Description

ASVO (Association of Volunteers for Service in Protected Areas)is a Costa Rican organization that is dedicated to maintaining and preserving national parks, communities and beaches throughout Costa Rica. The organization was started in, was founded on January 27, 1989 in the response to the growing realization that although Costa Rica is renowned for their natural resources and biodiversity, there was very little awareness around environmental protection by many people who lived in Costa Rica. Originally focusing on the preservation of national parks, the program eventually expanded to include sea turtle conservation, community education and habitat identification.

ASVO is a non-profit and non-governmental organization whose mission is to promote the importance of preserving the environment by operating a number of grass-root conservation projects and conducting a variety of educational workshops throughout the country. Over the years environmental issues such as deforestation, species extinction, forest fires, and climate change have been addressed by the members of ASVO as they have worked to expand their programs through the country.

ASVO places volunteers in national parks and other areas protected by the Ministry of Environment and Energy all over the country. The organization currently has stations in twenty-eight different locations all over Costa Rica, from Corcovado in the south to Guanacaste in the north. These projects are divided into four categories: Wildlife Refuges, Education and Communities, Sea Turtle Projects and National Parks.

Palo Verde needs volunteers to assist with maintaining the facilities and to help control of the wildlife.

Conservation and the building and maintenance of national parks is extremely important to maintaining the ecological integrity of Costa Rica. Home to one of the highest concetrations of diverse species of plants and animals in the world, work to facilitate care, understanding and protection of the land and the life which needs healthy earth to sustain itself is extremely important. Costa Rica is working to enhance awareness and environmental action both nationally and internationally – volunteers will be actively engaged in this process by volunteering in Palo Verde National Park.

Volunteers at this placement will be asked to help maintain and reconstruct the trails in the Park, including fixing steps and hand rails and clearing brush. Volunteers may also be asked to assist with general infrastructure maintenance during their placement. Controlled walks will also be a regular duty at this placement, where volunteers will be able to documenting wildlife information and animal sighting.

Tourism is a major component of the Park and volunteers may be able to assist with visiting groups of tourists or school children to explain environmental concepts and conducting tours.

Volunteers will be expected to work at this placement six days a week, with one chosen day off.

Volunteers will work shifts that range from six to eight hours each day.

No prior experience is necessary, however volunteers must have the ability to adapt to a tropical environment, be in excellent health, and willing to help in the conservation area.

The most important requirements for this volunteer program are hard work and dedication, ecologically sensitive, a willingness to learn about new cultures and the most important one, enthusiasm!

In most of the projects there will be a volunteer coordinator in charge to assign the jobs for each volunteer, however you are welcome to help anytime you consider it is needed. This organization appreciates creativity and initiative.

People who have trouble adapting to rustic conditions might not be suited for this placement.

URL: http://www.basecampvolunteerabroad.com/sites/bc-volunteer-abroad/place_details.cfm?pl_id=977
Tags: conservation, Costa Rica, volunteer, volunteering
Stats:

Images

There are no images

Sponsored Links