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  • 1.  Research in the Biodiverse Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

    Posted 10-31-2023 15:14

    Founded in 2002, Cloudbridge Nature Reserve is a private, non-profit cloudforest reserve in the Talamanca mountains of Costa Rica. Beginning with the purchase of degraded farmland, Cloudbridge has been actively reforesting the area in order to connect the forests of Chirripo National Park with adjacent nature reserves and forested areas. Beyond reforestation work, Cloudbridge is also committed to environmental education and conducting research on the unique and diverse cloudforest ecosystem.

    Cloudbridge Nature Reserve is looking for research interns to conduct studies on the biodiversity of the cloudforest on an ongoing basis. Multiple positions available with flexible start dates, lasting a minimum of 12 weeks. This is an unpaid internship position. Training and guidance will be provided.

    Interns stay in one of our dormitories and share kitchen and living spaces with other interns and volunteers. Dorm rooms cost $18 USD/night. Food costs and cooking are the responsibility of the intern. A basic diet typically costs around $7-9 USD per day.

    Qualifications

    - Schooling in conservation biology, wildlife or related studies, or relevant work experience.

    - Keen interest in the natural world.

    - Must be physically fit and able to hike 5-8 hours a day, 5 days a week in steep, high-altitude terrain.

    - Experience with Microsoft Excel.

    - First aid training an asset.

    - Good English communication skills; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to communicate in Spanish an asset.

    - Must be able to commit to 12 weeks.

    - Minimum 18 years of age.

    - Able to pay for your accommodation for the duration of your stay ($18 US/night).

    - Able to pay the $200 USD good faith fee upon acceptance. This fee is credited towards the last two weeks of your stay.

    Skills/Abilities

    - Demonstrated ability to work independently

    - Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to develop and maintain good relationships with others in a communal living environment

    - Excellent attention to detail and adherence to survey protocols

    - Strong time management skills

    - Ability to persevere and maintain high-quality work in difficult environmental and physically demanding conditions.

    - Demonstrate good judgement and common sense in a wilderness environment

    Locations/Working Conditions

    Position is located in the montane cloudforest of the Talamanca mountains of Costa Rica, adjacent to Cerro Chirripó National Park.

    Survey trails are steep and at times difficult and narrow.

    Altitudes range between 1550 m (5085 ft) and 2200 m (7220 ft).

    Work hours typically between 7 am and 12 pm for field work, with 2-3 hours in the afternoon for identification and data entry. Some variation depending on survey route and survey type.

    Work is typically Monday-Friday, although some flexibility is possible depending on the survey schedule.

    Required to work outdoors under varying weather conditions.

    To learn more about Cloudbridge, please visit our website at www.cloudbridge.org and check out the Volunteer/Research section (http://cloudbridge.org/volunteering/) for more detailed information on the research intern program.

    To apply, please complete our application form at http://www.cloudbridge.org/volunteering/volunteer-application/. Please email research@cloudbridge.org with any questions.



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    Casey McConnell
    Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
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  • 2.  RE: Research in the Biodiverse Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

    Posted 11-02-2023 20:47
    I would like to protest against this type of intern, research, volunteer, announcements. This type of announcements promote parachute-helicopter-research. Only people, most likely from the USA or developed countries and high income families, would be able to pay for them. People from Costa Rica or people who do not have monetary resources could not compete for those jobs based on qualifications or and academic qualifications. This kind of announcement is parachute-helicopter research because it is not clear how people, universities and institutions in Costa Rica will have access or participation in the research conducted. There are publications about the detrimental effect of volunteer jobs in conservation.





