Joining this internship takes you into the heart of the lush and remote Amazon rainforest in Ecuador to help protect the precious rainforest and aid community development initiatives. The Amazon rainforest is one of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems, being home to 30% of all known plant and animal species, as well as a variety of indigenous cultures. You will work alongside a dedicated staff mentor to ensure you maximize your placement, conducting research and scientific investigation, and working on community projects. In addition, the program runs a number of exciting adventure side trips that give you the chance to further experience this amazing region. This internship will allow you to make a real difference to rainforest conservation while also gaining invaluable hands on practical experience in a variety of fields including project management and team leadership.

How this program makes a difference:

GVI is making a difference in Ecuador’s Amazon by supporting the Yachana Foundation and local efforts to preserve the rainforest and its extraordinary diversity of plants and animals. These efforts include promoting sustainable economic and agricultural alternatives for its inhabitants, many of whom are from poor, indigenous communities. Volunteers have been compiling valuable species lists of animal life found within Yachana's private land reserve. This has resulted in the discovery of a rare species of glass frog, which further strengthens the documented conservation value of the area.

Highlights:

• Enjoying the intensive in-camp training to gain basic knowledge of the environment
• Experiencing the sights and sounds of the tropical rainforest
• Spending nights camping out in the rainforest
• Setting photo-trapping equipment to see what you can catch on film
• Enjoying wildlife observation from the river
• Experiencing the rainforest at night on nocturnal frog and mammal surveys
• Discovering rare and possibly new species
• Learning bush skills and rainforest ecology
• Exploring different parts of the Amazon
• Working with and training local students and the local community and learning how to navigate in the forest

Qualifications:

No special training or qualifications are required as you will receive training in the field.

For more information on this program, please visit our website:

www.gviusa.com/expeditions/south-america/ecuador/environmental-internship-amazon/home