HELP WITH
YOUR OWN TWO HANDS
JOIN THE PROJECT
FDLA is establishing a Wildlife Conservation Centre that will primarily focus on research and conservation, wild animal rescue, rehabilitation and release programmes. The Centre will also engage the community in conservation and establish educational programmes in order to increase the interest in protecting land around. Our main objective is to keep the rainforest alive and healthy, by protecting pristine land and therefore the natural resources and wildlife of these areas.
The Centre is within the Llanganates-Sangay Ecological Corridor (CELLS), an area granted special recognition as a "Gift to the Earth" by the World Wildlife Fund for its mega-diversity and importance to world ecology.
We are specifically located 15 kms from town of Mera, within a breath-taking area bordering the Llanganates National Park, where rivers and streams bless the area with the perfect habitat for a mega-diversity of plant and animal species, some yet still unknown.
Currently we are receiving volunteers who would like to come and help us during this exciting construction phase. Activities include documentation and photography of species of animals and plants that are spotted in the area (new species are being listed weekly!) research work, maintenance work, construction work (next to go is the volunteer house!), planting of native plants and trees, path works, rescue and release of wild animals, mobilisation of wild animals… Every day is an adventure!
At the moment volunteers have space to sleep and cook in the clinic-quarantine, which has been turned into a temporary accommodation facility. There is always at least one team member on site and the others are located in Puyo and Mera.
HOW TO GET HERE
Buses are the most common form of transportation in Ecuador, and therefore rather efficient.
From Quito’s Southern Bus Station (Terminal Terrestre Quitumbre) you will need to get a bus (direction Puyo) to Mera which takes about 4 and a half hours and costs about $5 - a direct daytime bus is recommended. From Mera you will need to take a local pick-up taxi (camioneta) 15 kms into the jungle to get to our reserve (about $15).
If you plan to stay the night before heading into the jungle stop either in Baños (most certainly a beautiful stop if you would like to divide your journey) or continue on the bus to Puyo, the nearest big town - an authentic multicultural experience on its own.
WHAT TO BRING
We recommend you pack as light as possible and definitely travel here with a rucksack, you will surely have to walk through the jungle!
Required items: various changes of work clothes, rain gear, a head torch, work gloves, gum boots (easy to buy in Puyo or Mera) and a mosquito net (we recommend you buy this in Puyo).
The week’s food shopping is usually done once a week, bringing general stocks and food back from Puyo-Mera. Some volunteers bring back special treats and essential items. If you think you will need anything special then bring it with!