The End of an Era

After over 6 years of intensive research and community development work in and around the Yachana Reserve, GVI Amazon is coming to a close. We have finished our final research project (look forward to our Road Effects paper, coming soon!) and are handing over the project to our partner, The Yachana Foundation. They will continue to maintain and monitor the reserve, using it as an hands-on science education center for students -- we're very excited to see what fabulous things this next generation of scientists find! For more detail on GVI Amazon's closure, and our accomplishments over the years, please read on...
GVI Amazon Closure Statement

Saturday, October 9, 2010

The Beginning....

Four staff members, 200 stairs, and over 60lbs of beans. That’s how base camp started to become alive after the three weeks inter phase break. Staff arrived early to clean and organize camp for the 19 incoming volunteers. The food order arrived at our port, bringing enough chickpeas to last 10 weeks and enough veggies to get us through the next week. As much fun as we had carrying all the food up the 200 stairs during the hot mid-day sun (and, we did have fun..), the real fun began on Monday when the volunteers arrived. Despite some minor government issues, the group was eager and excited to be in Ecuador- and particularly to live in the Amazon! Finding their jungle feet has truly built up an appetite because I’ve never served so many seconds of lentils, red beans, and soya before. And, when not eating or learning about our new projects (butterflies and mammals) everyone is gathering their field kit for a walk. Slightly less informative than the intro Ecology walk and talk, but just as much fun, the night stream walk became a quick favourite thus far. The Tailless Whip Scorpions (Amplypygids), variety of frogs, and stream dwellers entice full curiousity and attention, distracting everyone from the intimidation of walking in the jungle at night. Already James has a keen eye for frogs, Kristen has braved a Tailless Whip Scorpion (Amplypygids), Laura has perfected her frog catching skills and Hayley found her balance. No one backed down when needing to wade hip deep in the stream and although we returned to camp slightly damp- everyone is ready for the next walk.


Melanie Forbes - GVI Amazon long term intern, July to December 2010


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