education through placements in less economically developed countries. Our placements are for people from all walks of life from the UK and other more economically developed countries. All of our placements by their nature are educational and the majority are for volunteers working in schools, care homes, disadvantaged communities, conservation and animal care. We currently offer gap year, career break, working holiday and volunteer projects in Belize, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam. We also organize school expeditions. We are a personal non-profit organization that focuses on quality and safety rather than quantity.

Year Founded: 2001