Fauna Forever (FF) is a Peruvian not-for-profit organisation that manages a series of research, training and conservation projects in the Tambopata area of the Madre de Dios region in the south-east of Peru, with a current emphasis on the Tambopata National Reserve (TNR), Bahuaja Sonene National Park (BSNP), and associated buffer zones. Much of Tambopata, which is accessed via the airport at Puerto Maldonado, is dominated by species-rich rainforest, is recognized by Conservation International as a biodiversity hotspot and wilderness area, by BirdLife International as an important bird area, and is already the foremost nature-based tourism destination in the Amazon.
Fauna Forever was born out of a project set-up in 1997, is led by Chris Kirkby, and is partnered with the not-for-profit organisation TREES-PERU, now officially called Asociación para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Madre de Dios and the Tambopata Reserve Society (TReeS), a British conservation charity based in London. We are principally studying the long-term impacts and benefits of human activities on wildlife populations and ecosystem services in the Amazon rainforests of Tambopata in south-eastern. We work closely with the managers of Tambopatas protected areas (Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja Sonene National Park), other local non government organisations, ecotourist lodges, research stations, local communities, Brazil-nut extractors and other forest users with the aim of understanding (i) how the rainforest ecosystem and wildlife populations in particular are changing over time; (ii) what natural- and human-mediated drivers may be responsible for this change as compared to potential climate-mediated drivers; (iii) the long-term repercussions of this change on the flow and value of ecosystem services (recreation, food provision, nutrient cycling, etc.), including the economic value of biodiversity; and (iv) how best to work alongside government and non-government organizations, private companies, and local communities in order to influence decisions that would result in minimizing human impacts in order to maintain the ecological integrity of Tambopatas prized rainforest. Long-term cooperative agreements have been signed with TREES-PERU and the Asociación para la Investigacion y el Desarrollo Integral (AIDER), the latter of which is a not-for-profit organization that has been contracted by the Peruvian National Parks Service (SERNANP) to plan and oversee research and monitoring efforts in the TNR and BSNP, and which is also developing numerous forest-based carbon credit projects around Peru. The projects that Fauna Forever currently manages, include: Fauna Forever Tambopata (FFT), FotoForever (FoF), Bird Ringing Forever (BRF), and Forest Corridors Forever (FCF). Volunteers and Interns There are several openings at fixed times throughout the year for volunteer field assistants and interns who wish to join one of our teams. Applicants should have a keen interest in: wildlife, tropical environments, conservation issues in general, and should be able to tolerate the hot, humid, and muddy conditions that are the norm in the Amazon rainforest. Previous overseas travel and field experience would be an asset, as would at least a basic knowledge of Spanish (or a willingness to learn whilst on the project). A high degree of motivation would also fit in well. The mean age of assistants and interns to date is 24, ranging from 17 to 60. Volunteers and interns can choose from a list of mini-projects or assist one or more of the current field research teams that specialize in the study of birds, mammals, plants, insects and herpetofauna (amphibians, reptiles). Example activities include helping to undertake transect surveys, point counts, mist-netting and bird banding/ringing, intensive quadrat searches, setting remote camera traps and baited insect traps for butterflies and dung-beetles, and much more. Assistance with ecotourist questionnaires and visits to local communities may also be required. Full training in all sampling techniques is provided. In addition, we offer the opportunity for undergraduate- and masters-level students to undertake their thesis field work in parallel, on topics related to our core aims. Since 1997, more than 30 students have benefitted from FFT in this way. For those volunteers who really want to get into tropical wildlife research and conservation, we also offer a number of mini- projects that can be undertaken by one or two people, with full supervision provided by our field research coordinators. Those people interested in the socio-economic surveys will require a working knowledge