Description

As a conservation volunteer you will be responsible to assist with the following:

- Assist with the construction and maintenance of the trails throughout the park. These trails allow rangers and volunteers to conduct patrols. They also help to minimize the environmental impact of visitors to the park. Existing tails need to be maintained on an ongoing basis and several new trails need to be built.
- The buildings within the ranger station require on-going maintenance including cleaning, painting and basic repairs. Volunteers will assist rangers with this maintenance.

- Volunteers will assist park visitors by reviewing the rules and regulations while visiting the park and express why it is important that these rules are adhered to. As most of the rangers have limited English skills, they often find communicating these rules and regulations to park visitors difficult.

- Control Walks: Short patrols with the rangers may be required of a conservation volunteer. Park rangers patrol the national park both during the day and night, however, a conservation volunteer does not have to participate in nightly patrols.

- Periodically injured animals are found during a patrol. Volunteers can work with the rangers to provide assistance and support for these injured animals.

Highlights

Corcovado has an unusually high level of biological diversity, which provides essential habitat for a number of endemic and endangered species, and which makes Corcovado, Costa Rica's most biologically important protected lowland area, according to the Ministry of Environment.

The area includes around 25-30 ecosystems. These various habitats support an incredible number of species of plants and wildlife, including a number of animals that are globally endangered, for example: jaguars, tapirs, and peccaries The fact that Corcovado contains significant populations of large predators such as jaguars and pumas reflects the overall ecosystem integrity of the area.

Scientists are still recognizing new and unique biological processes that occur in the Corcovado area. Biologists recently discovered that Golfo Dulce, located just east of Corcovado, is a calving area for both northern and southern Pacific populations of humpback whales. The circumstance is unknown, and may prove essential for the preservation of genetic diversity of this species. These whales pass through the protected waters of Corcovado National Park and the Isla del Caño.
Recently the highly endangered Harpy Eagle believed to be locally extinct in Corcovado National Park since 1989, was confirmed to still exist in the Park or to have returned.

Corcovado and the Osa Peninsula contain extremely high species diversity. Biologists estimate that the area contains approximately 10,000 species of insects, at least 2,418 species of plants, 700 species of trees, 140 species of mammals, 367 types of birds, 117 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 40 species of freshwater fish. An estimated 49 species of trees in the area are in danger of extinction, at least 12 of which are endemic to Costa Rica. In addition, the Osa Peninsula is the home of an endemic species of bird and 17 endemic subspecies of birds. Corcovado also contains the most significant populations of large endangered mammals such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, white-lipped peccaries, and tapirs, on the Pacific coast of Central America. In addition to endangered mammals, there are relatively large populations of endangered birds in Corcovado including scarlet macaws and the great curassow.

Corcovado's forests exemplify the popular conception of the tropical rain forest, with a multitude of species, very tall trees, spectacular buttresses, large woody lianas, and abundant herbaceous vines.
In sum, Corcovado represents one of the world's most important sources for future knowledge about rainforest ecosystems and the conservation of biological diversity.

About a third of all tree species in Costa Rica and half of its endangered species are found in Corcovado; with the recent construction of roads, the area has been invaded by farmers, loggers, miners and tourists. Deforestation for agriculture and logging poses the main threat to Corcovado. The Osa Peninsula has conducted gold mining for centuries but only recently with the rise in gold prices, improved access roads and heavier machinery,the gold mining has become a serious threat to the park. Gold mining causes water pollution and soil erosion, and as mining increases much of the park's financial resources are diverted to deal with this threat. Therefore, these serious threats, require constant monitoring by park rangers, for this reason, we need the help of volunteers to assist the rangers with their heavy workload.

Qualifications

No prior experience is necessary, however you must have the ability to adapt to a tropical environment, be in excellent health, and willing to help in the conservation area.

Minimum Education

High School

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 2.595 for 4 weeks; USD 250 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

Hard working skills, ecologically sensitive, willing to learn about new cultures and the most important one: enthusiasm.

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998