PROGRAM A: CONSERVATION IN THE CLOUDFOREST

PROGRAM B: IN THE WAY TO SUSTAINABILITY

PROGRAM C: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Program A: Conservation in the Cloud Forest

Ecuador is considered one of the seventeen MEGADIVERSE countries, with forty-six different types of ecosystems; the country is the most diverse in the world with respect to its surface area. Ecuador holds second place in the world for its diversity of orchids and amphibians. Even though, its biodiversity an average of 200.000 hectares of the Ecuadorian forest disappear every year.The cloud forest has the highest diversity of epiphyte plants and has one of the highest endemism rates in the world. The most important goal of La Hesperia is to protect part of this amazing ecosystem and to fight against deforestation. However, this fight is not easy and we need as much help as we can, everybody should participate in conservation efforts, because conservation is a shared responsibility.The details of this program are given below and outline the areas which the volunteer is involved in.

Volunteer's Profile:

This program has been designed for volunteers with an interest in nature, conservation, research, botany, wildlife and outdoors life.

Minimum commitment:

2 weeks

Forestry Program:

Restoring Degraded AreasThe station is working to restore several areas through natural regeneration and by reforesting them with tree species important to the natural environment. The main activities of this part of the program are to cultivate plants in the nursery, to prepare the old pastures for reforestation and to open reforestation lines. Volunteers assist in collecting and planting seeds, maintaining the nursery, transplanting seedlings, tree care, opening reforestation lines and conducting forestry inventories of planted trees to evaluate their growth and survival.

Sustainable Wood Production:

Due to the worldwide demand for hardwood it is important to plant trees for sustainable use, instead of cutting old-growth trees that belong to the natural forests. Since the steep geography of the region does not permit intensive agriculture and cattle farming, the best economic alternative is wood production. In addition to trying to resolve poverty, forestry also contributes to the fight against global warming; an average of twenty tones of carbon dioxide is absorbed per year by one hectare of trees in growth. Also since some of these species are rare, cultivating them will help to maintain their genetic viability. At the station we are planting several species of trees for sustainable use, including mahogany, cedar, colorado and tangare among others. As we research the best methods for sustainable development, we will share our knowledge of agro-forestry with local communities to encourage and enable them to adopt a similar approach.

Wildlife Program:

Birds inventory (volunteers with expertise in bird-watching). Volunteer are in charge to plant botanical species that will provide food for the wild animals. Also they will report any mammal sight, for our Mammal sight-frequency research, monitoring nests when found. We are trying to develop a system for having mammal.

feeders Research:

Volunteers will collect and analyze data from the different research areas. Hardwood trees; phenology, germination success of important species. In addition, volunteers will collect basic weather information like temperature and rainfall.

Organic Vegetable Garden:

Volunteers will research of plagues, manufacture of insect traps, when needed.

NOTE:

If you are only interested in conducting research, you will not be considered a volunteer. The conditions and price of your stay will vary. To conduct research at the station, you are required to submit a formal proposal before arriving and to have all the legal national permissions.

Trail Maintenance:

Volunteers will maintain or create the trails of the reserve with a machete.

Medicinal Garden:

Volunteers will maintain the medicinal garden.

New Ideas:

Volunteers with the relevant experience may contribute by helping to write grant proposals and other communications on behalf of the reserve.

Spanish classes:

We offer basic and intermediate Spanish classes. Classes are one hour a day for four days a week (Monday to Thursday). Levels start every first and third Monday of the month; however, you are welcome to incorporate at any day. Classes are conducted in small groups according to the level at US$5,00 per hour.For those with advance Spanish level the best way of improving your skills is to practice everyday with the local staff.

Hikes and lectures:

The staff offers hikes and lectures according to the volunteers interests. Topics may include: The World Energy Situation, Conservation and the Human Element, Ecology of the Cloud Forest, Reforestation, The Political and Economical Situation of Ecuador, Ecuadorian Culture, Agro-diversity and many more. At times, the work will involve working with the local staff which will give you the opportunity to have cultural exchange and practice Spanish. All volunteers living at the station will participate in maintenance and development of the station infrastructure. Volunteers are not tourists and are expected to work full days as all other employees of the station. They should be able to undertake strenuous and sometimes tedious labour under basic conditions.

CONSERVATION IS A SHARED RESPONSABILITY !

Program B: In the Way to Sustainability

The availability of natural resources, especially the energy resources in the world, is decreasing. According to scientific studies, with the present average world energy consumption and the present population, the fossil fuels will disappear in 200 years. However, if the population and the desire of countries to develop continue to increase, fossil fuels will disappear in 18 years if all consumption was equal to that of the developed nations! (Neville 1978; Hoeneisen 2005).

The modern world is competitive and therefore all are striving to be more efficient and so, unfortunately, the irrational use of chemicals, hormones, bad treatment of animals as well as deforestation are extremely common. In addition to this, the ever increasing demand for vehicles and industrial production contribute to the alarming rate of global warming increase. To combat these issues, before it is too late, we feel it is necessary to learn to live in harmony with the environment in a sustainable way. By reducing our energy consumption, reducing our waste, producing and eating organic and healthy food, and by beginning tolerant but aware: We should develop in education and not in consumption.

