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City/State: La Hesperia, Pincincha Province |
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Country: ECUADOR
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| WorkingAbroad Projects |
PO Box 454, Flat 1
East Sussex
UNITED KINGDOM
BN1 3ZS
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Program description: |
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The aim of this programme is help to conserve a part of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest by participating in tree planting, trail work and research activities in La Hesperia's Biological Station nature reserve.
Ecuador
Ecuador is the smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands of South America. It has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, amazing volcanic landscapes, dense rainforest and the fabulous Galapagos islands - all in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada. With a population of about 13 million , Ecuador borders Peru and Colombia.
Introduction
Ecuador is considered one of the seventeen megadiverse countries, with forty-six different types of ecosystems; the country is the most diverse in the world with respect to its surface area. Ecuador holds second place in the world for its diversity of orchids and amphibians. However, an average of 200.000 hectares of the Ecuadorian forest disappear every year. In collaboration with La Hesperia, our programme partner, their most important goal is to protect part of this amazing ecosystem and to fight against deforestation. However, this fight is not easy and they need as much help as possible, everybody should participate in conservation efforts, because conservation is a shared responsibility.
La Hesperia Biological Reserve
La Hesperia, where the programme is located, is a nature reserve located in the western range of the Andes at an altitude of 1100 – 2040 meters above sea level. With an area of 814 hectares, it is located in the center of the Rio Toachi-Chiriboga IBA (Important Bird Area, declared by Bird Life International and Conservation International) and it is part of two important bioregions: The Tropical Andes and the Choco Darien – Western Ecuador, considered within the top five biodiversity hotspots on earth. The station works in natural conservation, combatting deforestation, protecting the existing forest, restoring degraded areas and searching for sustainable activities that enable them to support the reserve and to offer a better way of life for the local community as well as those who work and live at the reserve.
Programme Details and Dates:
Volunteers are needed for 2 month periods to take part in the following activities:
To plant 150 native trees per person within the group (groups of 4-8 usually)
To design and to open a new trail in the reserve
To maintain existing trails
To collect data for the station's research projects
To maintain and to improve the medicinal and meditation garden
Location
La Hesperia is located in the Pichincha province, 90 kilometers from Quito (capital of Ecuador) and is located up the hill from the community of La Esperie. The community is on the Aloag-Santo Domingo road, eleven kilometers past the town of Tandapi (sometimes called Cornejo Astorga on maps). We would advise that volunteers arrive in Quito on the Saturday before the commencement of the project (which starts on the Monday), so that you can have an introductory meeting with the Quito staff, spend a night there and then travel to the nature reserve on the Sunday and start working on the Monday.
Facilities
Accommodation is in the Volunteer House, in shared rooms (2 - 5 volunteers per room). There is running water, electricity, hot showers, public telephone (you can buy a phone card in town or in Quito) and excellent views of the forest. Bedding (pillow, sheets, and blankets) will be provided but a sleeping bag may be necessary if you are planning to travel to colder parts of the country or camping at the reserve. They offer a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals that includes traditional Ecuadorian food. Private rooms with en-suite bathrooms are available for couples at an extra charge.
Spanish classes
There is also an option to take basic and intermediate Spanish classes if you wish - though please note this is separate from the volunteer programme and would be at an additional cost. Classes are one hour a day for four days a week and they would start the second day after your arrival if you decided to enrol. Classes are conducted in small groups according to the level at US$4 per hour. For those with advanced Spanish level the best way of improving your skills is to practice everyday with the local staff.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Travel to site: Independent Travel
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Group
No. in group: 6
Living arrangements on the program: Group living
How long does the program last?: 1-3 Months
What are the dates of this program: 14 January - 14 March 2008 - 10 places available
24 March - 24 May 2008 - 10 places available
2 June - 2 August 2008 - 10 places available
11 August - 11 October 2008 - 10 places available
20 October - 20 December 2008 - 10 places available
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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The aim of this programme is help to conserve a part of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest by participating in tree planting, trail work and research activities in La Hesperia's Biological Station nature reserve.
Aside from work, there are also plenty of attractions and things to do in free time!
Extra Activities
Activities inside the reserve include:
Walks through the cloud forest and along streams and waterfalls
Bird watching around the volunteer house or within the primary forest
Horseback riding *
Relaxing walks through the self-guided orchid, medicinal and meditation gardens
Night hikes to search for nocturnal animals
Camping *
* Volunteers will be charged extra for these activities
Attractions outside the reserve include:
rafting or kayaking on the Blanco and Baba rivers (starting from the station)
the indigenous Tsachila (Colorados) community of Chigüilpe
Cotopaxi National Park and El Boliche Reserve
mountains and volcanos: Corazón, the Ilinizas, Pasochoa, Cayambe, Imbabura, Cotacachi, Pichinchia
the traditional market in Otavalo
La Mitad del Mundo, the equator line and museum
the Amazon region
the Galapagos Islands and and plenty more wonderful attractions throughout Ecuador
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Cost or price of this program: |
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The cost for 2 months is 610 GBP, which covers all programme costs, including all food (3 meals a day), lodging in cabins that are shared with other volunteers and researchers, project materials, all training and supervision by project manager, WorkingAbroad Projects backup and placement support, and so on.
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