Volunteer in Ecuador with BioMindo
Work as an environmental volunteer in tropical rain forests
News
Here you can find some BioMindo pictures.
About
BioMindo is a private non-profit organisation which combines a sustainable lifestyle with the support of environmental conservation. Its main objective is the protection of the remaining forests and the restoration of degraded eco systems and the still existing biodiversity in the area of the Ecuadorian Chocó including coastal eco systems.
BioMindo promotes a participative process of local partners to create a team which is committed to work on long-term protection and conservation of the declared reserves seeking a sustainable development of the relationship between human beings and the nature.
The project aims to create models of sustainable life based on: biological research, environmental education and permaculture.
“Learn, pass on the knowledge and live according to that!”
- see all 11
When you volunteer with us, you can work with Mar 24, 2009
Opening trails in the forest
Monitoring and making an inventory of biodiversity
Bamboo constructions
Organic gardening and permaculture
Environmental education
Experience with us Mar 24, 2009
A nice place with beautiful sceneries.
A group of people with an eco-friendly and enjoyable environment.
The opportunity to share personal experiences.
Practice your Spanish.
Work and fun.
Where are we working? Mar 24, 2009
Our field of activities covers the whole bio region of the Ecuadorian Chocó and its surroundings but currently our work is focused on the Mindo cloud forest and on a small fishing village at the coast (“Reserva Mar y Bosque”). Various new initiatives are getting prepared to be part of our network.
Mindo - Private reserve "Bosque Experimental Nambillo" Mar 24, 2009
Mindo is a small village, located in a subtropical valley at 1224 m above sea level. It is 84 km away from Quito, on the western slopes of the Andes with a population of about 2000. It has become one of the most famous destinations in Ecuador for nature lovers. One of the most popular ativities in Mindo is birdwatching, there are some butterfly farms, waterfalls and other touristic attractions.
The community of Mindo proposed the declaration of the protected forest to the Ecuadorian government, and in August 1988 this protection was granted. It has an area of 19,200 hectares between 1300m and 4700m above sea level, and includes several ecological zones such as paramo, cloud forest and subtropical foothill forest.
It was also declared as an "Important Bird Area" (AICA- Area Importante para la Conservacion de las Aves), the first AICA in South America.
The diversity and the endemism of Mindo is mainly caused by being part of the bio region of the Chocó.
In Mindo we work in a private reserve which has an extension of 100 hectares, it is a property of a local family who are dedicated to recreational tourism.
Goals of the project:
• Support a local family in their initiative to conserve the reserve: improving the management of the reserve by using only a small area for tourism and thereby achieve the conservation of the rest of the reserve as an refuge for wild life
• Research the existing biodiversity in the reserve to publish field guides
• Contribute to a better knowledge of the local fauna and flora and thereby cooperate with the environmental protection of the region.
Currently we are working on:
Maintenance and conservation of the reserve:
this includes a big variety of work like: opening an access trail to the highest part of the reserve, maintenance of existing trails, working on new trails, helping to construct new facilities in the touristic part of the reserve, pick up trash, making signs etc.
Inventory of the local biodiversity:
we have divided the biodiversity in 20 different groups, we already have a base of information of birds, frogs, butterflies, plants and mushrooms. The initial work consist of making an photographic sampling of all subgroups in a systematic way.
Monitoring of birds:
We have already the drawings of a big part of the more than 120 species of birds that exist in the reserve. We keep going with field work to get some more information about them and to publish a field guide about birds of Nambillo.
Coast - Reserve "Mar y Bosque" Mar 24, 2009
“Mar y Bosque” is a private reserve of 15 hectares next to a small fishing village, located in the area of Galera/Quingue (close to Atacames).
The area is biologically important caused by different factors, for example:
• the area is under the influence of the clash of 3 marine currents
• the converge of 2 bio geographic regions (Chocó andina and Tumbesina)
• the depth of the sea close to the beach
• the forest next to the sea
• also it is part of the recently declared marine reserve Galera –Cabo de San Francisco, first marine reserve of continental Ecuador
Goals of the Project:
Creation of a private reserve dedicated to:
• Environmental education
• Research of biodiversity
• Observation of (Humpback)Whales)
Currently we are working on the following projects:
Opening a trail in the forest:
We are setting up a interpretative trail to give environmental education to primary and secondary students of the region and the country.
Inventory of the biodiversity:
We make an inventory of local bio diversity with the goal to publish field guides
Bamboo constructions:
construction of cabins for volunteers and staff
Organic gardening:
We grow vegetables in our garden to reach self-suffiency and to illustrate organic practices to the local community
Construction of a platform/tower to observe the whales from the coast
Why do we need volunteers? Mar 24, 2009
WeConsider that the right and the responsibility to watch and protect the environment should be taken by every habitant of this planet, because we all breathe the same air, and all feel the global effects caused by environmental imbalance. We would like to involve volunteers from all over the world in our projects because we believe that is a good experience for all of us, exchanging ideas and learning from each other's knowledge
Because we are interested in getting to know profoundly the specifics of nature and we would like to share this knowledge making it a tool of conservation.
