Jungle conservation & research, Peru

Environment

Through this project volunteers will be contributing to the preservation of the Manu Biosphere Reserve (MBR) and development of initiatives to help protect the environment. It is an integral part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vilcabamba Amboro Conservation Corridor and is home to an ambundance of wildlife. Our highly motivating and engaging volunteer project makes volunteers a partner in positive change: directly benefiting local communities, the environment and the long-term conservation of the Amazon. Our program combines training, challenging work and a great adventure making it a brilliantly unique and rewarding way to visit and actively understand more about the rainforest, its people and its conservation needs. In addition to this direct benefit, we try to ensure:

Social responsibility - before volunteers depart we provide them with a detailed information pack on the area they will be visiting. We try to educate and encourage our volunteers to understand and respect the local cultures and customs and get involved with local communities.

Economic responsibility – for over 10 years we have been providing volunteers to help at charitable projects around the world. A UK charity has now been launched to build on this success by providing financial assistance to overseas causes as well. The organisations we work with are often struggling to fund the work they are doing so every penny raised makes a real difference.

The majority of the fee that volunteers pay goes direct to the research centre. The centre provides employment for local Peruvian staff. While volunteers are in-country, we encourage them to buy locally and support local businesses.

Environmental responsibility – one of the main negative impacts of our volunteers traveling, is the carbon dioxide created from flights. The centre helps to ensure that an amount of carbon is sequestered through tree planting. While our volunteers and customers are overseas, we identify and encourage simple steps to minimise their impact on the local environment.

Community

The project has a long history of supporting conservation research in the Manu region, with long-established projects monitoring the blue headed macaw, mammal behaviour patterns, human impact studies, environmental management and forest dynamics to name but a few. Their focus is on creating sustainable agriculture, timber and carbon alternatives for local communities on deforested and impacted land. By effectively reducing the human and carbon footprint, these initiatives aim to increase both the communities’ wellbeing and enhance the region's sustainable offerings.

The centres mission is to:

* Educate local rainforest communities and visitors
* Promote sustainable natural resource development
* Integrate pure and applied research of the rainforest environment and its natural systems
* Conserve and preserve tropical ecosystems