Volunteer in Environmental Conservation in Costa Rica

The Tropical Forest Regeneration project was founded in August 2006 and is registered as a non-profit organization in both Costa Rica and the USA. The project managers (original founders) have live and worked at the reserve for 24 years. The project became a private reserve in 1998. After watching how quickly the regenerating forest filled in on these 40 hectares (100 acres), since 1998, the project has envisioned expanding the forests via "tree bridges" to create more habitats for wildlife and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

This project needs volunteers that are interested in learning about the amazing interrelationships within tropical forests and working with indigenous forests.

Your role as a volunteer

The project has various jobs that need doing.

• Fundraising presentation and activities
• Collection of indigenous seeds and seedlings from the Mother trees within our primary forests
• Planting seeds and seedlings in our nursery
• Planting seedlings from the nursery on denuded lands and old pastures
• Cleaning (with machete) around the seedlings until they become clear of the grasses
• Learning about the different tree species and their necessities in the nursery
• Watering the nursery during the dry season (February-May)
• Helping with inspections of lands leased by us for forest regeneration
• Maybe some basic chores, i.e., maintaining the gardens, running errands, cleaning trails, etc.
• Leading educational tours when you know some of the highlights of the forest tour

Program Schedule

You may work as many hours as you desire. The work will be available from 7 am until 5 pm every day. Sometimes we give night tours that last about 3 hours, from 7pm-10pm. The work will almost exclusively be outdoors and will require some physical strength.

Location

The regeneration project is located in the northern zone of Costa Rica, 5 kilometers northwest of the town of Tilaran, above the shores of Lake Arenal, in the Guanacaste province. For recreation there is great fishing for Big Mouth Bass (Guapote) in the Arenal Lake, and many other tourist attractions, including the project it self. Within our forests we have identified over 150 species of birds, plus a wide array of all tropical life.

Project Requirements

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. No experience is necessary other than a deep desire to learn about tropical ecology and at the same time help regenerate indigenous forest here and around the world.

Resources to Bring

Most resources can be bought here, cheap rubber, sun block, insect repellent, rain clothes. Books to read (Tropical Nature by Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata, and the Green Phoenix by William Allen), and a big smile.

Accommodations and Transportation

One foundation member has 2 bedrooms in his beautiful home overlooking the Lake Arenal, which made is available for volunteers to use. Transportation to and from the project site is provided but food is not. Any other transportation is easy to find via taxis, buses or rent a car

Special dates

June : 1st for tree planting and maintenance, collection of seed and seedlings.
February 15 : 2008 for watering seedling in the nursery and planting. Anytime for learning, inspecting leased lands, tree maintenance, tours and nursery work.

Activities and Entertainment

There are kilometers of trails within the forests of project to be explored. You will never tire of walking them, at all times of the year, because there is always something new to see, i.e. trees, plants, orchids, epiphytes, many monkey families, coatis, sloths, 150 + species of birds, leaf cutter ants, butterflies, you name it and it is here. Also, around the lake, there are always dances, concerts and many tourist attractions to be experienced.