Caribbean Conservation in Belize

Volunteer role at the project:

Volunteers spend their time at one or both research bases; Creek Base or River Base, depending on the needs of the project at the time.

Each day will differ and all conservation activities are weather dependent, but volunteer tasks can include:

Creek Base

• Transects to monitor mammals and birds
• Yellow-headed parrot raising (if required) and monitoring
• Camera trap downloads and monitoring
• Monitoring manatees from boats
• Amphibian monitoring
• Cutting areas of transect
• Fire management
• Construction (if needed
• Data input

River Base

• Transects to monitor mammals and birds
• Hicatee turtle tracking
• Camera trap downloads and monitoring
• Reforestation
• Education outreach
• Amphibian monitoring
• Cutting areas of transect
• Maintaining nature trails
• Construction (if needed
• Data input

How the project is making a difference:

The project is part of a leading non-profit organisation which has the management responsibility for three protected areas and takes a community centred approach to all conservation and development work. They encourage sustainable use of resources within the local community.

Why volunteers are needed:

Volunteers enable the project to sustain and expand its vital conservation and development efforts by having more people out in the field. Volunteers carry out important field research, education and conservation actions that are making a significant contribution to the project’s mission: protecting wildlife and its habitats, raising awareness, empowering local communities and sustaining natural resources. This means all our volunteer activities make a real contribution to the management of these spectacular areas and benefit the people who live closest to them.

The research and monitoring carried out by volunteers contributes directly to the ongoing, programmed activities at the project. Volunteers work alongside scientists, rangers, and field staff to gather and analyse data, assist in the protection of vulnerable and endangered species, and to achieve sustainable conservation results in protected areas of the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor. The work of volunteers makes an invaluable contribution to fulfilling this mission.