Amazon Basin Research and Conservation Project, Peru

The position provides a rare opportunity to work alongside and learn from expert biologists and conservationists in some of the most remote, fascinating and largely unspoiled parts of the Amazon rainforest.

The aim of this position is to assist in the project’s long-term scientific research in the Peruvian Amazon; to better measure the effects of human activities on wildlife, including endangered species; to get the collected information to the people who can make decisions and act on the solutions that help conserve rainforest, and to make a clear and positive impact on the Amazon ecosystem in this part of Peru.

Peru
Bordering Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile, Peru is an archaeological hotspot riddled with ancient sights, from the renowned Incan citadel of Machu Picchu situated thousands of meters up in the Andes Mountains near Cuzco, to the gigantic Nazca Lines featuring kilometre-wide images of animals and mythical creatures in the  driest desert on earth. The country receives around 900,000 tourists each year, of which most come also to admire the breathtaking natural wonders of the country, such as Lake Titicaca, the Ausangate peak, the cloud forests of Manu, and of course the mighty Amazon river, its tributaries and evergreen rainforest.

Introduction
With 84 of the 104 known life zones on the planet, Peru is one of the 17 megadiverse countries on earth. Overall it ranks in the top four for species diversity, and is second in birds with 1,701 species, second in primates with 34 species, third in mammals with 361 species, and fifth in reptiles and amphibians with 297 and 251 species, respectively. However, a number of increasingly visual threats are currently endangering the Peruvian rainforest and its wildlife, including: i) timber extraction; ii) alluvial gold-mining; iii) unsustainable farming practices, like cattle ranching; iv) inappropriate, over-ambiguous or unregulated natural resource extraction laws; v) oil and gas prospecting; vi) land speculation; and lastly vii) poorly regulated tourism development, particularly in and around protected areas where lodges tend to congregate.

Tambopata
Tambopata, where the project is located, lies in the province of Madre de Dios in the south eastern corner of Peru.  The provincial capital of Madre de Dios is Puerto Maldonado which has been recognised by the Peruvian Congress as the Biodiversity Capital of Peru. The protected areas at the centre of the project’s research are the Tambopata National Reserve (TNR) and Bahuaja Sonene National Park (BSNP), together protecting an area of 1.3 million hectares of rainforest and home to IUCN Red List Threatened Species such as the Giant river otter, Neotropical otter, Pacarana, Giant armadillo, Harpy eagle and Blue-headed macaw.

Programme Details and Dates:
We currently offer four different taxonomic groups for volunteers to select to work with (although it may be possible to work with more than one, so please ask) – Mammals, Birds, Herpetofauna and Insects.
 
Each phase is 40 days in length and volunteers are needed for a minimum of one full phase. Beyond that it would be possible to extend your time by 20 day periods.

Each volunteer will learn about all of the taxonomic areas that the project researches so as to benefit from a broad spectrum of rainforest knowledge, regardless of their chosen team(s). A training week at the start of every phase will cover the theoretical and practical background of the field methods to be used, the ecology and identification tips for the species under study, and forest safety. During this initial training period and throughout the project, open presentation and discussion sessions with the Principal Investigator and other project scientists and ecologists will be held about many of the current issues facing the rainforest, its wildlife and peoples, and potential solutions. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the ongoing dialogue between conservation groups, the government, local grass-roots organisations and communities concerning the appropriate use of the Amazon rainforest. Coaching and mentoring will continue throughout the phase and while in the field with the team coordinators. Here’s a rough guide to the teams’ daily activities:
 
Mammal Team activities:
• Walk approx. 7 km of trail systems and transects slowly each day, starting the first session at 5:30 am, to check for mammals and take down data of sightings
• Occasionally walk trails and transects at night to census nocturnal mammals
• Create and check mammal footprint traps on a daily basis
• Maintain existing trails and on occasions open new ones
• Set up heat- and motion-sensing camera traps and download images every few days
• Enter data of the above research into the project computers

