Iracambi Atlantic Rainforest Research Center

  Brazil

• Southern Brazil: 
Rosario da Limeira

Term: Throughout the year 

Description: Iracambi accepts researchers and interns as well as volunteers.

As a student you have plenty of choices for your studies at Iracambi.

You can pursue your own research interests, taking advantage of our internet access, library, study rooms and field laboratory, as well as our easy access to the rainforest.

You can participate in a teacher led course organized by your own teachers.

You can contact us about setting up a custom made study course with supervision by Iracambi staff and access to the facilities of the local federal university.

You can earn credit for distance learning, using course material from your own university or from Colorado State University.

You can join our core projects:
   
GIS and land use mapping of the Iracambi project area (200 square kms,)in order to provide land use data for local programs of conservation and economic development. You can work on taxonomic surveys, study population dynamics, research best practices for conserving and increasing soil fertility and water resources, evaluate land use, evaluate biological indicators for monitoring ecosystem health.

In forestry studies, you can identify critical forest fragments, define a methodology for creating forest corridors, and examine best practices for forest enrichment and restoration, particularly on degraded lands.

You can work to identify existing and potential medicinal plants native to the forests, defining a methodology for growing, sustainably harvesting, processing, packaging and marketing products deriving from medicinals. You can examine ways of improving cropland fertility, looking at alternative crops, looking at nitrogen fixing species and the effects on soil fertility of planting native leguuminous species. You can analyze the potential of water and carbon credits as incentives to smallholders to conserve their forests.

In social studies you can examine the socioeconomic dimensions of the community in order to understand the factors that influence decision making at local, state and national level. You can analyze environmental policies, examine the political assets in the community, look at the constraints and opportunities facing local landowners, and develop collaborative learning methodologies to extend research results into the community.   

As a volunteer you will be a key person in ensuring the continuity of Iracambi programs, doing anything and everything from building trails to building classrooms, teaching schoolchildren, planting trees, working with researchers on forest surveys, making films, doing volunteer management, updating our database, producing curriculum material for the education program, updating our website, making maps, producing publicity materials, marketing and fundraising, construction and carpentry, organizing open days, painting signs, collecting specimens, carrying out surveys.... Whatever you do is directed towards Iracambi's twin of goals of conserving the riches of the rainforests and helping local communities to live better.

Highlights: Iracambi Rainforest Research Center is located in one of the last remaining fragments of the Atlantic Rainforest. This is a rainforest of global importance, it is the richest source of biodiversity in Brazil- as well as great beauty: an endlessly fascinating location for your project. It's a soft landing in the rainforest, a welcoming local environment with plenty of opportunity for hiking, camping, mountaineering swimming in natural rock pools, horseback riding, playing soccer with the Brazilians (don't ever hope to win!) singing, dancing, learning capoeira, and sharing in a way of life that is very different, yet essentially the same.

Brazil is a large country with an excellent public transport system, so long weekends can be spent on the beach, in the city, or exploring the historic colonial towns of Ouro Preto and Mariana - all within reach.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: see note below

Experience Required: no

Participants Travel to Brazil Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-3

Application Process Involves:

• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network

Amigos de Iracambi's Mission Statement: Working with the community to make conservation of the rainforest more attractive than its destruction.

Year Founded: 1999