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Expedition Briefing 2011E v E r y t h i n g y o u n E E d t o k n o w b E f o r E y o u g o

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Timeline and Checklist In preparing for your upcoming Earthwatch expedition, please ensure that you:

* If you have signed up for an expedition within 90 days of the start date, you must return your fully completed Volunteer Forms as soon as possible.

Immediately � Read this expedition briefing and all enclosed materials thoroughly � Book an appointment with your doctor; you’ll need him or her to sign your health form � Make sure you understand and agree to Earthwatch policies and participant responsibilities (see Appendix) At least 90 days prior to your expedition start date

Complete and return your volunteer forms. Below are the specific forms required for this expedition:

� Personal Profile � Health Form � Travel Details Form

� Liability Release Form � Behavior Agreement

European volunteers can download volunteer forms on: earthwatch.org/europe/volunteerforms US/North American volunteers can download volunteer forms at: earthwatch.org/volunteerforms Australian volunteers can download forms on earthwatch.org/australia/expeditions/volunteer_forms/ Japanese volunteers can download forms on www.earthwatch.jp/getinvolved/condition/formdownload-i.html � Pay any outstanding balance on the minimum contribution for your expedition � Book travel arrangements (see the Rendezvous sections for details) � If you plan to purchase additional travel insurance, note that some policies require purchase when your

expedition is booked (see the Insurance section for more information) � If travelling internationally, make sure your passport is current and obtain a visa for your destination country

(if necessary) (see the Passports and Visas section for more details) � Make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations for your project site (see the Health Information section) � Purchase a guide book for your destination country � Bring your level of fitness up to the standards required (see the Project Conditions section) At least 60 days prior to your expedition start date

� Review the packing list, ensuring you have all the clothing and any special equipment needed � Obtain any necessary prescription medications that will be needed for your travels Up to 30 days before you leave for the expedition

� Read any required reading or websites recommended by the Earthwatch scientist(s) for your expedition � Make sure you have enough personal funds for your expedition (See the Travel Planning section) � Leave the Earthwatch emergency contact number with a friend or relative (see the Emergencies in the Field) � Leave a copy of your passport, visas, and airline tickets with a friend or relative � Confirm your travel arrangements On the expedition

� Read any additional materials provided by the Earthwatch scientist(s) � Take photos and or video and keep a research diary when and where appropriate. Those with photography

and film skills are encouraged to share media from the expedition with Earthwatch (see the Liability Release form for more information).

� Talk to your teammates about other great expeditions Within 30 days of the expedition’s conclusion

� Please complete our online evaluation survey to help us improve. Your feedback is appreciated!

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Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador Table of Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................................1 EMERGENCY CONTACTS .......................................................................................................................................1 PREPARING FOR YOUR EXPEDITION ...................................................................................................................4 THE RESEARCH .......................................................................................................................................................6

PROJECT STAFF ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELD ..................................................................................................................................... 13

VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND ASSIGNMENTS .............................................................................................................. 13 TEAM ITINERARY AND DAILY SCHEDULE .................................................................................................................. 14 ACCOMMODATION .................................................................................................................................................. 16 FOOD .................................................................................................................................................................... 17

PROJECT CONDITIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 18 POTENTIAL HAZARDS ............................................................................................................................................. 19 HEALTH INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................................... 21 MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF SPECIAL CONCERN ......................................................................................................... 22 EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELD ................................................................................................................................... 23 COMMUNICATIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 24

TRAVEL PLANNING............................................................................................................................................... 25 RENDEZVOUS ........................................................................................................................................................ 25 PASSPORTS AND VISAS .......................................................................................................................................... 26 INSURANCE ........................................................................................................................................................... 28 PACKING CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................................................... 29 ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................... 31 RECOMMENDED READING ...................................................................................................................................... 32 HELPFUL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................... 32

APPENDIX .............................................................................................................................................................. 39 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................................................................ 42 EXPEDITION PACKING CHECKLIST.................................................................................................................... 45

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GENERAL INFORMATION

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Project title Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador

Earthwatch scientists Dr. Mika Peck, Lecturer and Research Fellow, University of Sussex, UK Dr. Anita Diaz, Senior Lecturer, University of Bournemouth, UK Ana Mariscal, Lead Botanist, National Herbarium of Ecuador Tim Cane, Department of Geography, University of Sussex, UK Dr. Dominic Kniveton, Department of Geography, University of Sussex, UK Diego Tirira, Mastozoologist, Murcielargo Blanco, Ecuador

Research site Santa Lucía Reserve, Andes Mountains, Ecuador

Expedition Dates Team 2: July 2, 2011 – July 12, 2011 (Teen team*)

Expedition length: 11 days

Team Size Max: 10 participants Ages of participants: 15 to 18 years of age*

*Note: Team 2 is an Earthwatch Teen Team and is reserved for participants 15 to 18 years of age (18-year-olds are allowed only if they will or have just completed their final year of high school).

Emergency contact number at Earthwatch headquarters in the:

US +1 978 461-0081

(800) 776-0188 (Please note that the 800-number works as a toll free call only for calls placed within the US.)

After business hours, leave your message with our live answering service. State that you have an emergency communication and leave a clear message with the name of the field program, your name, location from which you are calling, and if possible, a phone number where you can be reached. An Earthwatch staff person will be contacted and will respond to your call within one hour.

