The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and has thousands of species of trees, plants, insects and animals. The rainforest is a key consumer of carbon - one of the greenhouse gases - and about one-fifth of the freshwater on Earth’s surface is carried by the Amazon River. Also, the rainforest is a major producer of oil, lumber, and minerals [e.g. gold, copper], many of which are extracted in unsustainable ways that damage the environment. For thousands of years, Amazonian indigenous peoples have lived in the forest and dedicated themselves to agroforestry-style farming to feed their families. Today, many farmers and conservation organizations are turning to agroforestry as a way to conserve one of the most ecologically important locations on Earth and generate income in a sustainable way.

This is a unique opportunity for interns to learn about the intersection of ancestral knowledge and climate change mitigation and how they can come together to conserve the forest, preserve cultures, and generate income for local communities. Internship benefits:

Work with farmers, foresters, park rangers, and/or environmental engineers
Gain experience in forest conservation, agroforestry, agronomy, participatory community development, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable farming
Contribute to on-going projects to diversity local farms, implement environmental education programs, and make the region more resilient to climate change
Learn about Amazonian cultures and their connection to ethnobotany, agroforestry, and plant medicine
Opportunity to support communities with eco-tourism projects, go on hikes into protected forests, and participate in reforestation projects
Research & dissertation support available with partner organizations and universities, if requested

***NOTE: Specific projects change throughout the year depending on the needs of our partner organizations. The projects interns work on during their internship are based on the organization’s immediate needs and workflow.***