Overview
Environmental Internship in the Ecuadorian Amazon

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.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, stories from the field, video diaries and more at the programs media centre

Of the five months I spent in South America, the ten week project in the rainforest was by far and away the highlight!

Niall Riddell, GVI Intern

What Difference Does This Internship Make?

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.

Skills And Qualifications Received

• Internationally recognised qualification in Team Leading (BTEC Award level 2)


• Tropical forest ecology


• Forest biodiversity survey techniques and Identification skills
• Internationally recognised qualification in Biological Survey Techniques (optional)
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• Specimen preparation and preservation (depending on availability)
• Introduction to Ethno-botany (depending on availability)


• Jungle crafts


• Introduction to TEFL, First Aid & CPR training (certification optional)
• Kichwa culture and language and introductory Spanish


• Vegetation/habitat mapping and Interpersonal skills

See Requirements And Training page for more information

Location

You will be based on 1,800 hectares of (mainly) primary rainforest on lands neighbouring the tiny village of Mondaña, located on the Napo River between the cities of Tena and Coca, in the eastern part of Ecuador. On the south side of the river is Yachana Eco-Lodge (an internationally-recognised, award-winning ecotourism lodge) and Yachana High School. GVI’s expedition site is located on the north side of the river and is reached via a combination of bus and motorised canoe.

See Life on the internship page for more information

Field Conditions

The expedition base camp is located adjacent to the Napo River in a cleared area within the rainforest. It contains a dormitory-style residence that has cooking facilities, showers and toilets, and provides volunteers with all the basic conditions for sleeping, eating, working and relaxing.

See Life on the internship page for more information