A 6000 hectare pristine Cloud Forest Reserve bordering the Cotacachi Cayapas Reserve.
Location: Western Slopes of the Andes, 6 hours bus from Quito, 6 hours walk.
Activities:
· Scientific Research
· Permaculture
· Community Outreach programs
· Campaigns against mining operationsGroups Involved: RIC, CIBT
Volunteer Living Expenses: $250 per month includes food.
Contacts: CIBT ph. 493 2 2231768 email: loscedros@ecuanex.net.ec, cibt@ecuanex.net.ec, mmondrag@ecuanex.net.ec,
Here's what one volunteer says
"After leaving Quito and taking a most amazing bus ride through the Andes you arrive in Saguangal. This little village is the closest settlement to the reserve and the terminus of the line. After spending the night in a little hotel you start your climb to the reserve. The reserve have some mules to which you can fasten your bags, you yourself must walk. Five hours later you are standing in a small clearing with a view of your future home huddled in the massive primary cloud forest. A marvelous sight that well rewards your tiring hike. I myself was a volunteer for 40 days without any personal project so I just helped in managing the permaculture gardens forest and trails. The work should be considered as physical but not extremely strenuous or for a lengthy period. The nice atmosphere created by the people there sucks you in and by the end of the first day you feel so at home, you can't possibly want to leave. Los Cedros is a small and very together community with opportunities for all. The work is as diverse a nature around you and during the weekend you are free to enjoy the wilds. Birds, insects, mammals and loads of vegetation made my stay an incredible and unforgetable experience. Back in Quito you realize how far from civilization you were but how nice it was to be in a sustained ecological environment."
Fact Sheet
Our Mission
- To preserve northwestern Ecuador’s remaining 4% of primary forests.
- To welcome the scientific community and nature tourists to help us self-sustain the Los Cedros Biological Reserve with their support through visiting the reserve.
- Provide an atmosphere of cooperation and exchange of knowledge and culture between foreign researchers and students and their Ecuadorian counterparts. Foreign instructors are asked to sponsor a few Ecuadorian students at reduced rates.
Geography
- 6,400 hectares of primary forest contiguous with the Cotacachi-Cayapas UNESCO man and the Biosphere Reserve.
- A part of the Choco phytogeographic region in northwest Ecuador.
- Elevations of 1,200 to 2,700 meters.
- Mostly cloud forest, with pre-montaine wet tropical forest in the river valleys below 1,400 meters.
- Precipitation between 2,500 to 4,000 mm annually.
- Heavy precipitation from January to April (Orchid season).
- Drier season from July to October.
- Temperatures are refreshingly cool and the bugs mild compared to the lowland tropical forests.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
The Los Cedros Biological Reserve offers opportunities for volunteers to participate in reforestation, research, station maintanence, permaculture, education and community service. The Reserve lies 70km NW of Quito, containing 6,400 Ha of primary cloud forest contiguous with the 200,000 Ha Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, one of the ten hot-spots of conservation neccesity and biodiversity on Earth. An area of immense natural beauty and incredible diversity of flora and fauna, much of which is endemic to these forests that stretch from Panama through Pacific Coastal Colombia and into N.W. Ecuador (a biogeographical region know as the Choco).
The Reserve is owned and administrated by the Centro de Investigaci¤n de los Bosques Tropicales (CIBT), a private, non - profit Ecuadorian foundation legalized in Ecuador in 1991 to promote biological conservation, research and education.
The volunteer program is intended to assist us in accomplishing our daily tasks, and at the same time provide practical experience for people interested in tropical conservation. Volunteers have the opportunity to work, as detailed below, with local staff under supervision of the management staff, long-term volunteers, and resident researchers. Lots of good hard work is to be done, but we must also emphasize that a lot of fun is always had by all and this will also be a holiday that you will never forget. There is always a great spirit among the volunteers, staff and local workers.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
1). Station Maintenance: various tasks around the center, including kitchen duties and construction activities.
2). Trail Maintenance and construction
3). Reforestation: in the pastures within the Reserve and the surrounding communities. (This program will not be in operation until Dec. ‘99)
4). Permaculture: assisting with daily activities in the permaculture gardens and the nursery. The main task of volunteers.
5). Research Assistance: helping visiting researchers with data collection etc..
6). Community Service and Education:- within the local communities. This program will be in full operation by 1998. Qualified longer-term volunteers fluent in Spanish are preferable for participation in this program.
7). Personal Projects: People interested in developing new projects should submit a specific proposal in writing, detailing their idea. This will then be subject to approval to of LCBR/CIBT staff.
Note:- Your placement will depend on the specific needs of the Reserve and upon your skills and interest. We try to match LCBR needs with your preferences.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERS1). Finances: Volunteers must pay their own expenses, including airfare and living costs in Ecuador.
The following are the expenses for a volunteer internship:
* Application Fee - US$ 10 (n/a for Ecuadorians)
* Volunteer food & lodging - US$ 250/month (200,000 sucres/month for Ecuadorians)
Note: The application fee must be sent with your application to cover handling expenses.
The $ 250 fee includes: 3 large vegetarian meals daily, lodging in single or shared quarters (bedding included), showers, lighting and study/work area.
**Volunteer fees must be paid on arrival in Quito office and are non-refundable**
2). Duration of internships:
2.1 Short term volunteers: The minimum period is one month. The maximum period is 3 months, as a special visa is required to remain in Ecuador for more than 3 months.
2.2 Long Term volunteers: need to send their Passport number so that proper arrangements can be made for the extended visa. The actual visa is much easier to obtain overseas in an Ecuadorian consulate in the country of origin of the volunteer, with a letter of intention that CIBT can provide.