Herpetofauna (Reptile and Amphibian) Team activities:
• Monitor designated research plots for herpetofauna, once during late morning and again either before or after dinner, daily to collect data of sightings
• Occasionally walk to (and through) swamp, stream and lakeside habitats to search for species that might not be found in the research plots
• Build and maintain herpetofauna pitfall traps and check them daily
• Maintain existing transects and on occasions open new ones
• Assist in the careful handling of snakes, frogs, lizards and sometimes caiman and turtles in order to identify, process and photograph them before release
• Enter data of the above research into the project computers

Bird Team activities:
• Help carry and set up mist nets along trail systems and transects each day, from 5:00 am, monitor the nets, and carefully process the birds caught before subsequent release
• Walk approx. 6 km of trails and transects to observe and record birds and record data of any sightings (point counts)
• Maintain existing transects and on occasions open new ones
• Assist in the careful handling of birds in order to identify, process and photograph them before release
• Enter data of the above research into the project computers

Insect (butterfly and dung beetle) Team activities:
• Walk approx. 2-3 hours a day on trails and transects to monitor butterflies through visual and hand-net catching methods
• Assist in creating, setting up and monitoring tropical bait traps for butterflies
• Assist in creating, setting up and monitoring dung bait traps for beetles
• Characterise and measure forest types surrounding traps and transects
• Assist in the careful handling of butterflies and beetles in order to identify, process and photograph them before release
• Enter data of the above research into the project computers

Volunteers will receive time off during which the project will pre-organise inclusive (but optional) activities such as visiting local mammal or macaw clay-licks, swimming in freshwater streams, camping on the banks of oxbow lakes, climbing an observation tower or canopy walkway, spending time in the local town of Puerto Maldonado and much more.

Location
The project conducts research in a variety of different areas within Tambopata and thus the location will change regularly. It is likely that volunteers will travel with the project to at least two different locations (roughly two weeks at each) in a single phase. There are four lodges and research stations that are used more regularly; Explorer’s Inn, Reserva Amazonica, Sachavacayoc Centre and the Tambopata Research Centre. Motorised dugout canoes will be used to access the lodges, situated between 3 and 8 hours up river from Puerto Maldonado.

Facilities
Team members will be expected to share accommodation facilities, between 2 and 8 people per room (some rooms are large!). The majority of lodges visited provide rooms with en suite toilets and showers, whilst others provide shared facilities. All locations provide cold water showers only, and at meal times food is sometimes taken alongside visiting tourists. On very rare occasions, when lodges are full of tourists and researchers, volunteers may be expected to sleep in tents, but in the event this does happen, good washing and toilet facilities will always be accessible.

Type of volunteers needed
Applicants should be at least 18 years of age unless accompanied by a parent or guardian (at the discretion of the Project Manager), be in good health, have a fairly good level of physical fitness, and be able to swim 100 m unaided. A keen interest, educational qualifications, and previous experience in a related biological or environmental field would be an advantage. Some knowledge of Spanish would also be useful, but is not essential for most aspects of the work will be directed in both English and Spanish. A sense of adventure and the ability to endure often challenging conditions are essential - as is a good sense of humour!

We are also in a good position to offer university students the chance to work alongside biologists and experts in the field of wildlife research and conservation, and upon request we allow students to run mid-term research projects either alongside the Project’s own research or in some cases independently with the use of the Project’s logistics and know-how. Please enquire.
 
Programme cost
The cost for 40 days is £1680 from January to April and October till November, and £1870 between June and October.  Please note that for Phase 11 onwards in 2011, the cost will be reduced and will be £1420 in total (Phase 11.5 has a special 2 month price of £2145).  This covers all programme costs, including all food (3 large, wholesome meals a day), clean drinking water at all times, lodging in town and in the field, project materials, boat transport to and from lodges, Puerto Maldonado airport collection and departure transfers, all training and supervision by project manager, WorkingAbroad Projects backup and placement support, and so on.
 
The airfare to Peru and the internal airfare/bus to Puerto Maldonado, travel/medical insurance and personal expenses are not included within this price.  It is mandatory for you to take out travel and medical insurance for the duration of the project.