Operation Wallacea Conservation Research Expeditions for Schools

When an opportunity arose to participate (through Operation Wallacea) in a conservation project in the jungle and coral reefs of Madagascar, I seized at the chance to broaden my mind and to do something positive to help the planet. I visited beautiful locations, largely untouched by human development, and helped in project work designed to protect against threats of poaching, habitat loss and to safeguard biodiversity. The daily lectures furthered my understanding of the result of deforestation and bleaching of coral reefs. I had previously heard these terms in Geography and Biology lessons, but to see the consequences on the ground has inspired me to read for a degree which will enable me to make a difference in person. Even in such a remote and isolated destination, which took 40 hours travelling to reach, the local economy, which is predominantly based on agriculture, fishery and tourism, is affected by multinational companies such as Lays and Orange Telecom. These brands had a monopoly on the market and I didn't see any of their competitors. I want to understand better the factors affecting business success within national economies at differing stages of development. These major organisations also have an important role to play in the grassroots development of local communities through their environmental projects, such as Coca Cola's project to fund access to clean drinking water.

My trip to Mexico in the summer of 2016 was the best thing I've ever done. I love every single second of it, even the unusual toilet situations in the jungle! Since I have returned I havw been asked multiple times which week I preferred and I honestly can't answer that question. Both weeks were so different and amazing. The terrestrial site was so peculiar and weird comeparwd to my life at home. We were so close and at one with the madness of nature and the buzz of creatures at night was amazing. I loved just laying in my tent listening to the crickets and monkeys as I woke up. The research we completed was eye opening and really interested me. Everyone at the camp was so friendly and the sense of community was very strong, they weren't just leaders to us, they became friends!
In the marine site, the accommodation was much more modern and it was nice being able to have a shower and flush a toilet. The food here was also incredible. It was nice being able to eat your dinner on the roof watching the Mexican sunset. The diving was amazing and eye opening. The biodiversity of the reef is breath taking and really does make you realise how important nature is. Akumal is known for the large amount of turtles that flock there. The turtles didn't fail to disappoint! I loved seeing the turtles and appreciating them in their natural habitats.
Overall, I would say operation Wallacea is an opportunity of a life time is well worth the oedfort of fundraising for. I would love to go back but at the moment I relish the momories passionately. I made loads of new friends, gained lots of knowledge and experience and became a more confident person.

The main thing I took out of the experience was the amazing sense of community there was with everyone. Especially when in the jungle, us students, teachers, scientists and the locals all got along as a family for the time we were there. The stories everyone shared were so interesting. Even more interaction with the locals would have been great. And overall just a longer expedition would be been great.

i was going through some personal things before the trip and one night i was having a bad time and one of the leaders there let me open up to them about it, and they opened up to me as well. it really helped me get through it and made my trip there amazing. all the staff were wonderful in the camp and im so glad they were there to share the experience with me. without the leaders and staff there in the first week, it wouldnt have been the same. they made it amazing and really taught you all they could, making sure you gained not only a personal, social lesson, but knowledge as well

I must admit that I really did enjoy this trip as a whole. Although I returned to Milan with cuts and bruises, with an extreme need of good coffee and just food in general, and of course some proper clothes, Greece was a trip of a life time and I don't regret one last second of it. Not only did I make new friendships, strengthened ones I already had, witnessed animals I'd never even known existed and learned how to scuba dive (something I'd had on my bucket list for years) but I also learned how much our planet is in need and how desperately we need to start conserving it. I am very sad that I will not be able to participate in our school's trip to the Galapagos for another Operation Wallacea expedition but I will make sure to keep in contact with those who are and am even sending my GoPro so they will bring me back footage. Thank you again to all those who were working with us at the time of the Greek Expedition to both Samos and Lipsi (July 27th - August 10th), I really appreciate everything.

