Crees-Volunteer.org - Volunteer in Amazon Rainforest conservation in Peru
About Crees-Volunteer.org
Ever wanted to do something different?
Take a less traveled road and throw yourself into a meaningful adventure in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. Work alongside local communities and a team of experts in conservation and help ensure a sustainable future for the Amazon and its people.
Our vision
Join a group of passionate people determined to protect the incredible diversity of the region and generate truly sustainable development that creates decent livelihoods in harmony with the natural environment. We believe that mankind and nature can support one another through balance, respect and innovation.
Who’s welcome?
Are you willing to take on new challenges and work to benefit others? Do you want to learn new things and meet new people? This is the spirit that makes volunteers so important to the work we do.
Whether you are interested in building your CV or escaping a desk job, the CREES Volunteer programme is able to engage your individual skills, allowing you to have a unique important impact. All you need is to be 18+, be a team player, have a basic level of fitness and have more than 2 weeks free.
What makes us different?
We are a small but dedicated team of professionals who are focused on one project, in one area. We firmly believe that everyone, provided the right tools, is capable of making a positive impact. Our programme gives you real skills and understanding of conservation and community issues whilst providing an unforgettable experience. However, the most important is knowing that you leave behind a real positive impact on the lives of others.
Find out more about our 2 to 12 weeks programmes on
www.crees-volunteer.org
Ever wanted to do something different?
Take a less traveled road and throw yourself into a meaningful adventure in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. Work alongside local communities and a team of experts in conservation and help ensure a sustainable future for the Amazon and its people.
Our vision
Join a group of passionate people determined to protect the incredible diversity of the region and generate truly sustainable development that creates decent livelihoods in harmony with the natural environment. We believe that mankind and nature can support one another through balance, respect and innovation.
Who’s welcome?
Are you willing to take on new challenges and work to benefit others? Do you want to learn new things and meet new people? This is the spirit that makes volunteers so important to the work we do.
Whether you are interested in building your CV or escaping a desk job, the CREES Volunteer programme is able to engage your individual skills, allowing you to have a unique important impact. All you need is to be 18+, be a team player, have a basic level of fitness and have more than 2 weeks free.
Program Overview
Fly in to the ancient Inca capital, Cusco, Peru and spend a day exploring the capital with your guide and team members before starting your journey to the Amazon. Leave the bustling cities behind embarking upon a journey over the Andes mountains and through the cloud forest, emerging into the lowland rainforest valleys and arriving at our research station, the Manu Learning Centre (MLC) Here we will train you to become an active member of the ongoing project teams. The training combines some theory and overviews on subjects such as tropical ecology, climate change, sustainable agriculture, forest composition, and species recognition, but also engages volunteers in hands-on work in the field. After honing your skills, you will get involved in one of the three specific areas:
1.Conservation Research: You will be part of the collection and monitoring of all the species and habitats found at the MLC. Studying flagship species such as the endangered Blue Headed Macaw, you will explore how humans impact biodiversity and crucial conservation issues, contributing to data that helps ensure these species remained protected and informing government decisions. Your key roles will be:
•Collecting data on behavior, species and distribution information from morning activity at the Collpa (clay lick). •Daily hikes to find and identify Species nesting and feeding sites. •Monitoring and registering trail biodiversity (jaguars, tapirs, deer, birds and monkeys.) •Process and upload data into forms that are used by international conservation projects to determine wider conservation strategies.
The scientific work undertaken by CREES is done in collaboration with University of Oxford, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen and the University of Oregon amongst others.
2.Sustainable Community Initiatives: You will support essential projects designed to increase the income and nutritional levels of local people though sustainable land management. Most people living in Manu survive on less than $2 USD a day through subsistence agriculture and timber extraction. These activities are disastrous for the survival of the rainforests and biodiversity. However, using techniques to improve efficiencies, we help local people reduce deforestation and protect virgin areas. Your key roles will be:
•Build infrastructure for local family bio-gardens with community members •Plant seedlings and check on growth rates, soil acidity and help make compost. •Collect data on mortality and disease rates, species and distribution information from reforestation plots •Create and map reforestation plots, planting seedlings and crops. •Help calculate and determine Carbon values and sequestration rates per plot.
Volunteers are key to this project and work directly with the project coordinator, staying in the community helping each family with their project. This project provides the most direct way of changing lives/making a difference: the local communities can see the difference in their lives in a matter of weeks.
3. Community Capacity Building: You will get involved in improving the opportunities that local people have to access a good education. With very poor education levels, locals have no means to develop their life options and they become trapped in the cycle of poverty. To help them break free from this cycle, this project provides practical training, basic skills and the inspiration of cultural exchanges. Your key roles will be:
•Assist local teachers prepare and developing materials for educational visits in English. •Spend active time with local children, playing football, volleyball and creating theater shows. •Talk about your culture and what inspires you, providing an intercultural exchange and a wider global perspective. •Work with local children on their visits to the MLC helping them on the interpretation trail.
You should have an intermediate level of Spanish to become a full time participant on this project, although no Spanish is needed to get involved.
Project Location
Peru’s rainforest is one of the last bastions of non-contacted indigenous people, home to more species of birds than the whole USA and Canada combined: a real natural paradise. The programme is based in the UNSECO World Heritage site, the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Half the size of Switzerland and hosting some of the world’s last virgin primary rainforests, it is fast becoming endangered by unsustainable activities within its borders.
Project Accommodation
The MLC provides comfortable, airy accommodation and top level research facilities. It is a great base for both hard work and relaxation. The centre boasts a solar powered internet connection, environmentally sound septic system and gravity fed water pumps in order to minimise its impact on the environment and reduce it's carbon footprint. What really makes the place however, is our fantastic staff who are refreshingly enthusiastic, helpful and caring.
What’s included in the programme?
•Pre Departure Pack and support by our UK office •Airport Collection and Drop-off in Cusco, Peru •Lodging in Cusco, the Manu Cloud Forest & Manu Learning Centre •Full Training and Project participation •Volunteer Certificate •Plus, a free 4 day expedition: trek to hot springs, river raft and visit native communities to try your hand at skills like weaving, cooking and archery.
What’s not included:
•Airfares (international and domestic), insurance or vaccines.
Required:
•Yellow Fever Vaccine •Comprehensive Insurance
What makes us different?
We are a small but dedicated team of professionals who are focused on one project, in one area. We firmly believe that everyone, provided the right tools, is capable of making a positive impact. Our programme gives you real skills and understanding of conservation and community issues whilst providing an unforgettable experience. However, most important is knowing that you leave behind a real positive impact on the lives of others.
Where your money goes:
CREES Volunteer works non-for-profit and your involvement supports the projects. Please take a look at where your money goes: (*based on a 4 week programme)
Administration5.95% Accommodation & Food32.14% Training & Orientation11.90% Project Contribution23.81% Expedition9.52% Transport16.67%
Find out more about our 2 to 12 weeks programmes on
www.crees-volunteer.org
