A Journey to South America...: June 2014

Project - Jatun Sacha, San Cristobal: Forest of the Galapagos Islands

"The JatunSacha Foundation is a self-sustaining institution with great impact in the line of private conservation initiatives through 5 different models of private reserves with community projects in rural and urban areas.

The lines of action are mainly: the conservation of biological and cultural diversity through different models of private conservation, environmental education and promotion of research and productive projects that help improve the quality of life of people living in areas of influence of its activities.

Mission: promote the conservation of the Ecuador’s biodiversity, through technical training, scientific research, environmental education programs at national and international level, community development, sustainable management of natural resources and the training of leaders with greater ethnic and gender participation to improve the quality of life of the communities."

San Cristobal's project:

Volunteers contribute to the following goals:

Develop the technology to reconstruct the natural habitats and to serve as a center for similar projects.
Eradicate invasive species of plants for planting native vegetation.
Developing clean alternative agricultural production of vegetables and fruits.

How can you help us?

Restoration of habitats and reforestation of a biological corridor connecting to 3 types of vegetation with native and endemic species.
Eradication of exotic species, since the percentage of these species is greater than 80%.
Production and agro-forestry program that attempts to minimize costs at the station and promote consumption of local agriculture.
Environmental education program as a support of schools, colleges and the national army.
Community Program: In conjunction with the National Park, Araucaria and the peasant commune, establishes a pilot project with 7 farmers to assist with the reforestation of native species endemic and organic coffee crops to boost agricultural area.
Walking through the top of the island, Galapagos, Chinese port and the lower part of the island to learn about the different ecological zones.

http://www.jatunsacha.org/

The Galapagos Islands are so far away and sooo expensive to get to that I decided to stay there for 2 full weeks - and still I learnt I should have actually stayed longer, as there's so much to see. The animal life there is just incredible!! I recommend any animal lover to go there at least once in their lives to be able to swim with sea lions and green turtles.

I'd find myself spending HOURS just watching the sea lions interact, play, cuddle, sleep and snore!

Regarding the Jatun Sacha project itself, my personal experience wasn't that great unfortunately. It's supposed to be a conservation volunteering project, but to me it felt more like a summer camp. Food wise it was great, we had an amazing cook called Rosa, and the infrastructures were also in pretty good conditions given the type of project.

We would work in the middle of the forest from Monday to Friday, and head off to town on the weekends.

Most of the volunteers take at least a week off to go island-hopping, and it is the best thing to do if you do have the time and budget....which wasn't my case. :)

I took tons of pictures, but I'll only share a few! Enjoy! :)