Updated on: 22/Apr/09

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

GALAPAGOS RECYCLING AND GIANT TORTOISE ECUADOR

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The interior waters of the Galapagos Islands, plus those within 40 nautical miles measured from the baseline of the Archipelago, were declared the Galapagos Marine Reserve on 1994. This is the only protected coastal marine area in the east Pacific, and the second largest Marine Reserve in the World. The islands' tumultuous volcanic history of scorched earth and fiery flows are evident the moment you arrive. The creatures of the Galapagos are survivors of a marvellous landscape, an otherworldly archipelago nine hundred miles out at sea. Due to their long history of isolation from Homo Sapiens, both land and sea animals remain virtually fearless and unaffected by visitors. As a visitor to the Galapagos, you will swim with sea lions pups, penguins, sea rays, turtles, tropical reef fish, blue-footed boobies and more! Since the arrival of humans to the Galapagos Islands (1537 when the Island were discovered) the population of Giant Tortoises has decreased dramatically. Unfortunately, the Giant Tortoises are on the list of endangered species and it is for this reason that this projects offers the chance to humans to give back to nature. On the Island of Isabella, participants will be working at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. Volunteers will play a key role helping to feed baby and adult tortoises, cleaning their enclosures, and more! This project is a unique opportunity for participants to be close to such an important species of the Galapagos as well as a chance to help this species be in extinction. Participants must arrive to Quito on Sundays. Volunteers will be meet at the airport and taken to the hostel in Quito. On Monday, volunteers will be met by Lead Staff and taken to the office. At the office the volunteer will receive a comprehensive orientation about Ecuador and the project itself. On Tuesday morning a transfer will be arranged for the participants to the airport. Volunteers will fly to Sta. Cruz Island. In Sta. Cruz participants will be met hostel staff who will accompany the participants to check into the hostel. On the way to the hostel the participant will visit Ranchos Primisias where volunteers will have their first experience with the tortoises. Volunteers will also get to go to Los Gemelos, a pair of craters approximately 30 meters deep.

After the visit volunteers will eat lunch and will have the afternoon free to explore Puerto Ayora. On Wednesday volunteers will be able to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station or Turtle Bay (a white-sand beach, one of the most beautiful ones in the world). Volunteers will eat lunch and depart to take a boat to Isabella Island where they will be met by the hostel owner and taken to the accommodation. From this point on Isabella will be their home and they will start their work at the turtle-breeding center on Thursday. On Friday volunteers will work at the Town Hall with the Director of Environment giving support to their recycling program. Every week volunteers will work 3 days at the Giant Tortoise Center and 2 days at the recycling program.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS For an extra charge and in your free time explore the different activities that the islands have to offer: * Island Hop! Start at Espanola Island and enjoy natural wonder after natural wonder, from the immense blowhole, to the thousands of nesting blue-footed boobies, to the world's largest waved albatross colony. Continue to Floreana Island and see flamingos! Enjoy Black Tortuga Bay on Sta. Cruz and witness a mangrove maze chock full of sharks, rays and sea turtles. * If you are a diving fan, The Galapagos is a unique, world-class diving location. This underwater world is still private, pristine, and relatively unexplored. It is not the coral reefs that are the main attraction, but rather the unique mixture of marine animals and their fearlessness of intruders into their watery world. You will be diving next to sea turtles, manta rays, penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and numerous species of shark, including hammerheads and whale sharks. There are also hundreds of species of tropical reef fish, many of which are particular to this fantastic underwater sanctuary. * Visit the Charles Darwin Foundation in Sta. Cruz. This is an international non-profit research organization dedicated to providing scientific research, technical assistance and information to ensure conservation success in Galapagos.

A DAY AT THE PROGRAM

HOURS ACTIVITIES 7:30AM-8: 15AM Breakfast at the hostel 8:30AM-12:00PM Work at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center and the Isabella

Town Hall Recycling Program (a schedule will be given out to participants during their orientation session)

12:15PM-1: 30PM Lunch at a local restaurant 1:30PM-6: 30PM Free time to enjoy Isabella Island 6:30PM-7: 30PM Dinner at the hostel

7:30PM- on Enjoy Isabella’s nightlife *This is just an exemplary daily itinerary. All activities scheduled above are subject to change.