of Spanish. Research Associates Research Associate positions are offered to candidates who have access to their own funds and wish to coordinate their own projects or fieldwork. Candidates should have experience in designing and reporting experiments, although prior experience in tropical fieldwork is not necessary. Researchers may also be asked to take responsibility for volunteers who are interested in assisting them with data collection. Housing and Communication All project participants are housed in good quality accommodation at eco- lodges and research stations located close to the field sites. Occasionally we do use field camps where tents are required, we will advise on necessary equipment on successful application. When in Puerto Maldonado the team is based out of the Fauna Forever office (equipped with sleeping quarters) and also uses local guest houses on occasions. A few lodges offer limited internet access, allowing for contact with friends and family when in the field. Schedule and costs The project manages a series of fixed phases (see below) during which we rotate field personnel, assistants and interns in and out. These phases are typically 20 days in length. Shorter stays on the project are possible, but rare. Longer stays are easier to organise. For those people looking to undertake their own research project, for a thesis, in a theme related to our projects, please contact us for more information. Volunteer placements Phase dates for the FFT project and associated contribution fee (all inclusive from arrival in the town of Puerto Maldonado, the FFT base Airport pick-up in Puerto Maldonado, accommodation in shared rooms, food, local transport, equipment, training and supervision) are as follows: Phase code Phase Date Length Cost 12T3 (Easter) 04 Apr 14 Apr 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T4 24 Apr 14 May 2012 21D, 20N $1,300 12T4+T5 (combo) 24 Apr 03 Jun 2012 41D, 40N $2,300 12TX1 (exped) 24 Apr 09 May 2012 16D, 15N $1,500 12T5 14 May 03 Jun 2012 21D, 20N $1,300 12T6 08 Jun 28 Jun 2012 21D, 20N $1,400 12T6+T7 (combo) 08 Jun 18 Jul 2012 41D, 40N $2,300 12T6.1 08 Jun 18 Jun 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T6.2 18 Jun 28 Jun 2012 11D, 10N $850 12TSUM (Summer) 28 Jun 22 Aug 2012 56D, 55N $3,000 12T7 28 Jun 18 Jul 2012 21D, 20N $1,400 12T7+T8 (combo) 28 Jun 12 Aug 2012 46D, 45N $2,400 12T7.1 28 Jun 08 Jul 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T7.2 08 Jul 18 Jul 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T8 23 Jul 12 Aug 2012 21D, 20N $1,400 12T8+T9 (combo) 23 Jul 01 Sep 2012 41D, 40N $2,300 12T8.1 23 Jul 02 Aug 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T8.2 02 Aug 12 Aug 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T9 12 Aug 01 Sep 2012 21D, 20N $1,400 12T9+T10 (combo)12 Aug 26 Sep 2012 46D, 45N $2,400 12T9.1 12 Aug 22 Aug 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T9.2 22 Aug 01 Sep 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T10 06 Sep 26 Sep 2012 21D, 20N $1,400 12T10.1 06 Sep 16 Sep 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T10.2 16 Sep 26 Sep 2012 11D, 10N $850 12TX2 (exped) 01 Oct 16 Oct 2012 16D, 15N $1,500 12M1 (Manu) 23 Oct 22 Nov 2012 31D, 30N $2,700 12M1.1 23 Oct 02 Nov 2012 11D, 10N $1,000 12M1.2 02 Nov - 12 Nov 2012 11D, 10N $1,000 12M1.3 12 Nov - 22 Nov 2012 11D, 10N $1,000 12T11 11 Dec - 31 Dec 2012 21D, 20N $1,600 12T11.1 11 Dec - 21 Dec 2012 11D, 10N $850 12T11.2 21 Dec - 31 Dec 2012 11D, 10N $1,000 Internship placements Interns can work with us at any time for a minimum of 1 month. Fees include: Airport pick-up in Puerto Maldonado, accommodation in shared rooms, food, local transport (bus, taxis, boat), equipment, training and supervision: Intern period US$ per day 1 month 50 2 months 40 3 months 35 4 months 30 5 months 29 6+ months 28 Research Associate placements Research Associates can join us at any time, with a minimum stay of 3 months. The all-inclusive contribution fee is $30 per day (accommodation, food, logistics, airport transfer). Fees for any candidates do not include: Travel/health insurance, airfares. Note: Internal flights between Lima and Puerto Maldonado (see http://lan.com or http://starperu.com) cost approx. US$150-350 (rtn) depending on season and how far in advance reservations are made. Bus connections are also possible at US$100-150, travel time is 24 hrs from Lima via Cusco. Application Procedure Please download the application form on the project website (http://www.faunaforever.org/fft/volunteer.html#apply), fill it out and then email it along with a copy of your resume/CV to: Chris Kirkby ([email protected], with cc to [email protected]).
