volkarumbe@adinet.com.uy – www.karumbe.8k.com
Duration: January 1st – March 31th 2006
Period: minimum two weeks – maximum one month
Locations: Cerro Verde - Valizas/Cabo Polonio, Rocha - Uruguay.
General Information: Karumbé project has been monitoring these two foraging and developmental areas of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) for 5 years. In these sites the volunteers will carry out research and conservation activities, getting quite in touch with the fishermen community where the field stations are settled. Volunteers will be working shoulder to shoulder with the 2 researchers who will be coordinating the fieldwork, getting involved in all tasks included in the project work.
It is not necessary to speak Spanish, however we encourage candidates to know at least the basics.
Added to the sea turtle project, the volunteers will be able to participate in other projects conducted in the area such as dolphins and sea lions projects.
Site Information: Cerro Verde is a landscape of protected areas or units (Bañados del Este and Coastal Fringe - Biosphere Reserves). In this particular case the green turtle can be considered effective 'umbrellas' for broader biodiversity. Cerro Verde comprises a high diversity of flora and plant communities including relict vegetation, marine mammals (as fransiscana dolphins, bottlenose dolphins; sea lions and marine birds). Thus it must be considered a priority area for protection and included in future management plans for the conservation of these marine ecosystems.
Valizas/Cabo Polonio is a RAMSAR protected area, where we can find a huge extension of sand dunes, one of the most important of South America. This coastal area is composed by an insular system which hosts the largest sea lions population of Latin America.
Duties: The volunteers will conduct the following activities:
1. Sighting and capturing, with nets, juveniles of green turtle, in areas next to the shore.
2. Census (10-
3. Help researchers with necropsies of any dead individual
4. Collect data of the artisanal fishery carried out in this locality, from onboard or at port
5.Get involved in talks and workshops for the community and tourists.
6. Rehabilitation of sick and weak sea turtles.
7. Help in the field station duties such us cleaning and cooking
Requirements: Candidates should have (a)
1.Willingness to work with nature in a remote place, surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
2. Good physical conditions: know how to swim and be able to walk long distances on loose sand.
3. Willingness to get to know a different culture, getting involved into conservation activities with this fishing community.
4. It is not necessary previous experience in handling sea turtles, training will be given as soon as arrived in the field station.
Costs/Benefits: To reserve your place an anticipation of U$S 100 (€ 80), for every 15 days it is requested. Also U$S 7/day (€ 5), which includes accommodation and 3 meals a day. Volunteers must pay their own travel expenses to Montevideo-Uruguay and the trip to the field station.
Additional Contact Information: For more information contact
Mariana Rios, Field Coordinator - Matias Feijoo co-coordinator Valizas – Isabel Lopez co-coordinator Cerro Verde.
If interested ask for the volunteer’s instructive at volkarumbe@adinet.com.uy
Karumbé Project, D. Murillo 6334, Ph/fax (598-2) 4010101 –
Cel - 099917811 - Montevideo 11500, Uruguay.