  • 3.  RE: Research in the Biodiverse Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

    Posted 11-03-2023 09:14
    Claudia Polo-Urrea is making a very valid point.  Decolonising conservation biology and promoting capacity building in countries where biodiversity remains are priorities that align with the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework targets.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Dr. Adriana Consorte-McCrea
    Education for Sustainability Lead
    Academy for Sustainable Futures

    North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU

     

                 

     

    adriana.consorte-mccrea@canterbury.ac.uk
    Fg09, tel: +44 1227 767700 Ext:1607

    Office hours:
    Tue-Thu 9.00 -17.00

    https://iucn-ctsg-hwi.wixsite.com/workinggroup

    Find Teaching Resources for Sustainability here: sustainability teaching resources

     

     

     

     

     


    Registered Company No: 04793659 (A Company Limited by Guarantee) Registered Charity No: 1098136; VAT No: 203734242

     

    IUCN SSC/Conservation Translocation Specialist Group,

    Chair of the Human-Wildlife Interactions Working Group

    Fg10, tel: +44 1227 767700 Ext:1607

    adriana.consorte-mccrea@canterbury.ac.uk

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adriana_Consorte-Mccrea

    http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top

    http://adrianaconsortemccrea.wordpress.com/

    https://iucn-ctsg-hwi.wixsite.com/workinggroup

     

    Human Dimensions of Animal TranslocationsinFrontiers in Conservation Science.

     

    Find Consorte-McCrea A, Kolipaka S, Owens JR, Ruiz-Miranda CR and Waters S (2022) Guidelines to Facilitate Human-Wildlife Interactions in Conservation Translocations. Front. Conserv. Sci. 3:788520. doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.788520 Frontiers | Guidelines to Facilitate Human-Wildlife Interactions in Conservation Translocations | Conservation Science (frontiersin.org)

     

    Find Consorte-McCrea, A., Fernandez, A., Bainbridge, A., Moss, A., Prévot, A-C., Clayton, S., Glikman, J.A., Johansson, M., López-Bao, J.V., Bath, A., Frank, B. and Marchini, S. (2019). Nature Conservation, Pensoft.DOI 10.3897/natureconservation.37.39501"Large carnivores and zoos as catalysts for engaging the public in the protection of biodiversity"

     

    Find Consorte-McCrea, A., Bainbridge, A., Fernandez, A., Nigbur, D., McDonnell, S., Grent, O., Morin, A., (2017).Understanding attitudes towards native wildlife and biodiversity in the UK: the role of zoos. In Sustainable Development Research at Universities in the United Kingdom, ch 17. Ed. Walter Leal Filho. World Sustainability Series, Springer International. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-47883-8_17 http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-47883-8_17

     

    Find the book The Ecology and Conservation of the maned wolf: multidisplinary perspectives, edited by Adriana Consorte-McCrea and Eliana Ferraz Santos, 2014. CRC Press, London, here:http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466512597

     

     

     






  • 4.  RE: Research in the Biodiverse Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

    Posted 01-24-2024 15:14

    Hello Adriana, thank you for commenting on this thread, and I imagine that you will also be able to see what I have replied to Claudia.  I am happy to say that Costa Rica is a country where there is high ecological literacy, and it has been a pleasure for us to work with and support Costa Rican conservation initiatives.  We regularly host free or accessibly-priced educational activities for the local community, some from the previous year include a tropical dendrology course, a climate change education seminar and a GIS course, all with majority Costa Rican participation.  I would love to hear any suggestions or answer any questions you may have about our organization, either here or by email director@cloudbridge.org



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    Casey McConnell
    Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
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  • 5.  RE: Research in the Biodiverse Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

    Posted 01-24-2024 15:03

    Hello Claudia, thank you very much for commenting on this, and apologies for the delay in my response to your comment.  Though we offer very steep discounts on our accommodation fees to Costa Rican interns, I completely understand and empathize with the effects of inequality on the access to resources, including educational opportunities such as what we offer.  However, please bear in mind that Cloudbridge is a small, non-profit organization that is protecting important and unique ecosystems, as well as allowing visitors to access and study the forest in a respectful way.  We also offer a comprehensive environmental education program in local schools and other resources free of charge to the larger community, and I routinely receive feedback from Costa Ricans about how much they love visiting the reserve.  We have a wide network of collaborators in Costa Rica, with whom we are happy to share information, and all reports prepared by our interns are freely available on our website.  I am happy to address any further questions you may have and would love to hear from you either here or through my email director@cloudbridge.org.  Thank you!



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    Casey McConnell
    Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
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