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4.2 / 5Overall Rating
6Reviews
2007Year established

Program Overview

IPBio has conducted a tree inventory at one of its trails, about 642 meters long and located in an area of the Brazilian reserve that comprises an anthropomorphized secondary forest. This inventory has found 22 species from 15 distinct families.

Moreover, IPBio has collected information on morphological characteristics, occurrence, wood, utility, ecological information, phenology, seed description, and seedling production for each species. IPBio plans to expand this project to other trails and areas of the reserve to get a complete inventory of trees. IPBio also plans to use the paper as the basis for monitoring the growth and well-being of the reserve's forest.

Program participants must have an education in biology, forest engineering, botany, or related fields. IPBio accepts a non-biologist who is interested, willing to learn, and has time to commit to at least three months in the program, so he or she has time to train. Participants must speak either English or Portuguese at an intermediate level, and must be over 18.

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Program Highlights

Gain valuable work experience at a reserve, which has received accreditation as an advanced outpost of The Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Focus on searching for and cataloging new species of flora.
Learn about the human impact on forest development by comparing forest health in different areas of the reserve.
Help to produce the first all-encompassing Flora map of the reserve.
Support efforts in preserving the Atlantic Forest, one of the top 5 biodiversity hotspots in the world, and meet some lifelong friends along the way!

What's Included

Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
Cultural Training / Program / Orientation

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Sao Paulo, Brazil

Available Terms / Availability

  • Years Offered
  • Year Round

Eligible Nationalities

  • All Nationalities
  • This Program is also open to Solo, Couples, Group

Education Levels & Language

  • Language
  • English
  • Portuguese
  • Education
  • Some college credit, no degree

Accommodation Options

  • Dormitory
  • Group living

Application Procedures

  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Resume
  • Written Application

Age Requirement

18+

Duration

  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 3-6 Months
  • 1-2 Years
  • 9-12 Weeks
  • 7-12 Months
  • 1-3 Months
  • 1 Year

Refund Policy

Non-refundable

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about IPBio- Biodiversity Research Institute

4.2
6 reviews

Rating breakdown

5
1
4
5
3
0
2
0
1
0

Top categories

Program Administration
4.8
Day to Day Life
4.7
Community Engagement
4.3
Health & Safety
4.3
Volunteer Placement
4.2
Living Situation
4.2

Participated in this program? Share your experience now.

Review this Program

Showing 1-6 of 6 reviews

César ParedesChile · February 2018

Getting to be a part of something huge

The tree inventory is really interesting, you will get to be part of a giant project, hundreds of trees being numbered and identified to get a complete image of what the reserve has and how does the life forms inside of the reserve interact. Every day of tree inventorying is a mini adventure, hiking, knowing new plants, insects and birds, getting sweaty and overwhelmed at the immensity of the green ocean you will find. It can (and it will) be tiring, the mosquitoes, the humid warm weather and general hard working will get you at one point, but its definitively worth it, getting to know the flora and looking at this new world, and just being where you are, is an experience that I will recommend every time.

Yachi WuChina · December 2017

Tree inventory volunteer

I really enjoyed my time working as a volunteer at Reserva Betary. All the people working here are super nice and willing to talk and help. My major project is tree inventory as well as some creative art projects. I also involve in other projects when help needed. Tree inventory is a very hard work for me. Hiking under the hot sun or in raining days are not easy, especially on the abrupt slope. The worst is attacking by mosquitoes every day. However, when you stay so close with nature and see amazing creatures and interesting things happening around you, you know all the hard work paid off. All in all, it is great experience to live in the forest and work with enjoyable people. I would highly recommend Reserva Betary to those who love and care about nature. It will add some value if the tree inventory project could be more educational to let people know more about botany.

Claudio GuevaraChile · November 2017

Volunteering in the Atlantic forest

I was volunteering at IPBio just for three weeks but I would’ve like to stay much more! There were a lot of activities to do within the reserve, and in the free time with the other volunteers and the local community. The time flies in that little paradise! I was working in the tree inventory project because I consider it’s important to know the health status of the forest and how to improve it. It is also important because it lets you know the products and services that the forest provides, and the IPBio team makes a good link of cooperation with the Celine release center for wildlife, because they know when the trees have ripped fruits and that is the best time to release birds or other animals who eat those fruits. What an amazing way to keep the forest in a natural balance! The organization and facilities in the reserve are always awesome! They are very passionate with their job and care about the volunteers that go there. I really recommend this experience

Marta QuintanaOctober 2017

Great times

Although I could just volunteer for a short period of time, it was a great experience and I learned a lot. I wish to return on the future. The reserve is a great place to be and the forest is full of gorgeous caves and waterfalls to visit. It is really a place to reconnect with yourself and nature.

jamalFrance · October 2017

Awesome

I’m French and I passed two months at IPBIO, I really enjoy it, the staff are friendly and helpful. The landscape is amazing. I recommend it for everyone. Iporanga is a little but nice city. You have a lot of exciting activity for your free time. I learned about new culture, new language, new food, … Thank you IPBIO !!

AliFrance · September 2017

My experience

For me, ipbio was an awesome opportunity to discover brazil and live a new expreience, and i was not disappointed. IPbio team take care of you to simplify the integration in a new community.After this, volunteers have lot of choice , for me , that’s was : - Tree inventory : it’s the mapping of tree in the reserva betary - Reverse maintenance : i help for the construction of the release center Celine The Celine’s construction was really cool , see the evolution of the center after each task is rewarding. The reserve is located next to lot of activities like boia cross, running, cave or waterfall , we can not be bored during free time. Finally, IPBIO is my best experience and i will be a pleasure to return.

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Recognitions & Awards

Awards and accreditations earned by this provider

Wildlife Acoustics
Discovery Channel Logo
UNICAMP Logo
UNESP Logo
Universidade de Sãu Paulo
Antioch University Seattle
UNESCO
Scientific Reports - Nature

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