Cruise the Amazon in a Riverboat for Science!
Sound to good to be true? Well, it's for real.
Earthwatch fields several volunteer teams a year to work with Dr. Richard Bodmer and his colleagues on their research in the Peruvian Amazon. The base for this research is the Ayapua, a riverboat from the rubber boom days, which has been updated with airconditioning and modern plumbing and amenities - this is not roughing it! Here's a photo: view link
This expedition surveys animal populations along the river. The conservation management of this area was changed a few years ago to include the local people, and the scientists are trying to determine whether animal populations have increased since this change.
From the Ayapua, researchers and volunteers take to small motorized canoes to survey the river for dolphins, manatees and giant river otters. They also do land surveys, looking for monkeys, peccaries, tapirs and birds.
And are the volunteers really useful? In his field report, Dr. Bodmer says:
"The volunteers were truly helpful in monitoring the wildlife populations. More data were collected than originally anticipated, and the amount of information collected exceeded our expectations.
"But, it was the assistance that many volunteers provided to the local communities that was truly unexpected. Many volunteers provided health and education materials to the local communities who are involved with community-based conservation."
And the bottom line?
"We now understand much better the animal populations in the Lago Preto Conservation Concession and the Samiria river basin of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
"...our understanding of Amazonian wildlife populations made significant advances this year, and will influence the community-based and protected area conservation of the Peruvian Amazon, largely because of your help. It warms my heart to know that there are dedicated people like you willing to take time and effort to help with our projects."
Sound like fun? Check it out on the Earthwatch website: view link
Earthwatch fields several volunteer teams a year to work with Dr. Richard Bodmer and his colleagues on their research in the Peruvian Amazon. The base for this research is the Ayapua, a riverboat from the rubber boom days, which has been updated with airconditioning and modern plumbing and amenities - this is not roughing it! Here's a photo: view link
This expedition surveys animal populations along the river. The conservation management of this area was changed a few years ago to include the local people, and the scientists are trying to determine whether animal populations have increased since this change.
From the Ayapua, researchers and volunteers take to small motorized canoes to survey the river for dolphins, manatees and giant river otters. They also do land surveys, looking for monkeys, peccaries, tapirs and birds.
And are the volunteers really useful? In his field report, Dr. Bodmer says:
"The volunteers were truly helpful in monitoring the wildlife populations. More data were collected than originally anticipated, and the amount of information collected exceeded our expectations.
"But, it was the assistance that many volunteers provided to the local communities that was truly unexpected. Many volunteers provided health and education materials to the local communities who are involved with community-based conservation."
And the bottom line?
"We now understand much better the animal populations in the Lago Preto Conservation Concession and the Samiria river basin of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
"...our understanding of Amazonian wildlife populations made significant advances this year, and will influence the community-based and protected area conservation of the Peruvian Amazon, largely because of your help. It warms my heart to know that there are dedicated people like you willing to take time and effort to help with our projects."
Sound like fun? Check it out on the Earthwatch website: view link
