Amazon Biological Reserve

Habitat and Location

The Amazon Biological Station was founded in 1986, creating a conservation, investigation and education centre to host scientists and students interested in preserving tropical rainforest. It is located on the southern bank of the Upper Napo River at 450 metres above sea level. The average temperature is 25ºC and it has an average of 200 rainy days per year. The station includes a reserve of 2,000 hectares, of which 80 percent is primary tropical wet forest and the remainder is secondary growth. This band of wet forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Studies have demonstrated that there are 250 different species of trees in one hectare, and close to 1,500 species of plants in the same area. Numerous bands of saddleback tamarins are often seen. More than fifty species of mammals inhabit the reserve, including large cats like pumas and jaguars, demonstrating how well the area has been preserved.

The station has two very important projects to help the local communities surrounding it: a centre for experimental silviculture, botanical garden and agroforestry extension programs, and a demonstration and educational farm for the community, seeking to produce alternative food sources as well as income.

Accommodation

The accommodation at the reserve is basic but comfortable. You will be placed in two or four person wooden cabins with shelving for storage and mosquito netting. Couples can request to have their own cabin. There is a communal bathroom area down the path from the cabins, which does have running water. The water isn't heated, but with the heat of working in the jungle all day this should not be a problem. There is electricity, but it does have a tendency to sporadically cut out for short periods.

Volunteer Activities

• The Centre for Conservation of the Amazonian Plants: reforestation, experimental silviculture of tropical trees, development and maintenance of the reserve's botanical garden and plant conservation centre, and seed collecting.
• Crafts Project: with Quichua communities of the area, as an alternative source of income.
• Teaching English: with primary school aged children, most of whom go to school without shoes and without backpacks. The staff at the reserve are also interested in learning English. This project is for long term volunteers.
• Various activities: associated with the development of a reserve project, including maintenance and infrastructure development.

A previous volunteer writes: "The work schedule consists of 4 hours in the morning and 2 or 3 in the afternoons depending on what you're doing. During the week the volunteers are split between the organic garden, the botanical research garden (tree planting, machete work, park up-keep, etc) and helping out with the various researchers that are there at the time. Once or twice a week there is also the option to teach English at a local school and help with some environmental projects in the community. Saturdays are "bosques" where the whole group hikes through the forest for the day and is taught about the area and Sundays are artisanal days where in the morning volunteers are shown how to make bracelets, necklaces, etc (although this day is more optional than the rest). In total you can take 8 days off a month at your own discretion."

Free Time

While you're at the reserve, during the weekends you can take day trips to Tena for white-water rafting or to Misahualli, a town part way between the reserve and Tena, which has wild monkeys running through the main square and some beautiful waterfalls. As for longer trips, Banos is a popular destination as well as Riobamba, but these require a decent amount of time off to see them without being rushed.

Number of Volunteers

The reserve can hold up to around 30 volunteers, but the number of volunteers varies depending on the season.

Spanish Requirements

It is not necessary to speak Spanish as there will generally be other volunteers to translate for you, but as the staff members do not speak English you will end up learning a lot more if you speak the language.

To apply for this program, click here.

To return to the reserves page, click here.