Because the bio region Chocó - although being one of the richest in bio diversity - is in danger because of the human activities like logging the forests, plantation of pasture, extensive plantation of Palma Africana, Palmito, Naranjilla, plantation of non-native trees like Eucalypts, and the development of intensive operations such as shrimp farms.
Being a volunteer with us is a great way to support the environment, it is also an opportunity to spend time in beautiful areas, to get to know nice people, to practice your Spanish and to have a unique experience for your life.
Ifyou come to help us as a volunteer we offer you: Mar 24, 2009
• The possibility to choose the project and the work which suits best your expectations and requirements (if you don´t like the chosen project originally you can change to the other one)
• Support and monitoring of the working activities
• An introduction to the area, the organization and the specialties of the chosen project
• Accommodation
• 3 meals a day
• Flexibility: we try to direct the project with flexibility to adapt us to the circumstances and skills of everyone involved. We're always open to new ideas.
FAQ Mar 24, 2009
Where will I live?
Each project has a place where the volunteers live. It is usually a cabin made of easy-renewable materials like bamboo, adobe, palm leafs etc. It is basic, we offer you a mattress and a mosquito net.
Is it a problem if I am vegetarian?
Usually we prepare vegetarian food (based on local products like rice, plantains, beans, vegetables). We cook together with the volunteers, so there is the possibility to prepare any kind of food.
Do I have to speak Spanish?
Having a basic knowledge is helpful but it is not a requirement because we also speak English, German and French. If you would like to have Spanish classes we can arrange it.
How many hours a day will I be working?
Usually we start early and work from breakfast until lunch (about 5-6 hours each day). After finishing work there is enough time for other activities. You have 2 days off during the week (usually weekends)
What do I have to bring?
Sleeping bag-Hiking/Working boots -Light clothes-Work clothes-Rain coat-Sweater-Swimming clothes -Torch/Head lamp-Insect repellent-Sun cream -Digital camera (if you have one)
Is there a cost involved?
The contribution is $70 USD each week or $250 USD each month to cover the costs of accommodation, meals, tools, materials for the project (it doesn´t included transportation, and accomodation or food outside of the project). The payment you make at the beginning of your stay with us, if you stay longer than one month you pay us 250 $ at the beginning of each month. Please keep in mind that there is no bank in town, the next ATM can be reached in half an hour by bus.
Is there a minimum stay?
Two weeks is the minimum stay, however we consider a stay of a month as the optimum for our project. But we are also looking for long-term volunteers.
What can I do in my spare time?
In each project there are different activities to do in your spare time, which are possible to do by yourself or with the group.
In Mindo you can jump from a waterfall, swim in a river, tube down the river, visit a butterfly farm or orchid garden, cable swing through the canopy. Or you can leave on your days off to visit places nearby such as Quito, Puerto Quito, Otavalo etc.
At the coast you can swim in the sea or relax in little pools that are left by the sea during low tide, observe whales (during June and October), go birdwatching, play football on the beach, make a trip to Atacames for some drinks at a beach bar or visit other beautiful beaches in the area.
What is the Ecuadorian bioregion Chocó? Mar 24, 2009
The bioregion Chocó covers an area of 10,000km². It is located at the northwestern side of the Andes of Columbia and Ecuador. Its characteristic humidity, with more than 12,000mm of rainfall each year, is caused by the crash of 2 currents (the warm "Niño" and the cold "Humboldt") at the Ecuadorian coast, the altitude of the Andes and its location at the equator.
It is humid forest rich in epiphytic plants and highly specialized with a wide range of microsystems and microclimates, an estimated 10,000 species of vascular plants, of which only 3,500 are formally identified.
Although the bio region of Chocó is one of the richest in bio diversity, it is in danger because of the human activities like logging the forests, plantation of pasture, extensive plantation of Palma Africana, Palmito, Naranjilla, plantation of non-native trees like Eucalypts, and the development of intensive operations such as shrimp farms.
Ecuador Mar 24, 2009
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries of South America but with one of the highest densities of biological diversity in the world.
It is located in the north west of South America, covering an area of 251,000 km². It is divided into 4 natural regions: Coast, Mountain range, Amazonia and Galapagos. These regions house an amazing array of climates and habitats - snow and desert, tropical rain forests, cloud forest and the Paramo. With more than 40 species of mammals, 1650 species of birds and 25.000 species of plants, Ecuador supports an incredible diversity of all kinds of life.
Visit the web sites of our friends Dec 16, 2007
Our former volunteers Amy & Ben have a blog writing about their travel adventures in South America.
Chris is renting cabins and has space for camping in Canoa, one of the nicest beaches of Ecuador.
For tourist information and travel advice check out GoEcuador
Save our planet with Green Volunteers the World Guide and Database to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation
Contact Us
biomindo@hotmail.com
Tel: 00593-9-7441608
or 00593-9-7791528
English, Spanish, German and French spoken.
Amy & Ben's Grand Adventure says:
Wow, you guys have been busy! Everything looks fantastic, especially the pizza oven! We`ve been trying to work out ways to come and visit you again - we`ll let you know how we go! Great work...
posted May 22, 2008