Tsuraku Biological Reserve

Habitat and Location

Tsuraku is located on a spectacular 4,500 hectare site in the Pastaza Province in Amazonian Ecuador. The reserve is co-managed by the Shuar, the local ethnic community. Volunteers will stay in a lodge located in the community of Tsuraku, which has a population of about 300 people. The Tsuraku Community Reserve is a communally-owned reserve, and its objectives are to provide development initiatives to the communities of the reserve, and help them conserve their environment. Project activities are influenced by the Shuar communities' needs and wants, and wherever possible their participation is sought.

The reserve is focused on promoting sustainable environmental practices, especially among the Shuar people. One important focus of the reserve is Mahogany, which grows in abundance at this site. Mahogany is commercially extinct and becoming scarce throughout its biological range in Ecuador. To get to the reserve you need to take a bus to Puyo (a 6 hour trip), then a further 1.5 hour bus trip to Macas.

Accommodation

The lodge has electricity, although there are occasionally periods without power. There is one source of running water that comes through a hose directly from the mountains and is shared by the volunteers and four local families. This water can be channelled to the flushing toilet and shower. However, this does, obviously, mean that the shower is cold. Both the shower and toilet are outdoors.

Volunteer Activities

A previous volunteer writes: "We worked on a number of projects, and programs are beginning and ending constantly. While I was there, we worked in the nursery with new plants and trees, planted mahogany trees within the community, worked to construct a trail behind the school, taught English classes, and helped the doctors in the clinic. The hours that we worked were not strict, but we generally worked from 8:30 to 12:30 and again from about 2:30 to 5." Another volunhteer writes: "You will also work maintaining a medicine garden full of plants that are used traditionally be Shuar Sharman's for healing. Volunteers who speak English often take English classes twice a week in the local primary school."

• Environmental Education in Local Schools: and Nursery Work with Shuar High School Students, volunteers participate in teaching local high school and grade school students about the environment. This program requires a good working knowledge of Spanish.
• Medicinal Plant Garden Development: a medicinal plant garden is used as an example of the different medicinal and other plant uses of the Shuar people. Volunteers will be involved in seed collection and planting, maintenance, posting signage and designing the garden.
• Teaching English in Local Schools: assist the high school English teacher with his instruction.
• Trail Development Inside the Reserve: constructing a nature trail in the community of Tsuraku.
• Visits to Other Shuar Communities: communities residing away from the main road live a much more traditional life, many still adhering to the culture and traditions of the past. Volunteers will be able to visit some of these communities and learn about the Shuar culture.
• Other projects: agroforestry, vegetable garden, fish production, lodge construction, forest walks, and lodge maintenance.

Free Time

In the weekend volunteers can explore nearby tourist areas, such as Banos, where white water rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and many other activities are available. There are internet facilities in Puyo (1 hour 30 minutes away from the reserve), and there is not mobile phone coverage in the reserve. The provincial capital, Puyo, located about 2 hours north of Tsuraku, has internet facilities and phone service and many necessities can be purchased there. There is a small shop at Tsuraku that sells a very basic collection of snack food, drinks and some random odds and ends.

Number of Volunteers

The current reserve lodge holds a maximum of 12 people.

Spanish Requirements

For the Tsuraku reserve, volunteers need basic Spanish skills, since they will be working with community members.

To apply for this program, click here.

To return to the reserves page, click here.