LOCATION : BILSA RESERVE, COASTAL FORESTS

The Bilsa reserve is located about 2 hours drive from Esmereldas in low lying tropical forests about 30km from the Ecuadorian coast. It is approximately 30 km from Quinindé. Bilsa is situated within a larger conservation area, the Mache Chindul Ecological Reserve, which covers an area of 120,000 hectares.

ACTIVITIES

• Agroforestry - Work on the Agroforestry project tending to the 80 plus different species of fruit and nut trees close to the cabins.
• Community Integration - Community work in ten bordering towns, including nutritional training, environmental education, agroforestry, health programs and handicraft production.
• Eco-tourism - A new community project will include further eco-tourism development that volunteers can help with.
• Individual Projects - Volunteers work in groups of 2-3 persons on the following projects: Phenology study to determine the fruiting and flowering seasons of specific trees, Orchid & Bromelia garden, maintenance of forest trails, natural regeneration studies in primary & secondary forest and in reforested areas. Other possibilities are work in the medicinal plant garden, carpentry, bird studies, teaching at a nearby community school, assisting the stations scientists or your own personal project.
• Reforestation - Reforestation work on a 400 hectre area that includes two carbon sequestration projects. These are important as the local organization receives much needed income for preserving this area of forest. This involves seed collection and selection, planting of seeds in nursery beds, maintenance and monitoring of the nursery beds and planting trees.
• Reserve Maintenance - Volunteers spend time maintaining paths and gardens surrounding the cabins and main building or can undertake clearance work with machetes, pruning of trees or maintenance of the medicinal plant garden or the banana plantation.
• Wildlife Monitoring - There are two opportunities; a study of the long wattled umbrella bird, a rare bird that is now only found in a few local areas, or mist netting of birds at 15 different transects in primary and secondary forest and selective logged areas.
• Hikes in the forest and along rivers - The nature hikes provide a great opportunity to enjoy the amazing diversity that the Bilsa Reserve has to offer. During a month stay you are almost sure to see howler monkeys, and possibly the capuccin monkeys. You will also see agouties, a variety of frogs and snakes and a great variety of birds amongst which the umbrella bird, toucans, aracaries, trogons, tanagers and manakins.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Bilsa Biological Station is part of the Chocó-Darien bio-region of Central and South America, one of the 25 hot spots in the world for biodiversity and endemic species. The Bilsa field research station protects the last remnants of of the North western coastal forest of Ecuador. It is estimated that there is now between 1-2% of this forest type remaining. The forests in this impoverished area are under constant threat as the high value of tropical timber makes it a lucrative target for illegal logging activities.

Living in these forests are more than 30 new scientific species and endemic flora and fauna that is in danger of extinction. More than 20 species of mammals have been identified, including jaguar, puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, howler monkey and anteater. To date, 330 bird species (more than the total population of the UK) have been identified. These include the long wattled umbrella bird and the banded ground cuckoo. For those who still need convincing that this place is really special, Bilsa has more than 90 species of trees and over 2,000 species of plant per hectare.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Anyone over the age of 18 who wants to spend time in a tropical rain forest setting. Volunteers should have some interest in conservation, biodiversity, ecology, or nature. Volunteers at reserves in Bilsa, Congal, Jatun Sacha, La Hesperia and San Cristobal are required to speak basic Spanish. For beginners, we are proud to offer a 2-week Spanish course.

Knowledge of first aid is helpful as the reserve lies some distance from the nearest town.

WORK SCHEDULE

Volunteers will normally spend 2 days on reforestation and/or maintenance work, 2 days for individual projects in groups of 2-3 volunteers. The following 2 days are spent hiking in the forest/rivers to observe and learn more about the area’s bio-diversity, wildlife, and natural history. Sunday is a rest day. Working hours are 6-8 hours a day. About once a month volunteers will visit a community for 2-3 nights.

The minimum stay at this reserve is 2 weeks, but we recommend a minimum of one month. The maximum is 3 months, but staying longer may be possible in other circumstances. Doing so will involve extending your visa.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is in volunteer houses, providing beds for up to 30 volunteers at a time. The houses have a bathroom with a hot shower and social areas. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are provided. A basic laundry facility is available.

GETTING THERE

The reserve is 6-8 hours by bus from Quito. You will need to stay for one night at the town of La Y de Laguna (US$10 - full board.) Access to the reserve involves a 3-hour hike through stunning scenery. A guide with horses and mules will accompany you on the walk in.

FIXED COSTS

Volunteer South America support and logistics fee - US$236.50

Registration Fee - US$70 (Price includes T-shirt, hat and information pack on the reserve etc.)

Program cost for 4 weeks - US$450

Program cost for 6 weeks - US$640

Program cost for 8 weeks - US$810

Program cost for 12 weeks - US$1,180

This organization runs a number of reserves. Moving to another reserve presents no obstacles, but your four weeks at the new reserve will cost US$450.00. The Volunteer South America and registration fees are one off payments, so you don't need to pay it again if you switch reserves.

TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE

All volunteers are required to purchase travel and medical insurance for the duration of their volunteer position. We strongly recommend that minimum coverage includes the following:

• Medical expenses - US$10 million
• Personal liability - US$2 million
• Personal accident - US$40,000
• Personal property - US$3,000
• Loss of Passport etc - US$1,000
• Legal expenses etc - US$40,000
• Cancellation etc - US$6,000