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Environmental Projects
Protecting and educating tourists about native forests in the Sacred Valley, Peru, working in a national park in Belize, conserving much-needed water in the Oaxacan desert of Mexico, exploring wildlife preserves around Mysore, India, and getting your hands dirty in Northern Thai reforestation, ProWorld’s environmental projects come from the communities to protect their valuable natural resources. Below are some of your options for environmental projects.
ProWorld plants enough trees and installs enough clean burning stoves to offset over 4,000 tonnes of CO2. That is enough to offset the entire carbon footprint of ProWorld and the flights of every volunteer!
Peru
Ecotourism Chicon www.hakutrek.com
Work to improve the standard of living for community members of Chicon while helping to preserve the natural beauty of the remaining local forests. Volunteers train community members as tour guides in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, educating them about adventure tourism and customer service while learning about native flora and fauna, environmental preservation methods and, medicinal plants.
Volunteers may also help teach community members English, marketing, business management, and reforestation techniques.
Work to improve the standard of living for community members of Chicon while helping to preserve the natural beauty of the remaining local forests. Volunteers train community members as tour guides in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, educating them about adventure tourism and customer service while learning about native flora and fauna, environmental preservation methods and, medicinal plants.
Volunteers may also help teach community members English, marketing, business management, and reforestation techniques.
Cleaner Burning Stove Project
Protect the native, endangered forests of the Sacred Valley while helping to improve the health of its community members. A majority of the rural agricultural population in the province of Urubamba cooks indoors over an open fire without adequate ventilation.
In order to address the issue of deforestation for fuel and health issues related to inadequate ventilation, ProPeru started the Clean Burning Stove Project. By installing fuel-efficient wood stoves with proper ventilation, ProPeru staff and volunteers help reduce the amount of wood consumed by community members while simultaneously reducing illnesses related to smoke inhalation.
Environmental Education and Conservation Project
Interns have the opportunity to work with local school children and community members, educating them about the local environment and conservation measures.
This project may include raising awareness about local environmental issues, reforestation campaigns, work in local nurseries, leading environmental field trips for children, or recycling and composting efforts in the local schools and communities.
In order to address the issue of deforestation for fuel and health issues related to inadequate ventilation, ProPeru started the Clean Burning Stove Project. By installing fuel-efficient wood stoves with proper ventilation, ProPeru staff and volunteers help reduce the amount of wood consumed by community members while simultaneously reducing illnesses related to smoke inhalation.
Environmental Education and Conservation Project
Interns have the opportunity to work with local school children and community members, educating them about the local environment and conservation measures.
This project may include raising awareness about local environmental issues, reforestation campaigns, work in local nurseries, leading environmental field trips for children, or recycling and composting efforts in the local schools and communities.
Belize
While the environmental portfolio has a number of projects listed below, they all operate under the primary umbrella of Environmental Protection. While volunteers can sign up for a particular focus for their environmental project, they will most likely work in some way on most, if not all, of the environmentally related projects operating in Belize at the time of volunteering.
Elijio Panti National Park
Elijio Panti National Park
The Elijio Panti National Park was founded in 2003 by the Itzamna Society, a local Mayan NGO. This 13,000 acre stretch of land is the newest national park in Belize.
This on-going project includes trail building and maintenance, infrastructure development, signage, bridge construction, tree planting, environmental assessments, promotion & marketing, campground creation & maintenance, educational material development, interpretive trail development, among other projects. Presently, the Elijio Panti National Park project is not available between September-December due to the rainy season making it extremely difficult to reach.
This on-going project includes trail building and maintenance, infrastructure development, signage, bridge construction, tree planting, environmental assessments, promotion & marketing, campground creation & maintenance, educational material development, interpretive trail development, among other projects. Presently, the Elijio Panti National Park project is not available between September-December due to the rainy season making it extremely difficult to reach.
