Fundacion Jatun Sacha
Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador-002
Internship Description
About the Organization:The Jatun Sacha Foundation (JSF) offers interns with opportunities to develop a wide variety of activities including data field research, environmental education, community service, plant conservation, agroforestry, aquaculture and reserve maintenance along with the smaller objectives that include the promotion of biodiversity conservation, research, education, and other community programs. Activities are carried out in each of their 8 biological stations. Along with the smaller objectives that include the promotion of biodiversity conservation, research, education, and other community programs. IE3 Global Internships has been sending interns to Jatun Sacha since the mid-1990's. IE3 coordinates with Jatun Sacha Foundation to offer internships at the following reserves: Bilsa (Coastal Zone), Guandera (Andes Mountains), Jatun Sacha (Amazon Rainforest), San Cristobal (Galapagos Islands), Lalo Loor (Coastal Zone), and Congal (Coastal Zone) reserves.
Local Activities:
Work in Ecuadorian reserves. See the attached detailed information on each site.
BILSA
Reforestation and maintenance around the station
- seed collection and seed selection
- planting of seeds in the nursery beds
- maintenance and monitoring of the nursery beds
- replanting trees in the reforestation lines
- maintenance of the paths and gardens surrounding the cabins and main building
- maintenance of the fruit tree gardens close to the cabins. (We have 80-90 different species of fruit trees.):
- maintenance/clearance with machete
- pruning of the trees
- maintenance of the medicinal plant garden
- maintenance of our banana plantation
- maintenance/clearance with machete
- planting of new trees
- maintenance of the cabins
- Phenology study (to determine the fruiting and flowering season of specific trees.)
- Orchid & Bromelia gardenç
- Maintenance of our trails in the forest
- Natural Regeneration studies in primary & secondary forest and in reforested areas
- Medicinal plant garden
- Carpentry
- Bird studies
- Teaching at a nearby community school
- Assist scientists
- Your own personal project
Principal Activities:
- Activities associated with the development of the reserve, biological inventories and monitoring (especially of flora, birds, and the Andean bear), research project assistance, along with nature path design and reserve development and maintenance.
- The Center for the Conservation of Andean Plants: Experimental silviculture with Andean trees, phenology, seed collection, agroforestry, reforestation, and the Andean botanical garden maintenance and expansion.
- Environmental Education: the development and teaching of environmental activities for the children and adults in local communities.
- Once a week volunteers participate in the development of organic agriculture with local farmers, utilizing clean methods of the planting, fumigation, and harvesting of typical Andean crops.
- The Station maintains a germ plasma bank with approximately 80 varieties of Andean potato.
Principal activities:
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• The Center for the Conservation of Amazon Plants: the development of reforestation activities, Silvaculture experiments with tropical trees, development and maintenance of the botanical gardens of Jatun Sacha and the Center for the Conservation of Plants, and seed collection.
• Activities associated with the development of the reserve, including infrastructure maintenance and development.
• The Environmental Education Program: participants develop and teach classes in conservation, biology, ecology, biodiversity issues, etc. for the adults and children within the community. Furthermore, they offer a teaching program to the local schools as well as in the reserve.
• The station provides an English-learning program in two Andean communities, where both citizens and non-citizens of Ecuador help to develop the program and teach.
CONGAL RESERVE AND AQUACULTURE STATION
Mangrove and tropical humid forest restoration, community outreach and direct involvement, construction of station facilities, management of aquaculture and forestry systems, organic farming and biological inventories. Raising of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species is one of the main projects being developed at Congal. It includes land crabs, green iguana hatchlings, agouti, fish and clam species. The project is the first and only in its kind in coastal Ecuador, because it works as a pilot project with the surrounding communities in sustainable aquaculture and forestry initiatives and combines environmental and social issues.
- Sustainable aquaculture
- Conservation
- Organic Farming and Forestry
- Station Maintenance and Development
- Community Extension Program
- Environmentally Sustainable Land Management
LALO LOOR RESERVE
- Forest Walks explaining the ecology and natural history of the region
- Agroforestry and reforestation work
- Environmental Education
- Mini Construction or research projects
- Community visits
Job Description:
Work in reserves in either the coast, the Amazon, or highlands. Activities include reforestation, agro-forestry, station maintenance, assisting current research, community environmental education and resource management projects, forest and plant nurseries, aquaculture, agroforestry, community development, organic agriculture, horticulture, etc. See site specific information above.
Additional Information:
Report from Jenny Litz, winter 2008 (Bilsa)
Report from Sara Schafer
Start Date:
Beginning of any academic term
Duration:
10-12 weeks
Number of Positions:
2-4 per terrn
Intern Qualifications
Academic Background:Biology, marine biology, environmental studies, environmental science, natural resources, forest engineers, forest management, ecology, botany, horticulture, agriculture/agroforestry, geography, natural resource management, etc..
Skills/Experience:
Strong interest in conservation activities
Language Requirement:
Spanish proficiency equivalent to the end of first year university; the more the better.
Other Requirements:
Willingness to work outdoors and to reside in camp-like living conditions in Bilsa and Jatun Sacha. Bathing is in river and Bilsa has no electricity. Should also bring the health certificate and police record obtained for your visa application to be given to the host organization.
Internship Costs
Program Fees:The program fee includes tuition, internship site development and placement, pre-departure orientation, international health insurance, internship monitoring and follow-up.
Click here for application information, including the program fee, for your school.
Note: The program fee does not include airfare, housing, living expenses or any other estimated costs noted below.
Note:
Any financial or in-kind support provided by the host organization is explicitly indicated.
Compensation:
None.
Accommodation:
Reserves have housing in the field. Need light-weight sleeping bag for Bilsa and Jatun Sacha, warm sleeping bag and clothing in Guandera.
International Travel:
Approximately $1100-$1200 Round Trip to Quito. Then, bus fare to the station.
Cost of Living:
Please send a check for $40 payable to Jatun Sacha for an administrative fee along with your IE3 Global Internships application.
2008 fees - for food and lodging at th emainland stations, payable upon arrival in Quito (by check, cash or traveler's check):
$970 for 10 weeks
$1065 for 11 weeks
$1150 for 12 weeks
(see the position description for San Cristobal-Galapagos fees as they are different)
Please budget about $100 per month for incidentals, local travel, recreation.
Ecuador Visa: all interns who will be in Ecuador for more than 90 days total are required to obtain a Visa from the Ecuadorian Consulate. The IE3 Latin America director will assist with this process. Visa fees are currently $180 and students must present in person at the Ecuadorian Consulate in San Francisco.
Budget Note:
Applicants should use these estimates for preliminary budgeting purposes.
IE3 will issue an official budget after acceptance by the host organization.
Application Information
Academic Credit:
Up to 12 credits available as per arrangement with supervising department.
Application Materials:
IE3 is a program of the Oregon University System.
Students from participating
partner universities are also eligible to apply.
Click here for application
information and select your school from the list.