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Biological
Research Centre
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The
Biological Station offers numerous different projects
overseen by their expert team, both long-term investigations
and shorter term studies with the aim to thoroughly
document the flora and fauna of the reserve and its
biology.
Volunteers
will be expected to either assist with a current scheduled
project or choose a smaller scale private project from
the project file which they will complete themselves
under guidance.
This
National Park is a park in crisis. Though the ecological
importance of the reserve at a national and international
level is undeniable, a lack of governmental funds means
that the lands within the reserve remain in private
hands 15 years after the national park was first declared.
With
the government unable to assure the continued conservation
of the reserve and pressure on the natural habitats
increasing, the NGO Pro Cordillera San Rafael (PROCOSARA)
has assumed responsibility for its protection, employing
a team of park guards and working with local communities
on educational and environmental projects to ensure
the continued existence of the reserve.
The
objective of the Research Centre is to provide a solid
scientific basis to support conservationist's claims
about the ecological importance and value of the reserve.
The Biological Station offers numerous different projects
overseen by our expert team, both long-term investigations
and shorter term studies with the aim to thoroughly
document the flora and fauna of the reserve and its
biology.
Volunteers
will be expected to either assist with a current scheduled
project or choose a smaller scale private project from
the project file which they will complete themselves
under guidance.
The
option for volunteers to develop their own guided research
project is also available. Inventory projects of all
classes of animals run all year and involve making daily
lists, photography, sound recordings, capture, identification
and description of live specimens etc.
Experimental and behavioural projects using both captive
and wild animals are also performed, including an ongoing
work to thoroughly document the nesting behaviour of
the birds of the reserve.
A
captive butterfly and amphibian breeding project enables
us to study the life cycle of these beautiful creatures
and boost populations by releasing the offspring back
into the wild! We encourage volunteers to publish their
work in the online Journal Bellbird and guidance in
scientific writing will be provided for volunteers interested
in doing so.
The
role of volunteers will be to help gather data by performing
ongoing species inventories and behavioural studies
of the flora and fauna of the park, assist with captive
breeding programmes of native species and (for those
that are up for it!) to play a part in the publication
of articles and books which aim to bring the plight
of San Rafael to the attention of the world.
Apply
Website:
www.gapandcareerbreaks.com
E-mail: info@gapandcareerbreaks.com
