Organization Profile: ECOSARA

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Organization Name:

ECOSARA

Established In:

2007

Located In:

Encarnacion, Paraguay

Operates In:

San Rafael National Park, Paraguay

Areas of Focus:

Environmental Conservation & Activism
Cultural Conservation & Understanding

Type of Org:

Non-profit Ecological Research and Conservation Station

Contact Person:

Paul Smith

Email:

faunaparaguay@gmail.com

Phone:

00595 71 203981

Website:

www.faunaparaguay.com/ecosarahome.html

Our Mission:

"To assist in the conservation of Parque Nacional San Rafael through the study of its biodiversity and highlight the local and international importance of the reserve by widespread dissemination of its findings"

What We Do:

"Of critical conservation importance for global biodiversity" is how Conservation International described the Paraguayan Atlantic Forest, so you will be shocked to hear that just 7% of that critically important forest remains. At 70,000ha Parque Nacional San Rafael is the largest block of Atlantic Forest remaining in eastern Paraguay but is also sadly its most threatened. With conservation of this natural treasure firmly in mind ECOSARA has been established as a non-profit ecological station to provide a scientific basis for conservationist claims that the continued existence of the park is vital for the ecology not just of the immediate surroundings, but for the world at large.

ECOSARA is a not-for-profit programme developed by the San Rafael conservation group Pro Cordillera San Rafael (ProCosara - http://procosara.org/index_en) who are responsible for the day to day protection of the reserve and is supported by the biodiversity website FAUNA Paraguay we invite you to help us to achieve our aims:

1 To INVESTIGATE in a methodical and scientific manner the flora and fauna of this biologically rich but under-studied park.
2 To STUDY the biology of the species inhabiting the park.
3 To SHARE our findings with as wide an audience as possible by publishing them in scientific journals, on the internet and in popular form for mass consumption.
4 To EDUCATE people as to the importance of the reserve so that they may understand that its conservation is in everybodys best interests.
5 To PUBLICISE the fate of the park to a global audience to increase pressure for it to be properly conserved .
6 To CONSERVE the park so that it may be enjoyed by future generations.
7 To ALLY ourselves with similarly-minded conservation organisations in other countries.

Profile URL:

http://matadortravel.com/organizations/ecosara

How you can support ECOSARA

How You Can Help:

ECOSARA offers a variety of programmes for conservation-minded volunteers, students and professional scientists. No prior experience is nevessary to volunteer and everybody is welcome regardless of age, sex, nationality or religious background. Click the links below to find out more about them.

Research Volunteerships in which volunteers assist with scientific field work, learn new techniques and get the opportunity to see their name and the results of their work in print. No scientific experience necessary. http://www.faunaparaguay.com/ecosaravolunteers.html

Conservation Volunteerships for volunteers with a social conscience, including community programmes, conservation administration and the opportunity to work as a park ranger.
http://www.faunaparaguay.com/ecosaravolunteers.html

Internships for students considering a career in research, this is the opportunity to get some real experience of fieldwork in the Neotropics, develop your own research project and learn new skills to make you a more effective scientist.
http://www.faunaparaguay.com/ecosarainterns.html

Visiting Researcher all the support needed for professional scientists so that they can work in safety and in comfort - the only thing you need worry about are your results!
http://www.faunaparaguay.com/ecosararesearch.html

Featured Project:

Bird Research Volunteer www.faunaparaguay.com/birdsvol.html

ECOSARA bird research volunteers will be involved in every aspect of the study of the biology, population dynamics and distribution of the 410 bird species recorded in San Rafael. Research volunteers will work as part of a small group overseen by a staff member on current research projects or for those that wish to develop their own projects, alone under the guidance of a staff member who will assist them to ensure that their results are both useful and productive. A file of suggested bird research projects with detailed instructions is available for volunteers who wish to work alone and are looking for ideas on how to do so. Of course volunteers are able to switch between projects, just because you signed up as a bird volunteer doesn´t mean that you can´t also do some work with mammals or reptiles if the fancy takes you!

We encourage ECOSARA research volunteers to publish the results of their work and offer all the assistance necessary to those that wish to do so. For many volunteers the opportunity to see their name in print is something that is extremely appealing. Volunteers will be credited in any publication that uses data which they helped to gather. Volunteers who carry out their own projects will have an informal meeting each evening with staff members to discuss progress and will be expected to produce a brief report of their findings at the end of their stay.

We think that ALL field observations are important and accurate note-taking is part of the daily routine of all volunteers. Daily observations and records will be logged into the San Rafael biodiversity database to keep tabs on changing bird populations throughout the year. Volunteers with a knack for photography are always welcome, we are always looking to boost the photographic database of the parks fauna. In the interests of making data accessible and open to all we collaborate with online database projects such as the FAUNA Paraguay.com image gallery and the Xeno-canto online database of Neotropical bird calls.

Some projects are ongoing throughout the year, other projects - for example nesting and moult studies - are seasonal. If you have a specific project in mind that you would like to work on check with us that it isn´t seasonal before confirming your dates!!

To give you an idea of the sort of work that bird volunteers are involved with, here are some of the more popular projects:

Population censuses using sight, sound and capture techniques.
Capture, measurement, description and study of moult stage of live individuals.
Collection of feathers for our "feather book"
Daily studies and descriptions of nesting and reproductive behaviour.
Recording and study of vocalisations, their significance, seasonality and usage.
Ringing projects to study movements and territoriality.
Affinity of species for specific microhabitats and association with particular plant species.
Composition and seasonality of mixed species flocks

You don´t need to have any scientific background to be an ECOSARA bird research volunteer, just enthusiasm, a sense of adventure and willingness to get your hands dirty!

Up for it?!

Cost US$800 per calendar month - we are a non-profit conservation organisation and your fee helps us cover costs and includes a small donation towards ongoing conservation work in the area.

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ECOSARA TECHNICAL CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

Location: Paraguay | 11/12/07

ECOSARA technical conservation volunteers will be involved in using there own special skills or abilities to assist in conservation projects in the San Rafael area. Technical conservation volunteers should be able to work alone or in small groups, with little or no supervision and be able to adapt their skills and abilities to meet the needs of Pro Cosara and ECOSARA. Of course volunteers are able to switch between projects, just because you signed up as a conservation volunteer doesn´t mean that you can´t also be a research volunteer if the fancy takes you!

ECOSARA REPTILE RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS

Location: Paraguay | 11/12/07

ECOSARA reptile research volunteers will be involved in every aspect of the study of the biology, population dynamics and distribution of the reptile species recorded in San Rafael. With several new species to science discovered here in the last few years, reptile study at San Rafael is an exciting and rewarding past-time! Research volunteers will work as part of a small group overseen by a staff member on current research projects or for those that wish to develop their own projects, alone under the guidance of a staff member who will assist them to ensure that their results are both useful and productive. A file of suggested reptile research projects with detailed instructions is available for volunteers who wish to work alone and are looking for ideas on how to do so. Of course volunteers are able to switch between projects, just because you signed up as a reptile volunteer doesn´t mean that you can´t also do some work with birds or plants if the fancy takes you!

ECOSARA RANGER CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

Location: Paraguay | 11/12/07

ECOSARA ranger conservation volunteers will be involved in the everyday maintenance and management of the forest and visitor facilities. Rangers are essentially on-site park guards and their role involves elements of forestry, agriculture, education and development of the visitors centre and trails so that they fulfil their role in ensuring that every visitor´s time at ECOSARA is a pleasant and informative one. They will work closely with the team of professional forest guards permanently employed by Pro Cosara on projects related to the improvement of facilities on-site. Of course volunteers are able to switch between projects, just because you signed up as a conservation volunteer doesn´t mean that you can´t also be a research volunteer if the fancy takes you!

ECOSARA BOTANICAL RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS

Location: Paraguay | 11/12/07

ECOSARA plant research volunteers will be involved in attempting to inventory and document the plant species recorded in San Rafael. Research volunteers will work as part of a small group overseen by a staff member on current research projects or for those that wish to develop their own projects, alone under the guidance of a staff member who will assist them to ensure that their results are both useful and productive. A file of suggested botanical research projects with detailed instructions is available for volunteers who wish to work alone and are looking for ideas on how to do so. Of course volunteers are able to switch between projects, just because you signed up as a plant volunteer doesn´t mean that you can´t also do some work with animals if the fancy takes you!