PROGRAM FOCUS LOCATION (Province and Town) Animal Rescue Center ______________ ______________ Social ______________ ______________ Adventure ______________ ______________

Environmental Giant Tortoise Breeding Isabella Island, Galapagos Recycling Program Isabella Island, Galapagos Construction/Building ______________ ______________ Education ______________ ______________ Sports ______________ ______________

PROJECT/ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION DESCRIPTION Organization Galapagos National Park (Breeding Center) Location of the Organization Isabella Island Non-profit/private/public organization Public Number of employees 20-25 Organization Isabella’s Town Hall (Recycling Program) Location of the Organization Isabella Island Non-profit/private/public organization Public Number of employees 15-20 1. Describe the population/community that the institution provides its services to. In case of

rescue centers or environmental organization include the type of animals and environment it works with.

BREEDING CENTER The breeding center focuses on the Galapagos Giant Tortoise species. This is one of the many species of the Galapagos that is in the list of endangered species and therefore wants to increase their population. In the 1600s, buccaneers started to use Galapagos as a base, restocking on water and repairing their boats before setting off to attack the Spanish colonies on the South American mainland. But the main attraction of the islands were the giant tortoises which were collected and stored live on board ship where they survived for many months, providing invaluable fresh meat. Since the 1800s till this century, tortoises were collected for food and for their fine “turtle oil”. Settlers introduced domestic animals, which had a negative impact on the tortoise population. It has been estimated that more than 100,000 were hunted in total over the centuries. It is because of all these reasons that the breeding center focuses not only on improving their environment but also on increasing the species numbers. RECYCLING PROGRAM The current conservation program that the mayor's office is working on is to re-evaluate and change the current system they use at the trash dump and implement a program of handling solid residues in a more healthy way. This program will involve: working with the community, creating a manual, campaigns in schools etc. The handling of the trash dump from its opening, has not had a correct program for getting rid of the solid residues. The population does not have a reclying program, as much for organic material as inorganic. The residues have increased in an exaggerated way. Per day, the pick up truck makes up to 3 trips: production average of 3 tons daily in days of greater affluence.

The increase of solid residues is due to: -Population increase The problems cause by this dump: -Visual impact -Generation of diseases -Increase of vectors of diseases -Possible contamination by leached to torrents of underground water -Change of nutritional habits for certain types of native birds as as much endemic -Ground contamination Impact to the surrounding flora 2. Services that the organization/institution provides (description). BREEDING CENTER The Giant Tortoise Breeding Center focuses on increasing the Giant Tortoise population in the Galapagos Islands. Their services include: - Provide the perfect conditions for eggs to hatch through the use of a low-technology incubator. - Feed the baby and adult tortoises. - Have the turtle enclosures clean and in good condition. - Constant maintenance of the breeding center. - Investigate techniques to increase tortoises’ life conditions. - Measure and tag the turtles to control their growth and health. RECYCLING PROGRAM The Town Hall is focusing on creating different treatment methods in the trash dump to decompose solids; these methods will combine environmental friendly techniques and processes. The objectives are: -Elaborate a contingency plan to avoid the possible environmental and human risks -Apply the ventilation method to the residues -To decrease the index of solid residues by applying incineration -Use environmental friendly methods to treat used batteries -Reforest the area with organoleptic plants

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION 3. How many volunteers can the Project employ monthly? Lead Adventures receives a total of 6 volunteers at the same time for this project. 4. Has the organization received volunteers in the past? Yes. 5. If it has received volunteers in the past, please write since what month and year: The Center has received volunteers for at least 5 years.

6. Are there any special features to which the volunteers have to pay attention to when working at this project? (Religion, illnesses, extra-vaccination, etc)

No, there are no special features to which volunteers have to pay attention.

