*new project*: La Hesperia Nature Reserve

La Hesperia is a nature reserve located in the western range of the Andes at an altitude of 1100 – 2040 meters above sea level. The reserve covers an area of 814 hectares and is located in the centre of the Rio Toachi-Chiriboga IBA (Important Bird Area, declared by Bird Life International and Conservation International).  The reserve makes up part of two important bioregions: the Tropical Andes and the Chocó Darien – Western Ecuador, considered within the top five biodiversity hotspots on Earth. The station works in natural conservation, combating deforestation, protecting existing forest, restoring degraded areas and creating a sustainable development model that will enable them to support the reserve as well as offering a better way of life for the local community and those who work and live at the reserve.

The work carried out at La Hesperia is extremely important in terms of preserving the biodiversity of the cloud forest and protecting local watersheds.  Work focuses on protecting existing forests through reforestation, monitoring human activity (and its impact) and conducting environmental education. La Hesperia is also striving to become a model of integrated farming where agricultural practices complement the primary objective of preserving the natural forest. Combining conservation and agriculture will enable them to sustain the reserve and promote economic activities that are environmentally friendly and beneficial for the local inhabitants.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

At La Hesperia Biological Station & Reserve there are three different programs for volunteers: (A) Conservation in the Cloud Forest; (B) On the Way to Sustainability, and (C) Social Development, volunteers normally carry out a combination of all three programs:

1.    Program A: Cloud Forest Conservation
    This program is designed for volunteers with an interest in nature, conservation, research, wildlife and the outdoors. One of the main focuses will be on reforestation and learning about sustainable wood production. Activities include planting seedlings, maintaining the nursery and tree care. In addition to wildlife observation, tree phenology research, and trail maintenance.

2.    Program B: On the road to Sustainability
    This program is for volunteers interested in nature, sustainable agriculture, animal breeding, biofood and an organic vegetable garden. Volunteers within this program will be involved in a variety of activities focused on sustainable living. They will learn about production of organic agriculture to preparation of homemade chocolate, bread, pasta etc,.

3.    Program C: Social Development
    This program is designed for volunteers with advanced to intermediate levels of Spanish including an interest in education, social development, cultural exchange and working with children. The main focus will be using Montessori methodology to provide education to the students, while working alongside the staff and the community. You will be required to use Spanish effectively as the main form of communication within the school.

*new project* Monkey Sanctuary

   

Established as a rescue centre for wild animals (in particular monkeys), in 2007 by the Forest Foundation “Los Monos,Selva y Vida”.  This centre is dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of primates and has a species handling license issued by the Ministry of Environment. 

At the moment there are approximately 65 monkeys living in the sanctuary and they come from varying backgrounds.  Some of the monkeys were orphaned when their parents were killed by hunters, others were rescued from animal dealers who were trying to traffic the animals out of the country and others have been removed from families who had kept these animals in captivity.  There are 7 different monkey species in the centre (spider, wooly, white capuchin, black capuchin, squirell, tamarin and saki) and unfortunately the majority have suffered some sort of physical or physiological abuse.  There are also other wild animals living in the sanctuary such as coaties, gautusas, turtles, parrots and an otter.

The centre spreads over an area of two hectares of tropical rain forest and it aims to allow the majority of animals to roam freely around the area so they that are not kept in cages.  The long term goal is to rehabilitate the animals enabling them to successfully return to the wild.  Nevertheless, unfortunately some of the animals will never be allowed to return to their natural habitat due to physical and or psychological injuries they have sustained, in which case the centre aims to provide them with as good a life as possible. 

The sanctuary is also open for tourists to visit charging a small entrance fee that is the centre’s main source of income.  As animal welfare is not a high priority for many Ecuadorians, the background and mistreatment of each animal is explained to tourists, with the idea being to educate local and foreign visitors about animal protection issues.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Volunteers are needed to help in the following activities:

• Playing with the animals
• Cutting up fruit and feeding the animals
• Helping new monkey arrivals to adjust to the centre
• Protecting the more vulnerable animals
• General maintenance and cleaning
• Construction work; building new enclosures for the aggressive species
• Guiding and educating tourists about the centre’s work