Highly aware of the situation in the world today, La Hesperia is striving to become a model of sustainability. We encourage anyone and everyone to be part of our volunteer programs. During your experience you will not only help us achieve our goals and contribute to the conservation of the environment, but you will also develop new skills and you will learn about sustainable wood production, alternative animal production, organic agriculture, bio-food production, alternative energy and eco construction. This program will not only let you travel to a new country, it will get you back to time when there was less consumption and life was more simple. The details of this program are given below and outline the areas which the volunteer is involved.

Volunteer's Profile:

This program has been designed for volunteers with an interest in nature, sustainability, agriculture, animal breeding, bio-food, organic vegetable garden and outdoors life.

Minimum commitment:

3 weeks.

Organic Vegetable Garden:

Preparing soil, planting seeds, weeding, harvesting and general maintenance.

Production of Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides:

Maintenance of compost heaps, earth worms, manure tea, mulch, etc.

Organic Agriculture:

Maintenance of banana, coffee, sugar cane, citric fields (clearing with a machete, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting mature products).

Alternative Animal Production:

Cows, pigs, chickens, goats, horses, mules, ducks, geese, rabbits. Volunteers will participate in activities like: feeding these animals, planting the crops to feed them, maintenance of pastures, fencing, milking and taking the milk on the mule into the town.

Bio-food Production:

Volunteers will participate in the process of preparation of home-made cheese, butter, yogurt, chocolate, coffee, pasta, bread, pizza, dry fruits and vinegar.

Forestry Program & Sustainable Wood Production:

Wood production of native species can become an economical alternative to local communities in Ecuador. In addition to trying to resolve poverty, forestry also contributes to the fight against global warming; an average of twenty tones of carbon dioxide is absorbed per year by one hectare of trees in growth. Volunteer activities could include: Collecting seeds, nursery maintenance, trail maintenance, tree care and reforestation.

Medicinal Garden:

Volunteers will maintain the medicinal.

Eco-construction:

Construction with COB, bamboo and wood depending on the time of the year. If at the time of your stay there is not a current construction project, if volunteers are interest the staff will conduct a COB workshop.

Alternative Energy:

Volunteers could assist in the sugar cane field for potential future production of ethanol as a renewable fuel to replace the use of oil. In 2008 we will continue with the evaluation of possible energy projects, consulting experts and making agreements with relevant institutions. We are open to any kind of cooperation.

New Ideas:

Volunteers with the relevant experience may contribute by helping to write grant proposals and other communications on behalf of the reserve.

Spanish classes:

We offer basic and intermediate Spanish classes. Classes are one hour a day for four days a week (Monday to Thursday). Levels start every first and third Monday of the month; however, you are welcome to incorporate at any day. Classes are conducted in small groups according to the level at US$4,00 per hour.For those with advance Spanish level the best way of improving your skills is to practice everyday with the local staff.

Hikes and lectures:

The staff offers hikes and lectures according to the volunteer's interests. Topics may include: The World Energy Situation, Conservation and the Human Element, Ecology of the Cloud Forest, Reforestation, The Political and Economical Situation of Ecuador, Ecuadorian Culture, Agro-diversity and many more. At times, the work will involve working with the local staff which will give you the opportunity to have cultural exchange and practice Spanish. All volunteers living at the station will participate in maintenance and development of the station infrastructure. Volunteers are not tourists and are expected to work full days as all other employees of the station. They should be able to undertake strenuous and sometimes tedious labour under basic conditions.

BACKGROUND AND AGE DO NOT MATTER IF YOU WANT TO WORK IN THIS PROJECT – THERE IS ALWAYS A JOB YOU CAN DO AND WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

Program C: Social Development

Ecuador is a country rich in culture, fourteen ethnic groups co-exist with their own language and Cosmo vision. However, in a country where 80% of the people live below the poverty line, opportunities for volunteers abound. One of La Hesperia's goals is to empower local communities, especially the La Esperie community located close to the station. It is a small village of 50 families with a two-room elementary school, a medical centre, two carpentry shops, a small store, and a traditional sweets factory. Volunteers can foster community development through several projects. The details of this program are given below and outline the areas which the volunteer is involved in.

Volunteers's Profile:

This program has been designed for volunteers with advance or medium level of Spanish language, with interest in education, social development, cultural exchange, practice of Spanish and working with children.

Minimum commitment:

4 weeks. If you come for less than four weeks or you do not have advance level of Spanish you can still participated in some social activities, however, you should combine the program with one of the other programs that we offer. You can not focus exclusively in the social development program.

Teaching and health assistance:

Volunteers can teach at the local children nursery (available all year round) or at the local elementary school (not available from February to the second week of April). Volunteers with knowledge of first-aid or medicine have the opportunity to get involved with the community by working in the clinic assisting the nurse in charge. Because the budgets of the medical centre and the schools are limited, donations for medical and educational supplies are always appreciated. Please contact us for more information about needed supplies as demand varies according to the time of year.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO GIVE PART OF US FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN!