FUDEBIOL Biological and Natural Reserve | ACICRC04-20 | 2023-03-03 - 2024-10-31 | ENVI,EDU | Age: 18 - 99

The Biological Center of Quebradas is managed by FUDEBIOL (Fundación para el Desarrollo del Centro Biológico Las Quebradas), which is a nonprofit grass roots organization started in 1989. Their mission is to stop the deforestation of the Quebradas River basin which is the source of drinking water for the whole town of San Isidro and most of the region of Pérez Zeledón. In the Center they have also built an educational hub. The project site is located 3 km uphill from the community of Quebradas, between 1000 and 2500 meters above sea level. Today the main goals of FUDEBIOL still are: -Conservation of the basin of Las Quebradas River. -Development of environmental education for children and the community. Establishment of different sustainable systems to guarantee conservation of flora, fauna, and water resources in the area. -To support the community in projects -Investigation of flora and fauna -To become financially independent through eco-tourism. Research and promotion supporting conservation. This is a grass roots organization located in the small village Quebradas close to the town of San Isidro (744 meters above sea level) which is part of the Valley named El General. This valley is surrounded by high mountains, such as the Cerro de la Muerte (3491 meters above sea level) and the highest mountain of Costa Rica, Chirripó at 3820 meters. The weather in the region is humid and although the rainy season lasts from May until December, there will probably be some showers during the dry season as well. The average temperature lies around 24 degrees Celsius, and the precipitation is 3800 mm a year. Quebradas has some indigenous heritage from the pre-columbine times and there are still some traces from those cultures that can be found in the community and the region. Quebradas was initially founded by farmers from the “Zona de los Santos”. Today many people work in the closest town of San Isidro. They also make a living from agricultural products such as coffee, sugar cane, beans, fruits, and vegetables. The project is especially proud of the diversity of birds and butterflies that live in their forest. Now, they also want to improve the bird watching opportunities in the area. Experts suspect there are about 300 different birds in the protected area. The Biological Center wants to observe the habits of these birds and create leaflets about the types of birds that can be found in the area during the different times of the year. There are 3 dogs, 2 horses and 5 cows that live in the project of FUDEBIOL. You can also find white-faced monkeys and other small and interesting mammals of the tropics. The center has a garden with medical plants, and they also produce organic compost. In addition, within the 76 hectares of the Reserve you can find a system of 8 trails (8.5 Km) and all of them have signs for environmental education.

Work: Volunteers will be working ● To maintain the garden of medical plants ● To maintain the general garden (the plants & keep it clean) ● To maintain the channel around the lagoon ● To maintain the trails inside the Reserve ● To make new informative wooden signs for the trails ● To plant flowers and trees and others on the access road ● To work in the green houses ● To paint and to maintain the buildings ● To clean and maintain the trees inside the reserve ● To assist at the reception of the reserve (if a good level of Spanish is achieved) ● To translate the web site and assist in social media (if the language that the volunteer speaks is still missing) ● To paint and decorate the houses (if the volunteer has artistic skills) ● Working in forest nurseries

Accomodation and food: ( ) Hosting situation provided by Local Family. (X) Hosting situation provided by the Project. Volunteers will be living in an ecolodge, which belongs to one of the founders of the project. It is located just beside the project.

Location: QuebradasPerezZeledonSanJoseProvinceCostaRica

Location and Leisure: It is located in the north of the city of San Isidro de El General, surrounded by mountains and agricultural fincas, dedicated to the production of coffee, fruits and vegetables and cattle raising. San Isidro has a population of around 80,000, that means you can find all the needed services like supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias, banks and ATMs, clinics and hospitals, etc. Quebradas is the nearest village where you can find the church, the primary school and a couple of grocery stores. FUDEBIOL is located 3 km away from Quebradas and 6 km away from San Isidro de El General.

Airport: SJO

Train/Bus station: Volunteers will be picked up at the airport.

Requirements: ● Has to be an organized, structured person. (Very important). ● To be in good physical condition ● To work on hard duties such as constructing and maintenance of trails ● To live under simple conditions and to be willing to eat the typical food, probably rice and beans with other local vegetables everyday (the volunteer will receive three meals a day) ● To be ready to walk uphill for 50 minutes every morning in order to get to the project and walk back to the host family in the town of Quebradas after finishing work every afternoon (if placed in host family) ● Interest in environmental issues. ● The volunteer should enjoy working with people and foster good human relations. ● Proactivity is a must. ● Volunteer must be ready to work independently even when the coordinator is not present. ● Honest, responsible, punctual, positive person. ● Leadership Skills. ● Good attitude. ● Basic level of Spanish and or English ● Open to flexibility of schedules.

Volunteers will be picked up at the airport.

Language: esp

Extra Fee: 400 UGX

FUDEBIOL is a permanent project, so they receive volunteers all year long. They have a capacity of around 10 volunteers per week and there are no limitations in the number of female or male volunteers, but yes, we recommend volunteers to be adults (+18).