Cloud Forest Conservation with 'Rainforest Concern' in Ecuador

Questions? Call us: 1-866-549-7614

i-to-i is proud to work in collaboration with Rain Forest Concern on one of their flagship projects - Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve. The Bosque Nublado Santa Lucía is a true, community based conservation and eco-tourism effort, located in the truly amazing mountain cloud forests of the Choco Andean bio region of north western Ecuador. This area is a global hotspot of diversity with over 1500 species of tropical plants, 380 species of bird as well as a variety of exotic animals including the endangered spectacled bear.Santa Lucia was first formed as an agricultural cooperative that quickly learnt that its cloud forest was more valuable left intact and members of the cooperative are now dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of their natural resources.So, if you're interested in eco-tourism and want to help with forest conservation, then volunteer here! The program plays an essential role in sustaining and developing the conservation aims of Santa Lucia and to make the whole experience that little bit more rewarding, part of your fee goes towards Rainforest Concern too.

Trip Details

Duration: 2 - 12 days
Visited Areas: Ecuador
Trip Type:
Airfare not included

Trip Price (per Person)

USD	1855.00
or call: 1-866-549-7614

Trip Information

Teflincluded	No
Accomodation	Monday to Friday: accommodation is provided in the Eco-lodge in the forestWeekends: accommodation is either in the Eco-lodge or in shared accommodation with other volunteers in the nearby rural town of Nanegal
Meals	3 nutritious meals a day. Meals are hand prepared at the lodge.
Activities	Agroforestry, organic gardening, assisting with the ecotourism and conservation projects. Agroforestry is one of the ways that we are able to use the forest in a sustainable way. Volunteers assist with this project by clearing the undergrowth in our banana, coffee and sugar cane plantations and helping to make 'panela' (sugar). Ecotourism is likely to be the main source of sustainable income for Santa Lucia and volunteers can support this by for instance maintaining and creating new trails. Volunteers are also needed to help us find out more about our forest and to enable us to better conserve it e.g. by gathering fallen orchids for our orchidarium and helping to identify them. There is also the opportunity to volunteer in a new childcare centre (babies and up to 5yrs old) down in the valley and sometimes also the opportunity to work with older local children e.g teaching English and/or environmental education.
Schedule	Mondays to Fridays: 8 am to 4pmWeekends are spent either at the lodge or down in the valley. You can go walking, birding , swimming or join in with the local community e.g. sports and fiestas - or go further a field to Quito etcPlease note: Semana Santa (Latin America Holy week) will be from 1st to 8th April 2007 and 16th to 23rd March 2008, you will have some disruptions to the placement during this time.
Resources	Clothing suitable for outdoors in both sunny and rainy conditions. Waterproof jaket or poncho, torch or headlamp, towel, sturdy trainers/ boots for working in (can borrow rubber boots at project if needed), water bottle, hat, insect repellant, sun screen and sun hat. A camera as the birds and the views are out of this world!
Requirements

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2007-09-17	0000-00-00	+
2007-10-08	0000-00-00	+
2007-10-15	0000-00-00	+
2007-10-22	0000-00-00	+
2007-11-05	0000-00-00	+
2007-11-19	0000-00-00	+
2007-12-10	0000-00-00	+
2008-01-07	0000-00-00	+
2008-01-21	0000-00-00	+
2008-02-11	0000-00-00	+
2008-02-25	0000-00-00	+
2008-03-10	0000-00-00	+
2008-03-24	0000-00-00	+
2008-04-07	0000-00-00	+
2008-04-21	0000-00-00	+
2008-05-05	0000-00-00	+
2008-05-19	0000-00-00	+
2008-06-02	0000-00-00	+
2008-06-16	0000-00-00	+
2008-07-07	0000-00-00	+
2008-07-21	0000-00-00	+
2008-08-04	0000-00-00	+
2008-08-18	0000-00-00	+
2008-09-01	0000-00-00	+