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La Hesperia Biological Reserve

Habitat and Location

The La Hesperia reserve is family owned, creating a new type of conservation management model as a role model for surrounding land owners. The reserve's activities are centred on sustainable management. La Hesperia is striving to become a model of integrated farming with the concept of preservation of the natural forest as a primary objective. This method will help to promote economic activities that are environmentally friendly, while also beneficial for the local communities.

La Hesperia is located in the western range of the Andes at an altitude of 1100 - 2040 metres above sea level. It is located in the center of the Rio Toachi-Chiriboga Important Bird Area and it is part of two important bioregions: The Tropical Andes and the Choco Darien-Western Ecuador, which are considered two of the world's top five biodiversity hotspots due to the high levels of biodiversity and the number of endemic species found within these threatened ecosystems. The station works in natural conservation, combating deforestation, protecting existing forest, restoring degraded areas and searching for sustainable activities to support the reserve and to offer a better way of life for the local community as well as those who work and live at the reserve.

Currently, almost 300 bird species have been identified at La Hesperia, of which ten are endemic to the region and seven are vulnerable or in danger of extinction. The reserve is the ideal place to observe the colourful Cock of the Rock, Golden-headed Quetzal, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Wattled Guan, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Red-billed Parrot, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, and Violet-tailed Sylph. Many different mammal species including agouties, White-fronted capuchin monkeys, tayra, collared peccaries, jaguarondi, ocelot, armadillos, bats, squirrels and deer, have also been observed. La Hesperia is also an extremely important area for conservation of biodiversity and the protection of local watersheds.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in shared rooms (1-5 volunteers per room), with running water, electricity and hot showers provided, and with a telephone available for emergencies. Bedding (pillow, sheets, and blankets) will be provided but a sleeping bag may be necessary if you are planning to travel to colder parts of the country. We offer a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals that include traditional Ecuadorian food.

Volunteer Activities

At La Hesperia Biological Station & Reserve there are three different programs designed for the volunteers: (A) Conservation in the Cloud Forest; (B) In the Way to Sustainability, (C) Social Development.

Volunteers are encouraged to focus their time in the activities that best suits their interests. The programs are flexible so volunteers can concentrate on one area or work in a combination of the projects offered.

Program A: Conservation in the Cloud Forest

This program has been designed for volunteers with an interest in nature, conservation, research, botany, wildlife and outdoors life. Minimum commitment: 2 weeks.

The most important goal of La Hesperia is to protect part of this amazing ecosystem and to fight against deforestation. However, this fight is not easy and a lot of help is needed, everybody should participate in conservation efforts, because conservation is a shared responsibility.

Volunteer activities include:

• Forestry Program: Restoring Degraded Areas. The main activities of this part of the program are to cultivate plants in the nursery, to prepare the old pastures for reforestation and to open reforestation lines. Volunteers assist in collecting and planting seeds, maintaining the nursery, transplanting seedlings, and conducting forestry inventories of planted trees to evaluate their growth and survival.
• Sustainable Wood Production: It is important to plant trees for sustainable use, instead of cutting old-growth trees that belong to the natural forests. Forestry also contributes to the fight against global warming; an average of twenty tones of carbon dioxide is absorbed per year by one hectare of trees in growth. Volunteer activities could include: Collecting seeds, nursery maintenance, tree care and reforestation.
• Wildlife Program: Birds inventory, monitoring nests when found. (volunteers with expertise in bird-watching). Volunteers plant botanical species that will provide food for the wild animals.
• Trail Maintenance: Volunteers will maintain or create the trails of the reserve with a machete.
• Medicinal Garden: Volunteers will maintain the medicinal garden.

Program B: In the Way to Sustainability

This program has been designed for volunteers with an interest in nature, sustainability, agriculture, animal breeding, bio-food, organic vegetable garden and outdoors life. Minimum commitment: 3 weeks.

The availability of natural resources, especially the energy resources in the world, is decreasing. Highly aware of the situation in the world today, La Hesperia is striving to become a model of sustainability. Volunteers will develop new skills learn about sustainable wood production, alternative animal production, organic agriculture, bio-food production, alternative energy and eco construction.

Volunteer activities include:

• Organic Vegetable Garden: Preparing soil, planting seeds, weeding, harvesting and general maintenance.
• Production of Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides: Maintenance of compost heaps, earth worms, manure tea, mulch, etc.
• Organic Agriculture: Maintenance of banana, coffee, sugar cane, citric fields (clearing with a machete, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting mature products).
• Alternative Animal Production: Cows, pigs, chickens, goats, horses, mules, ducks, geese, rabbits. Volunteers will participate in activities like: feeding these animals, planting the crops to feed them, maintenance of pastures, fencing, milking and taking the milk on the mule into the town.
• Bio-food Production: Volunteers will participate in the process of preparation of home-made cheese, butter, yogurt, chocolate, coffee, pasta, bread, pizza, dry fruits and vinegar.
• Forestry Program & Sustainable Wood Production: Volunteer activities could include: Collecting seeds, nursery maintenance, trail maintenance, tree care and reforestation.
• Medicinal Garden: Volunteers will maintain the medicinal.

Program C: Social Development

This program has been designed for volunteers with advance or medium level of Spanish language, with interest in education, social development, cultural exchange, practice of Spanish and working with children. Minimum commitment: 4 weeks. Volunteers for this program must have intermediate level Spanish.

One of La Hesperia's goals is to empower local communities, especially the La Esperie community located close to the station. It is a small village of 50 families with a two-room elementary school, a medical centre, two carpentry shops, a small store, and a traditional sweets factory.

Volunteer activities include:

• Teaching and health assistance: Volunteers can teach at the local children nursery (available all year round) or at the local elementary school (not available from February to the second week of April). Volunteers with knowledge of first-aid or medicine have the opportunity to get involved with the community by working in the clinic assisting the nurse in charge.

Free Time

You can go for hikes on trails around the reserve and there is a weekly football match between volunteers and locals on a Wednesday. On weekends you can get to several interesting local towns, including Quito, Banõs, Riobamba, and Otavalo. You can also arrange to go white-water rafting as a day trip from the reserve. The alternating long weekend system allows volunteers to travel around Ecuador and visit other ecosystems.

Number of Volunteers

You can expect to be placed with between 5 and 30 other volunteers.

Spanish Requirements

You can get by without knowing Spanish, but the more you know the more you will gain during your time on the reserve from being able to converse with the local people. If you are interested in working with the community, e.g. in the health program, you will need to be able to converse at a basic level in Spanish.

To apply for this program, click here.

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