Amazon Reforestation in Peru

You will be volunteering in the Amazon forest in Peru, getting first-hand experience on how to protect and preserve one of the most fascinating and important ecosystems in the world.

This reforestation and environmental monitoring project focuses on the defense and conservation of the Amazonian forest and the beings that inhabit it. The project works towards the recovery of ecosystems of the reserve and surrounding areas degraded by decades of human activities, and to create and integrate new practices of sustainable life.

Project's Main Goals

• To protect the reserve's land, fauna and flora.
• To fight forest destruction and degradation and recover ecosystems through reforestation, research and monitoring of plants and animal species.
• To implement forest restoration models
• To promote environmental awareness and restoration of degraded land among the local community, enhancing their quality of life while restoring natural habitats, wildlife corridors, and wildlife populations.
• To establish and maintain an Information and Resource Center to serve as an information hub.

Please note that at least a basic level of Spanish is required.

THE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

THE RESERVE

The Ecological Reserve is a private reserve established by a not for profit association, and it protects 200 Ha of cloud forest in the buffer zone of one of the most diverse areas on the planet: the Manu Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected tropical forest in the world. A National Park and UNESCO world heritage site, the Manu biosphere extends over an area of rainforest half the size of Switzerland. The reserve nestles in cloud forest in upper part of the Kcosnipata valley, bounded on one side by the Kosnipata River and on the other by the mountains of the lower Andes. It is heavily forested and has a high biodiversity.

THE PROBLEM

Large areas of Amazonian forests such as cloud forest where the reserve is situated have been and continue to be threatened by legal and illegal logging, agricultural and livestock farms and mining, causing massive ecosystem degradation and associated biodiversity loss. Together with global climate change, this is compromising our planet's ability to support life. There is a very real possibility that the Amazon ecosystem could be approaching a ‘tipping point’ from which it cannot recover.

THE WORK

The reserve's principal activity is reforestation, but it also undertakes studies of animal and plant species, an important part of the reserves work in order to assess the impact of the project. Without reforestation there can be no eco-systemic recovery and the monitoring of animals and plants provides an indication of how successful the projects is. The reserve also seeks to involve the nearby communities, without which the sustainability of the project would be impossible. To this end the reserve has strong connections with the local community close ties with two indigenous native communities within the biosphere. 

VOLUNTEERING

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

At the reserve you will help to protect the local environment through reforestation, analysis and monitoring of plants, trees, birds, insects, reptiles and mammals. You will learn how to recognize different species, how to interpret evidence such as footprints, and how to reforest according to the plant's specific needs. This experience is a true paradise for adventurers, situated in an extremely remote location, a chance to live in pure nature.

You will be expected to work around 3 hours a day, Monday to Saturday.

RESPONSIBILITIES

These will depend on the current needs of the project, but your daily or weekly tasks can include the following:

• Species Monitoring: photographing, registering, classifying, and maintaining records of the flora and fauna that exist in the region, such as orchids and unique butterfly species, as well as a range of mammals and birds.
• Helping in the reforestation of indigenous tree species.
• Maintaning and monitoring the already planted trees: weeding around the trees, measuring their height, the earth's ph, humidity and light.
• Developing flora and fauna value and impact studies.
• Assisting with community environmental workshops.
• Helping with the maintenance of the reserve.
• Assisting in educating the local community and visitors about the work that the project does. Taking care of the general cleanliness of the accommodation.
• Sharing the responsibilities of cooking with your fellow volunteers 

PROJECT LOGISTICS

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

The facilities include basic accommodation for up to 28 people in shared rooms, two private bungalows and a communal dining area and kitchen.

All meals will be provided but it is expected that volunteers will sometimes help in the kitchen, taking turns in cooking the meals for the rest of the volunteers. The food provided will be mainly vegetarian.

TRANSPORT

You will be met by your Volunteer Coordinator upon arrival in the country at either the bus station or airport and taken to your accommodation in Cusco. The transport from there to the project site takes about 8 hours, and mostly consists of bumpy dirt roads. There will be lots of turns and ups and downs, so if you suffer from motion sickness, don’t forget to bring your medicine with you.

During the peak of the rainy season (December – March) the road is often damaged by landslides and so delays and diversions might occur (please note that this season is characterized by short, heavy, bursts of rain, not consistent rain).

Transport to and from the project is included in your project cost. All local transport on-site and whilst at your language school (if you are taking Spanish lessons) is at your own cost.

FREE TIME

During your free time, you can chill in the reserve with your fellow volunteers or go and explore the jungle and its various trails, where you will be able to see the varied fauna and flora of the area. We recommend you go on a night walk, an incredible experience. There is also a river and a 10m waterfall with two natural pools where you can go swimming. You can also book a variety of walking or river tours, where you will be taken to see all kinds of exotic animals.

When you arrive in Cusco, there is plenty to do as well: Hiking in the Andes, downhill mountain climbing, rafting, paragliding, and horseriding are on top of our list. You can also learn how to dance salsa, attend a local cooking class, stroll through the city, or book a guided tour. And don't forget to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Machu Picchu!

PROJECT LOGISTICS

LANGUAGE SCHOOL

Before and after your stay in the jungle you will be living in one of the main cities in Peru, Cusco, together with a host family or in a hostel. There you will be attending a Spanish School during your first week, before you leave for your project, and during this time we urge you to focus on improving your language skills. Your language course takes place in our affiliated language school from 8.30 - 12.30pm Monday to Friday.

VACCINATIONS

CHECK COVID RELATED REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY
You should be up-to-date on routine vaccinations when traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. Routine vaccinations include:

• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). 
• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis. 
• Polio.

Required travel vaccinations include: 

• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Yellow Fever

Start Dates: 
1st and 3rd Sunday each month. 

Individual Start Dates:
+ € 150,00 – Start your placement any Sunday of the month.
+ € 250,00 – Choose your own start dates and change them up to 3 times before your trip.

Pricing: 
€ 1479,00 – 1st month
€ 1429,00 – 2nd month
€ 1379,00 – 3rd month, and after.

There are special prices if you want to come and volunteer with a partner or friend. Please contact the organisation.

Please make sure that you have up-to-date vaccinations for all of these diseases. NGO Taxi cannot be held responsible for the provision of vaccinations for their volunteers. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to ensure that they have followed up-to-date medical advice.

During your time in the jungle you will learn many things. You will see how local people live and how their lives and ways of thinking are different from yours. You will find out how little you actually need to live simply and happily. There might be things you like and find interesting, but there may also be things you don’t like, don’t understand or that frustrate you. Don’t worry, it’s all part of your learning experience and of broadening your horizons. Make the best of it and see it as a wonderful opportunity for mutually beneficial exchange. There are not many foreigners living in the town so you might get a lot of attention from the locals at first, but remember that you have a responsibility to be polite and respectful.

You will also find that in Peru, things don’t always go as planned and it can in general be very slow and disorganized. We would therefore ask you to stay positive, patient, and flexible.
We look forward to receiving your application and hopefully you can join us as a helping hand in one of our volunteer placements soon!

YOUR NGO TAXI TEAM