Climate Change Mitigation; Agroforestry; and Forest Conservation

The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and has thousands of species of trees; plants; insects and animals. For thousands of years; Amazonian indigenous peoples have lived in the forest and dedicated themselves to agroforestry-style farming to feed their families and generate income. Today; 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.

This 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; generate income for local communities; and combat the effects of climate change. Potential activities include:

• Contribute to research on how to diversify and add value to chakras (agroforestry farms); including marketing research for up-and-coming exports such as cacao; guayusa leaf tea; and vanilla
• Accompany host family members when they go to their chakras; and plant; weed; and harvest
• Collect environmental data about species of flora and fauna in chakras and protected forests
• Assist with the creation of plant inventories and seed banks to share with communities
• Hike into protected forests with park rangers to assist with biological monitoring
• Attend community meetings and workshops related to farming; tourism; and development
• Design and implement workshops related to climate change; environmental education; or another topic of interest to share with community members or in schools
• Participate in half-day or day-long reforestation projects
• Support communities with their eco-tourism projects
• Organize English lessons with locals who are eager to advance their language skills and receive Spanish and Kichwa lessons from them as well
• Work with farmers; foresters; park rangers; and/or environmental engineers experienced in forest conservation; agroforestry; agronomy; participatory community development; social entrepreneurship; and sustainable farming
• Learn about Amazonian cultures and their connection to ethnobotany; agroforestry; and plant medicine.

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