Itzamna Society
Environmental Education Center
The Environmental Education Center was founded in 2005 through the joint efforts of several environmentally conscious, educated, and interested stakeholders to promote an exemplary site for environmental education in Belize. The center includes a 12-acre preserve containing interpretive trails, a gibnut-raising project (gibnut is a local rodent like animal), a small organic farm, and a Tilapia pond.
ProBelize volunteers have been invaluable in the development of infrastructure, manual and brochure design, fundraising and environmental education outreach program to schools and communities. You will work alongside community partners in developing and expanding the centers ability to positively impact the environmental conscience of Belize.
Mexico
Instituto de la Naturaleza y la Sociedad de Oaxaca, S.C. (INSO)
Protect the natural habitat that provides water, climate control, and sustenance to those living on and near the San Felipe Mountains. Volunteers will help in one or more of INSO’s three main areas of interest: information and exchange, alternative technology, and conservation.
Working in conjunction with INSO staff, volunteers will participate in projects designed to address deforestation, soil and water contamination, and urban growth.
Working in conjunction with INSO staff, volunteers will participate in projects designed to address deforestation, soil and water contamination, and urban growth.
Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca
El Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca (or the Ethnobotanical Garden of Oaxaca) occupies the courtyard of the stunning Ex-Convent Santo Domingo in the city's center. The garden - formerly used by the military for training - covers 2.3 hectares and is home to hundreds of different species of flora found within the state of Oaxaca.
The garden serves as a laboratory for scholars (as does the adjoining botanical library), a classroom for environmental education and awareness initiatives, a venue for expositions and cultural events, and a park for the enjoyment of Oaxacans and tourists.
Fondo Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FOCN)
Oaxaca has the most biodiversity out of all the states in Mexico. The Fondo main goal is formulate and strengthen strategies that support the ecosystems and biodiversity in Oaxaca through sustainable practices that come from traditional and scientific knowledge.
They have several projects running to support ecotourism on the coast and throughout Oaxaca.
India
ProIndia’s environmental work focuses on conserving the country’s rich bio-diversity. Mysore and the state of Karnataka are excellent examples of what can be done, but there is still more to accomplish.
Within Mysore there is a zoo and a number of large lakes and parks with vast birdlife. Around Mysore there are some of India’s largest wildlife preserves. Project options include: conservation, environmental education, and tree planting.
Thailand
Forest, agricultural, and environmental conservation are major issues that require cooperation between Thai, ethnic communities, and international stakeholders.
NGOs are faced with an uphill battle of (re)educating society on the importance of sustainable environments, and reach out to communities, as well as national parks, seeking to restore what has been lost and damaged.
You will have the opportunity to get your hands dirty participating in reforestation, environmental education and research, constructing testing grounds for reforestation nurseries and organic farm projects, and/or organizing workshops for school events.
The garden serves as a laboratory for scholars (as does the adjoining botanical library), a classroom for environmental education and awareness initiatives, a venue for expositions and cultural events, and a park for the enjoyment of Oaxacans and tourists.
Fondo Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FOCN)
Oaxaca has the most biodiversity out of all the states in Mexico. The Fondo main goal is formulate and strengthen strategies that support the ecosystems and biodiversity in Oaxaca through sustainable practices that come from traditional and scientific knowledge.
They have several projects running to support ecotourism on the coast and throughout Oaxaca.
India
ProIndia’s environmental work focuses on conserving the country’s rich bio-diversity. Mysore and the state of Karnataka are excellent examples of what can be done, but there is still more to accomplish.
Within Mysore there is a zoo and a number of large lakes and parks with vast birdlife. Around Mysore there are some of India’s largest wildlife preserves. Project options include: conservation, environmental education, and tree planting.
Thailand
Forest, agricultural, and environmental conservation are major issues that require cooperation between Thai, ethnic communities, and international stakeholders.
NGOs are faced with an uphill battle of (re)educating society on the importance of sustainable environments, and reach out to communities, as well as national parks, seeking to restore what has been lost and damaged.
You will have the opportunity to get your hands dirty participating in reforestation, environmental education and research, constructing testing grounds for reforestation nurseries and organic farm projects, and/or organizing workshops for school events.
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