Well organised expedition, with opportunities to collect data, teach english and plant trees

The 2 weeks I spent volunteering in Oxapampa with GVI were 2 of the most enriching weeks of my life. GVI brings in volunteers and interns to support the work of a project started and run by local conservationists at CDS. This former passion fruit farm was purchased by a couple a little over a decade ago and now, thanks to their efforts, provides habitat for an incredible amount of biodiversity. In my time there we learned about the process and methods used to revive the forest, from sifting compost, to potting saplings, to planting young trees in future forests. The field guide, Duggie, knows more about the local flora and fauna than I could believe possible. He lead us on night walks where we found glass frogs, bats, and countless incredible insects. We conducted bird surveys, came across beautiful Peruvian birds, and learned how to set up camera traps and log sightings of mammals. Evelyn the program manager was incredibly organised, supportive and friendly. Together they and the CDS staff made our stay a really incredible experience.