ECO-VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN MANU NATIONAL PARK (PERUVIAN AMAZON RAINFOREST)

Description: Asprideq is a non profit organisation with the main objective being the conservation of the environment, trying to develop a sustainable system to manage the pristine forest, and promoting consciousness in relation to the adequate use of technology and the indirect exploitation of natural resources from the fragile rain forest and mountains chains at Piñi Piñi river in Manu National Park.

Species: This forest is characterized by a great topographical variation and houses a great variety of fauna and flora. It is an area of high mountain ridges and vertical structures (high jungle) with a great ecological fragility. This ecological fragility is at risk due to the disappearance of the necessary flora which helps in the prevention of soil erosion. There is also the risk of extinction of many species of fauna through human intervention upsetting their habitat and the ecological equilibrium.

Habitat: Tropical rainforest, high jungle.
Geographical location: It is the Buffer Zone of Manu National Park. District Manu and provincial of Manu, the Amaru Mayu Ecological Reserve is located between the eastern side of the Andean ranges and the Amazonian Plains between Cusco and Madre de Dios departments (Inka Region).

Travel information: Volunteers arrive to Cusco and on the agreed day the volunteers go to our Reserve, getting there from Cusco 9 hours by bus to Pilcopata town, and then the monitor gather you for 30 minutes more by truck to the river port of Atalaya and 10 minutes by boat to get our Base Camp of the project Amaru Mayu.

Duration: Volunteers can stay, from 2 weeks up (one or two months).
Period: All year round.

Age: No age restrictions. Minors with parents authorization.
Qualifications and skills: No specific skills required for generic volunteers.

Volunteers work: Depending on their abilities/skills, volunteers may choose works such as opening paths, trails maintenance, organic plantation and cultivation, monitoring and reintroduction of endemic animals, monitoring and inventory of flora (photograph registration), environmental education for native and local children (teaching basic English, waste management, art, music, sports, and others), inventory of plants with medicinal qualities, reforestation, and others.

Language: Spanish and good or basic English can be highly desirable.

Accommodation: Camp on platform.

Cost: Your economical assistance will contribute towards our personal land and river transportation from Cusco to the Reserve (hosting structures, camping equipment and mattress, paths and corridors in the forest, toilets, fresh shower, kitchen stuff, personal food (supplies) costs as well as the necessary equipment to be used during your agreed stay. Current costs to cover by volunteers depend on the invested time: 15 days US$ 380, 1 month US$ 480 and two months US$ 950.

Long term: There is no limit of time and for long-term stays in agreement with the personal mission can be designed specifically .

Application: Please send us an application via e-mail indicating your skills and mission, and always confirm the date of your arrival at least one week.
Website: www.manuparkvolunteer.com
Address in Cusco (office): Hathun Rumiyoc, 487 Int. Nº 4
Tfno: (051-84) 9679112 o 9615091
E-mail: dantek3@hotmail.com