Ecosystem restoration and Reforestation(in-person)

EcoSwell is a surfing-inspired sustainable development non-profit (NGO) driving the development of poor Peruvian coastal communities through a path of sustainability. We develop environmental, educational, infrastructure, and socio-economic projects working hand in hand with local communities and international interns.

Reforestation/afforestation has been categorized, by the Global Climate Agreement signed in Paris, as one of two main calls to action to help fight and mitigate the effects of climate change. Equatorial/Tropical Dry Forest ecosystems are a conservation/restoration priority due to their many unique species and because they have lost over 90% of their former extent. Our reforestation project, "Lobitos Verde" was one of our first initiatives with the community of Lobitos. Initiated in 2013, we have been planting native seedlings with local women and their families to green the neighborhoods of Lobitos. We are also doing this in the town of Piedritas, through our "Piedritas Verde" initiative. Not only has this empowered the women as leaders of the project, but it has also raised awareness of environmental issues. It has encouraged people to reuse and save water using permaculture techniques, whilst increasing the extent of habitat for native bird species in danger of extinction. Together, we have planted and are currently caring for thousands of seedlings propagated by EcoSwell in both Lobitos and Piedritas, working with a total of around 90 families. Over the past few years, this project has branched out into community-led ecotourism, local ecosystem restoration, ecological/environmental education campaigns, and endangered and endemic bird/wildlife conservation initiatives (Peruvian Plantcutter, Phytotoma raimondii), receiving funding from various international entities.

We need hard-working people with a strong interest, background knowledge or basic experience in reforestation, conservation, biology/ecology, and the like, to come and support us in these ongoing projects.

The financial contribution you make as an volunteer intern helps us plant a tree with community families in Lobitos with the volunteers at EcoSwell and the families engaging as well. 

As a reforestation volunteer intern at EcoSwell, you will be given ownership of the projects, directly co-managing our conservation and reforestation initiatives. Daily activities will vary depending on the progress and stage we are at of each project. This may include but is not limited to:

• Reforestation sites and permaculture garden maintenance 

Volunteer interns carry out general upkeep in our community reforestation sites, the EcoSwell garden and native seedlings & plant nurseries. This is done by planting trees, collecting & germinating native seeds, using drip irrigation and updating important reforestation tracking documents.

• "Lobitos & Piedritas Verde" reforestation projects

We currently work with approx. 60 families in Lobitos and 20 in the small community of Piedritas. Volunteer interns are required to conduct house to house visits in the communities, carrying out family & plant monitoring surveys, as well as planting/maintaining native trees with the local families. Volunteer interns may also have the opportunity to take part in environmental education workshops & communications campaigns, plan, design and undertake big reforestation activities, promote conservation & restoration of local degraded priority sites and get involved with ecological/environmental research projects with associated academic partners.

• Ecotourism

Our new conservation project in the local Dry Forest of Piedritas aims to provide local people with a sustainable alternative to illegal logging through ecotourism initiatives whilst protecting their native Dry Forest habitat. Volunteer interns may be required to support the development, promotion & improvement of this project, but will also have the opportunity to learn in-depth about the unique biodiversity of the Dry Forest ecosystem and its endangered flora and fauna.

Volunteer interns work between 9am to 5pm on weekdays but evenings and weekends are free for you to spend as you wish. For those joining our in-person placement, the northern coast of Peru has amazing waves, beaches and towns to go visit, with lots of different activities on offer such as:

• Surf lessons with local instructors in Lobitos. Alternatively, rent one of our EcoSwell surfboards and head out to the waves by yourself.

• Yoga classes

• Swimming with turtles 

• Fishing, sea-lion and whale watching trips with local fishermen

• Trekking and birdwatching in the native Dry Forest ecosystem

• Eat traditional Peruvian food at local restaurants 

• Visits to other nearby beaches and towns within hours of Lobitos to explore more Peruvian landscapes, culture & history.

Please note that these activities are separate and are not included in the financial contribution you make as part of the volunteer internship.