7. Are there any requirements to attend this program? Volunteers must have a great interest in working with endangered species and conservation. Volunteers will be working directly with Giant Tortoises as well as with the recycling program in Isabella Island. 8. The project receives volunteers all year round? Yes. 9. Please specify holidays or other dates when the project closes and can not receive

volunteers: The project doesn’t close for holidays. It is open all year-round. 10. Is there a minimum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? Two-week minimum. 11. Is there a maximum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? 12 weeks 12. Please give detailed description of tasks and duties of the volunteer: BREEDING CENTER Volunteers’ duties involved the following activities: -Assisting with the maintenance of the Giant Tortoises enclosures. -Feeding the young and adult tortoises at the breeding center. -Assist the coordinators with any other duties assigned and needed by the center. Depending on the time of year, other duties for volunteers are: -Helping with the investigation of the ecology of tortoises. -Measuring and tagging the baby tortoises. RECYCLING PROGRAM -Educate the population on issues such as recycling, solid wastes, etc (schools, high schools and organizations) -Create a manual-guide about the recycling program in Isabella and the new trash dump -Present the info about the new trash-dump to Isabella -Implement a recycling program in the island -Support the Department of Environment on any duties assigned related to the Recycling and Waste Management program. 13. Indicate the times and days the volunteer will be working in the week: Volunteers will be working from Monday through Friday. From 8:30am to 12pm. 3 days at the Breeding Center and 2 days at the Town Hall. Weekends are free for the participant to explore the islands.

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 14. Please indicate the closest city or town to the project. The Breeding Center and the Town Hall are located in Isabella Island in the port Puerto Villamil. This is on the southeastern part of the island. 15. Indicate what types of transportation there is form the center if this city to the project, its

costs and approximately the time that will take: TYPE COST TIME IT WILL TAKE Taxi $1 15 minutes *Most volunteers walk from the residence to the Breeding Center and the Town Hall. There are taxis that are available for the participants but it is not common to use them. 16. Describe the surroundings of the project (country side, urban, town) The project is located in the Isabella Island in Puerto Villamil. Isabella is the home to wild tortoises, more than any island on the archipelago. Isabela's rich animal, bird, and marine life is beyond compare. Isabela's large size and notable topography created barriers for the slow moving tortoises; apparently the creatures were unable to cross lava flows and other obstacles, causing several different sub-species of tortoise to develop. Today tortoises roam free in the calderas of Alcedo, Wolf, Cerro Azul, Darwin and Sierra Negra. Puerto Villamil is a small port village located on the southeastern edge of the island. On the southwestern edge of town the park created a boardwalk. It leads through mangrove environments passing along saltwater lagoons filled with flamingos and other animals that come here to sweep the mud in search of brine. At the end of the walkway is the Tortoise Breeding Center. The Town Hall is located in the center of Puerto Villamil.

ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS 17. Type of Accommodation? In Sta. Cruz participants will stay at a hostel. In Isabella the accommodation is at a family hostel with double and triple rooms. Single rooms are available if required with an extra charge. 18. Are meals included? In Sta. Cruz two meals per day are included. In Isabella three meals per day are included.

WHAT IS INCLUDED? Flight from Quito to Sta. Cruz (if purchased through Lead Adventures) Comprehensive Orientation in Quito Transfer from hostel in Quito to airport for the Galapagos flight Hostel Reception at the airport in Sta. Cruz Shared volunteer accommodation on Santa Cruz (one day on arrival) Food- two meals a day in Sta. Cruz Boat transfer to Isabella from Santa Cruz Shared accommodation in a hostel on Isabella Island (single rooms available for an extra cost) Food - three meals a day for the duration of program in Isabella One night accommodation in a hostel in Quito on arrival from Galapagos

Transfer from hostel in Quito to airport for international departure WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? International flights Return transfers from the Islands back to the hostel in Quito Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement Airfare, or taxes, and National Parks entrance fee ($110) to enter the Galapagos All items of a personal nature Soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits Tours to other protected islands Any activities beyond your planned itinerary

PICTURES OF THE PROJECT