It was a very challenging 3 weeks but the beauty of the areas in Indonesia that we got to experience where full of life and where beautiful and truly something worth supporting and helping to protect. The week that we spent in the Rainforest was very naturalistic with all the necessities allowing us to using the river to bath and having very limited contact to the outside world allowing us to full indulge ourselves in the surroundings and the activities that we were offered which included canopy access, several surveys and lectures. The remoteness of the camp really gave us the chance to stay concentrated on the volunteering and allowed us to get to know the scientists and guides very well, they were all very interesting, encouraging and passionate about there areas that they were there researching and it was very nice to see what amazing work they had done around the world. I think it is very much worth the money that we spent on the trip as the research that we were doing was going towards the fund which was allowing people to collect data and study there certain species which was working towards getting the area added to the REDD+ areas which helps to protect it further from degradation. The week in on Hoga island was magical as it was in the middle of nowhere which was really exciting. We spent the week doing a reef ecology course learning about all there different marine sites and the marine life they have in the area as well as human impacts on the reef. The diving was phenomenal from massive shawls of fish to amazing nudibranchs and sea kraits which we also had lectures on to allow us to understand more about what we were seeing which was really useful as i found it lovely to know what i was looking at and understand what they do. Overall it was one of the most amazing trips i have ever been on and hope to work with them soon again.

This trip has been easily the most unique trip I have ever been on in my whole entire life. I have travelled all across Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Central and South America; but all those countries pale in comparioson to the biodiveristy that is in the Peruvian Amazon.

Being a 18 year old high-school student, I was only expecting to be allowed to observe. However, we were given an extensive hands on experience with everything we did. We were allowed to hold birds and caymans that the group caught, we were allowed to measure biometrics on everything that we did, and we were even allowed to enter in data. All that shows that OpWall really wants to immerse you in the world of environmental research no matter your age or expereince.

I have been on a total of 3 expeditions with Operation Wallacea, each one completely different from the next. On each trip I usually spent one week inland within a forest or jungle environment, and one week along the coast or on an island.

In 2012 I spent 2 weeks in Honduras where I learned how I could physically help the living planet by participating in field research. By learning to scuba dive, I discovered a whole new world within the marine ecosystems that allowed me to develop a love and understanding for the importance and necessity of these environments. I experienced life in a remote part of the world and realized the passion I have for the world around me. After Honduras, I completely changed what I wanted to do with my life and career by entering college and pursuing a degree in Environmental Science.

2 years later I was back in the field, but this time in Ecuador. Here, the accommodations were much less harsh, which had its benefits, but I found myself missing the rough and tumble of Honduras. The loo with a view and the changing menus for each meal practically felt like vacation, so I wasn't complaining. The differences between the two trips were vast, but one was not necessarily better than the other, just different. I still had the opportunity for a vast amount of field work and the ability to dip my toes into various projects and studies, including bat/ humming bird surveys and carbon sequestration surveys for the REDD+ program. The ability to visit the Galapagos Islands was also something I will never forget. We attended lectures taught by a Chilean professor and delved into concepts specific towards the island (Giant tortoises, Darwins' finches, plant adaptations etc.) I learned so much and this trip as it was an experience unlike any other.

Last summer I went on my last expedition with Operation Wallacea to the beautiful country of Greece. I had never been to Europe before, so this was an experience in itself. Already equipped with my scuba certification, I was able to assist in underwater seagrass research and fish diversity studies. Catering towards the marine ecosystems, this trip provided me with the experience I desired for my fisheries and aquatic science minor at school. In the video link provided, you will be able to see clips from my time spent in Athens, as well as the time I spent in the water and on the islands right off the coast of Greece. Things not shown in the video included the chameleon surveys and a large amount time we spent surveying a cove for the eventual site for captive dolphin releases. Working with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation was a pleasure as it provided me within insight for how international environmental groups work within their governments to protect their environments and increase awareness about issues pertaining to their local ecosystems.

Overall, I would recommend going on one of the trips through Operation Wallacea. My world view has expanded ten fold since I first went to Honduras and I have a greater appreciation for the environment and the potential place I have in it. I believe everyone should experience something like this, even if to just gain a perspective other than that of an American or British mindset. My life certainly changed for the better as I discovered my passion and set the direction of the life on course to make the environment a better place for the future.