The conservation organization Tropical Nature is pleased to announce its field study program operating in Brazil this summer.
This program, which runs from July 7-29, has been specially designed for undergraduate students interested in conservation and ecological field work. It will lead participants on a 22-day exploration of Brazilian ecology and community-based conservation strategies, but will use guided travel throughout the country to enhance understanding of economic and racial dilemmas. The program is comprised of field exercises and travel excursions, with supplementary lectures, readings, and discussion to provide deeper analysis. Topics for this program include tropical ecology, sustainable development, methods of behavioral ecology, and the potential and limitations of ecotourism as a mechanism of resource protection. This is a decidedly inter-disciplinary program that examines all subjects within the context of Brazils complex political, economic, and environmental history. Course participants will gain knowledge and skills related to: Designing and implementing behavioral research on Brazilian wildlife in the Pantanal Evaluating tourism impacts and developing means of limiting environmental degradation Analyzing conservation conflicts from a variety of economic, cultural, and political perspectives Conversing in the Portuguese language General Itinerary: July 7-10: Rio de Janeiro-cycling along the citys infamous beaches, ocean kayaking in Guanabara Bay, and a hiking excursion through the Atlantic forest to Sugar Loaf Mountain. Lectures will focus on modern race relations within Brazil, colonial history and lasting legacies, and social structure and poverty within Rios hillside shantytowns (known as favelas). July 11-14: Iguassu Falls-2 days rappelling and whitewater rafting on the Brazilian side of the city, one day hiking throughout the national park on Argentinean side of the city. Lectures for Iguassu will focus on water extraction policies in Latin America, notions of environmental justice, and the complexities of marketing an attraction (like Iguassu) that falls between multiple nations. July 15-29: Brazilian Pantanal-13-day field course in ecological research, using a Tropical Nature lodge to conduct independent and cooperative behavioral research projects. Lectures will focus on wetland and tropical ecology, past and present ecotourism efforts, industrial history of Brazil, and cattle grazing in the Pantanal. Field exercises will focus on methods of identifying and observing local wildlife populations, including behavioral sampling, biodiveristy surveys, energy budgets, and mark-recapture methods. Students will help evaluate tourism impacts within the Pantanal and their research will be used to assist Tropical Nature in developing an ecotourism enterprise that limits environmental degradation and includes local communities in business operations. Time will also be spent volunteering within the community. The website is under construction, but applications will be available online at www.pantanalstudies.org starting February 25th. Application Deadline: March 15, 2007 Application materials: Application, resume, and Letter of Interest Notification of Selection: March 30, 2007 For further information, please email Kika Tarsi at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