3.) Work schedules: Volunteers are expected to work from 8 am to 4 pm, with a 1 hour lunch break. We work Mon - Fri., but there will often be weekend tasks. Weekends are generally free to enjoy the wilds! Volunteers are not tourists and will be expected to work a full day like the Reserve employees. Volunteers should be able to undertake fairly strenuous labour under sub-tropical conditions, but do note that the situation is very informal and we won’t slave drive, although hard workers are highly appreciated.
4). Educational Requirements: Although special skills are appreciated, there are no educational pre-requisites, only that people have an interest in nature conservation and enjoy working with people in the outdoors.
5). Health Insurance: Volunteers must have their own health insurance. The CIBT will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred on the Reserve. Volunteers must sign a waiver, to release CIBT from responsibility, upon your arrival. Although there is malaria in the regions at lower altitudes, there is very little risk in the Reserve.
Note:- Volunteers at the Reserve are representatives of the CIBT and are asked to act in ways that enhance the Reserves relations with the local population and outside visitors. Alcohol and drugs are prohibited at the Reserve.
You will be entering a different culture and things might not be as you are used to in your country. Also, this is a project in its developing phases so it may at times appear a little disorganized or improvised. Be prepared to exercise, on occasion, patience and understanding.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1). US$ 10 Application fee. Make check payable to FCIBT_Centro.
2). Application letter indicating: participation dates, experience in conservation activities, education, reasons for applying, type of work preferences and any special skills you feel might be of use for the Reserve or the CIBT office.
3). Applications should be sent at least two months in advance. Please, try and comply with this as we don’t have the finances to do last minute faxing.
Send applications to:
ATTN: Jose Decoux
Los Cedros Biological Reserve
Casilla 17-7-8726
Quito, 56 - Ecuador
Phone/Fax: 593-2-221324
Email: loscedros@ecuanex.net.ec, cibt@ecuanex.net.ec
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Upon arrival in Quito, volunteers should contact the office in Quito to settle a/c’s and receive their travel information. Basically it’s a 6-hour bus ride to the village of Saguangal. Here you’ll spend the night in a cheap hotel to rest up for the 6-hour hike to the Reserve the following day.
WHAT TO BRING
Rubber boots are essential, (they are available in Quito up to size 10-USA sizes); waterproof pants and jacket, (gore-tex does not work!); good sun hat, flashlight, personal toiletries, any specific medical requirements, and insect repellant are the essentials.
Also suggested are water bottle, sunscreen, swim-suit, sunglasses, small knife, one or two reading books, waterproof bags; 3 sets of work clothing - lightweight long sleeve shirts and cotton pants, some warm clothes for the chilly nights; tough backpack for the mule-carting in to the Reserve. Please don’t bring excessive amounts of gear as it is a 6 hour trip on mule-back to get the gear, food etc, in to the Reserve. A wild and wondrous spirit!!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH
There is a rich diversity of epiphytic flora, with Araceae and Orchidaceae families particularly abundant. Over 200 species of Orchids have been identified so far. A partial bird list of 170 species includes the endangered Cock of the Rock and Toucan Barbet, as well as the magnificent Golden Headed Quetzal. Mammals of the reserve include Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi, Spectacled Bear, Endemic Brown Headed Spider Monkey, White Throated Capuchin, Howler Monkey, a small deer and several rodents.
The Hepetafauna include many examples of the generas Eleutherodactylus and Centronella. Nine species of snakes have been identified. One study on moths revealed 4,000 species. Pasture areas that are being allowed to regenerate offer the opportunity to study edge effects, regeneration, etc. The references below provide further information. However, we will be happy to provide you with information on research done in your field of interest on request.
DODSON, C.H. & GENTRY A.H. 1991. Biological Extinction in western Ecuador. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 78:273-295. GENTRY, A. H. 1982. Phytogeographic patterns in northwest South America and southern Central America as Evidence for a Choco Refugium. Pp. 112-136 in G. Prance (editor), Biological Diversification in the Tropics, Columbia Univ. Press, New York.
Please note that plant collection and authorization procedures can take a while and are the responsibility of the researcher.
FACILITIES
1. We can comfortably house 20 people.
2. The scientific/accommodations center will be completed by December 1996. The top floor has four rooms with four beds per room plus a lounge/reading room. The ground floor has 2 large work areas of 9m by 4.5 m each that will be for study and conference purposes. It has a library and an adjoining equipment room adjoining, with an outside sun room/lounge area.
3. Another 4 people can be housed in the administration center.
4. These facilities are within 100m of the primary forest. 5. Three good meals a day will be served in the separate octagon dining area. Here you will also have table-tennis and darts, and the most magical view you will ever eat to.
6. The entire complex is powered by a 12V hydro-electric system, providing good evening lighting. An inverter provides 110V power for computers, TV and video presentations, small equipment, and daily radio communications with the Quito office.
7. An integral trail system provides access to all elevations.
8. There is a canopy walkway system with a platform 40m up inside a huge strangler fig.
9. Permaculture gardens.
10. Natural swimming holes.
11. Waterfalls.
12. Views from the jungle clad ridges south to the Andes mountains.
GETTING THERE
1. 6hr. bus ride from Quito to Sanguangal (price $4).
2. Overnight in Sanguangal (hotel price $2-3). 3. 6 hr. hike to the reserve. Mules are used to transport the food and baggage from Quito to the reserve.
4. If private hired transport is used, it is possible to get to the reserve in one long day.
5. All inquiries should be directed to:
Jose Decoux
Los Cedros Biological Reserve
Casilla 17-7-8726
Quito, 56 - Ecuador
Phone/Fax: 593-2-221324
Email: loscedros@ecuanex.net.ec, cibt@ecuanex.net.ec