The following project sites represent some of the world´s hottest ´hot spots´ of biodiversity - from dry tropical forest (less than 2% remaining in Ecuador), coastal humid tropical forest and coastal wet tropical forest (only 0.8% remaining), mangroves, wetlands and cloud forest of the western Andes (one of the ten hotspots of world biodiversity). Your help in supporting these projects will help protect a ´Noahs Ark´ of biodiversity needed for future survival.

The Rainforest Information Centre (RIC) is involved in these projects primarily through the involvement of Anja Light (Project Officer of the RIC) along with various local and international organisations. These include: Centro de Investigaciones de los Bosques Tropicales (CIBT) , The Sloth Club (Japan), Club Ceiba (Japan), The Appalachian State University, the environment comittee of the People´s Assembly of Cotacachi and the Cerro Seco Reserve. Volunteers are welcome at all of the following project sites.

Contents:
1. Cotacachi Ecology Centre
2. El Milagro
3. Los Cedros Biological Reserve
4. Madre Selva Permaculture Institute
5. Tambaco Farm - La Molinita
6. Mompiche- MacheChindul
7. El Paraíso research station
8. Cerro Seco Dry Tropical Forest Reserve

1. Cotacachi Ecology Centre
An ecology resource centre working with the local community and a progressive municipal government led by indigenous Mayor Auki Tituaña.
Location: Cotacachi town, 2 -3 hours by bus from Quito
Activities:
· Maintaining Ecological Resource Centre and Information Hub
· Volunteer coordination (for other project sites)
· Environmental Education
· Community environment projects within the ´Canton Ecologico´
· Organisation of alternative development expos
· Demonstration permaculture garden with medicinal plants and initiating development of a national seedsavers network.
Groups Involved: RIC, Sloth Club
Volunteer Living Expenses: $150 per month (includes food and internet connection)
Contacts: Cotacachi Ecology Centre ph: 06 916 525, email: cec@imbanet.net or Anja Light alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.

2. ´El Milagro´
Integrated lifestyle model on 35 ha of regenerating cloud forest bordering on 350 ha cloud forest reserve.
Location: Cloud Forest of Western Andes, 2 hours from Otavalo by bus, 40 mins walk
Activities:
· Permaculture design
· Community outreach (herbal medicine, nutrition, hygene)
· Alternative development examples
· Organic shade grown coffee cultivation
· Networking with surrounding campaigns to protect cloud forest.

Groups Involved: Sloth Club, Rainforest Information Centre
Volunteer Living Expenses: $50 per month (food not included)
Contacts: Cotacachi Ecology Centre ph: 06 916 525, email: cec@imbanet.net or Anja Light alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.
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3. Los Cedros Biological Reserve
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 operations

Groups Involved: RIC, CIBT
Volunteer Living Expenses: $250 per month includes food.
Contacts: CIBT ph. 02 2231768, 593-2-286-5176
email:loscedros@ecuanex.net.ec, cibt@ecuanex.net.ec, mmondrag@ecuanex.net.ec, alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.

4. Madre Selva Permaculture Institute
A 2 hectare permaculture centre established in 1991 with over 100 species of tropical fruit trees and training centre.
Location: The town of San Lorenzo in north west Ecuador.
Activities:
· Permaculture design
· Permaculture training
· Fruit Tree nursery
· Comunity Outreach programs
Groups Involved: RIC, CIBT.
Volunteer Living Expenses: $250 per month includes food
Contacts: CIBT ph. 02 2231768 email: cibt@ecuanex.net.ec, mmondrag@ecuanex.net.ec, alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.

5. Tambaco Farm - La Molinita
A privately owned 1000 ha farm containing the world´s tallest mangrove tree, remnant tropical forest, the wetland ´Laguna de Ciudad´ and coastal ecosystems.
Location: Northwest coast of Ecuador, 20 minutes drive south from La Tola town, 3 hours north of Esmeraldas city.
Activities:
· Scientific Research
· Permaculture design
· Development of Eco-tourism facilities
· Planned Sloth Sanctuary.
Groups Involved: Sloth Club Japan, Patricio Tambaco
Volunteer Living Expenses: $7 per day includes food.
Contacts: Patricio Tambaco ph: 06 726 496 Anja Light: alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.

6. Mompiche-Mache Chindul (to commence in 2004)
A region of extreme biodiversity in wet tropical forest (only 0.8% remaining), severely threatened by logging and colonisation close to (arguably!) the best surfing beach in Ecuador.
Location: North Coast of Ecuador, 1.5 hours south of Esmeraldas city, 1 hour north of Pedernales
Planned Activities:
· permaculture lifestyle model
· Wild animal rescue and rehabilitation centre
· Sloth sanctuary
· Community Alternative development (eco-tourism, organic production, fair trade, nutrition, medicinal plants, renewable energy)
Groups Involved:? Sloth Club, RIC, Cerro Seco Reserve.
Volunteer Living Expenses: $150 month including food
Contacts: Anja Light alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.
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7. El Paraiso
A private reserve of pristine humid tropical forest currently being equipped with a research station and accomodation facilities.
Location: Ecuador coast, 30 minutes south of Jama town, 1 hour north of Bahia de Caraquez.
Activities:
· Permaculture garden
· Scientific Research (Cappuchin Monkeys)
Groups Involved: Cerro Seco Reserve, Appalachian State University (USA).
Volunteer Living Expenses: $150 month includes food.
Contacts: Marcelo Luque (Spanish only) 05 693 004 email: marcelo_luque@hotmail.com, Katherine Jack email: jackkm@appstate.edu
More Information.

8. Cerro Seco Dry Tropical Forest Reserve.
A unique dry tropical forest reserve (less than 2% remaining in Ecuador) 15 mins walk from Bahia Eco-City.
Location: Bahia de Caraquez (8 hour bus from Quito).
Activities:
· Scientific Research
· Environmental Education
· Animal rehabilitation
· Reforestation
· Eco-tourism
Groups Involved: Cerro Seco Reserve, Club Ceiba (Japan), RIC.
Volunteer Living Expenses: $110 per month includes most food.
Contacts: Marcelo Luque (Spanish only) 05 693 004 email: marcelo_luque@hotmail.com, Anja Light email, alight@ecuanex.net.ec
More Information.
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