Biodiversity Work with the Indigenous People of Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• Eastern Lowlands: 
Talamanca

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: departure every month

Description: Be part of it with i-to-i!
Our goal is to achieve 400yrs of combined volunteering all over the world by the end of 2008.

So far we have achieved 325yrs which when broken down means we achieved the following:

- Over 5500 children cared for on our community projects around the world
- A minimum of 13,000 children and adults taught English in schools and community centres
- Hundreds of animals protected including Turtles, Pandas, Elephants, Monkeys and more
- At least 80 homes and structures built for families and communities in need
- More than 8000 trees planted which are enough trees to offset the CO2 emissions of over 2,000 cars

Want to get off the beaten track (if you can find one)?

Hidden away in the dense jungle in an area of extreme natural beauty (which is really just another name for Costa Rica) lies Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve. The area has a huge concentration of bird and animal life as well as several indigenous tribes. Unsurprisingly in such a precious area a number of conservation and community projects have developed which monitor the local bird communities, help reforestation efforts and promote community ecotourism. In Costa Rica, it's tough to get off the beaten track because there are very few beaten tracks to start with but this is about as remote as it comes. If you can successfully navigate the waterfalls and the mud you can join activities including reforestation, migration monitoring and trail maintenance.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights: What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?

"The way of life takes you over and I felt purer (and sweatier) than ever before. This isn't a tourist holiday but a great opportunity to learn about the country's natural environment. It's easy to enjoy the country when you are taken such good care of and I've got fond memories of the accommodation, food and project workers." (Hannah Joyce)

Project details:
These are scientific based projects are based in biological reserves in the Talamanca region of Costa Rica. One reserve was established and set up the Wakka Koneke - an indigenous organisation of the Bribri. They initiated a series of conservation research and community development projects in the Kekoldi indigenous reserve including monitoring the migration of raptors, resident and migratory bird communities, iguana restoration, reforestation, land acquisitions and community ecotourism. The other is concentrating on protecting the watersheds which in turn protect the endemic species of both flora and fauna that overlap with the coastal coral reef habitats.

Field research has demonstrated that the Talamanca Caribe corridor is among the most biologically diverse areas on the planet. The main aim of the reserves is to help develop various reforestation projects and recover degraded areas in and around the area.

Why the project needs volunteers:
With deforestation being one of Costa Rica's largest environmental threats, a huge effort is now being made by both national and private reserves across the country to preserve what remains. Much of the work at these reserves is dependant on having the necessary labour. This is not to say that it would not get completed without i-to-i volunteers, but it would certainly take much much longer!

Your role as a volunteer:
There are a large number of conservation activities that you could get involved with. Typical examples of activities could include: monitoring migration of raptors, migration of birds and frogs as well as reforestation activities and trail maintenance.

Where the project is based:
The reserves are based in Talamanca, approximately 150kms from San Jose. You will be staying in the research station located on the reserve. Kekoldi is a great place to study nature. The special relationship that the Bribri people have with their environment has inspired the development of many different types of field studies opportunities. The immense biodiversity of the area in addition to the added richness of the migratory wildlife makes the Kekoldi Reserve and Talamanca in general so incredibly valuable to conservation ecology and scientific research.

You will not have access to internet or international telephone but will be able to get to a local town for these during weekends.

You will need to arrive into San Jose Santa Maria (SJO) airport on your arrival date.

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
This project welcomes anybody with a strong interest or background in the sciences. You will also need general fitness and lots of enthusiasm to get the most out of your placement. Volunteers need to be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them, and to get dirty in the process!

Cost in US$: US$ 1125.00 for 2 weeks, US$ 310.00 for every week thereafter

* Food: All meals

* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!

* Training: In-country orientation

* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 and up

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994