Emergency medical and evacuation assistance provider To contact International SOS in the event of an emergency, dial: • For assistance within the US: ISOS Philadelphia,

+1 215 942 8459 • For assistance outside the US: ISOS London,

+44 (0) 208 762 8550 • For assistance within Australia: ISOS Australasia,

+ 61 (0) 2 9372 2468 State that you are on an Earthwatch expedition. The following information must be provided:

1. The Insured Person’s name 2. The Assured is EARTHWATCH, the Certificate

No: GP 0010214 and SOS reference #14ACPA000075

3. The telephone number and facsimile number where the Insured Person can be reached

4. The Insured Person's address abroad 5. The nature of the emergency

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Dear Earthwatcher,

Welcome to Earthwatch! We greatly appreciate your decision to contribute to hands-on environmental science and conservation. As an Earthwatch volunteer, you have the opportunity to create positive change. Each year we send thousands of people just like you into the field to understand and help an array of species, habitats, and cultures on approximately 65 research projects in more than 35 countries. These projects focus on: climate change, cultural heritage, ecosystem services, and oceans. We place great importance on the health and safety of all those involved in our activities anywhere in the world. Although risk is an inherent part of the environments in which we work, careful risk management and diligent planning mean all participants can have educational and inspirational Earthwatch experiences. We’ve been providing worldwide experiences for more than 35 years, so you’re in good hands. It is essential that you carefully read your expedition briefing and complete the volunteer forms so that you are fully prepared. Your expedition briefing includes important logistical information such as instructions for reaching the project site, what to pack, what immunizations you need, how to physically prepare for your expedition, and more. It also explains the research being conducted on the project, why it’s important, and what role you’ll play as an Earthwatch volunteer. Well-prepared volunteers are better able to enjoy the unique and exciting experiences that an Earthwatch expedition offers and will be more helpful to the scientists’ important work. Open-mindedness, ability to work on a team, and a desire to learn are keys to a successful and enjoyable Earthwatch experience. We hope this expedition will inspire you to get more involved in conservation and sustainable development priorities—not just out in the field but also when you return home. We encourage you to share your experiences with others, to transfer your skills and enthusiasm to environmental conservation efforts in your workplace, in your community and at home. If you have questions as you prepare for your expedition, contact your Earthwatch office. Thank you for your support, and enjoy your expedition! Sincerely,

Anne T. Ogilvie International Director of Field Management

EXPEDITION UPDATE:

Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador Team 2

May 24, 2011 Dear Earthwatch Volunteer, Team 2 of this expedition, which was originally planned as a teen team, will now be run as a standard (adult) team. The dates of this team are July 2 – 12, 2011. Please see the Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador standard briefing for information about this trip. If you have questions as you prepare for your expedition, contact the appropriate Earthwatch office: Australia Office Japan Office UK Office T: +61 (0) 3-9682-6828 T: +81-(0)3-3511-3360 T: +44 (0) 1865-318-831 T: +1 800-776-0188

US Office

earth@earthwatch.org info@earthwatch.jp info@earthwatch.org.uk info@earthwatch.org

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Dear Earthwatch Volunteers, First, thank you for volunteering—I am delighted to welcome you to the Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador expedition! You will soon be living in the clouds at the Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve and exploring the stunning Ecuadorian Andean mountain forests while carrying out scientific research on the botany and wildlife of this biodiversity hotspot. I am sure that you will fall in love with this beautiful and fragile ecosystem as I have. You will work alongside a friendly and motivated international team that includes expert Ecuadorian and international scientists and inspirational conservationists from the local community. Base camp will be the comfortable eco-lodge at Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve, at an altitude of 1900m, from which you will travel in three directions to work on the projects. There are a number of parallel projects that will address scientific and management questions regarding both wildlife and habitat. Work is varied, providing you with the opportunity to engage with a number of different aspects of the cloud forest. In 2011, we will be focusing a lot more on discovering what lives in the canopy of these cloud forests. You will help set up a camera trap network in the trees to record mammals and reptiles that are not normally seen, and you will work with Ecuadorian botanists to determine carbon fluxes associated with the forest. You can also rise early to work on updating the long-term survey of the incredible diversity of bird species of the reserve and to help collate abundance estimates of invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians at both ground and canopy level. It will not be all hard work though: we often relax in the hammocks and enjoy the food prepared by the staff of the lodge while discussing the solutions to problems facing one of the hottest of all the biodiversity hotspots in the world. Looking forward to meeting you soon, Yours, Dr. Mika Peck and all the research team

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PREPARING FOR YOUR EXPEDITION Please consider this Expedition Briefing required reading for participation in the project and bring it with you to the field The Expedition Briefing is presented in four main parts:

1) The Research 2) Daily Life in the Field 3) Project Conditions 4) Travel Planning The Expedition Briefing will answer your questions about travel, rendezvous, the research area, the living and working conditions that you will encounter and the project staff with whom you will work. The overall objectives and methods of the research are described, as well as the specific tasks in which you will participate. It is important to read this information to truly understand the work you will be contributing to. This Expedition Briefing includes the most accurate information available at the time of your Earthwatch scientist’s project planning, however, the precise work that you do may differ somewhat from that described. Please keep in mind that research requires improvisation. Research plans, especially in field research contexts, evolve in response to new findings as well as unpredictable factors such as rainstorms, equipment failures, politics, etc. The nature of research expeditions requires flexibility in plans and expectations. To maximize the success of your experience, remember to expect the unexpected, be tolerant of repetitive tasks, and try to find humor in difficult situations. We will keep you informed if there are any major changes in the research plan or field logistics before you go into the field. Physical and Intellectual Preparation

Advance reading will enhance your understanding of the scientific questions addressed by the research. The Expedition Briefing includes an optional reading list that can shorten your training time in the field. Some Earthwatch scientists include additional reading material within the Expedition Briefing; others will send you articles and/or provide printed information at the research site. In addition, we encourage you to read novels or history books based in or near the research area of your expedition. Such stories will provide you with an interesting introduction to the location in which you will be living and working, and may help you “perceive” many unique features of the local culture and landscape. Pay attention to the Project Conditions section! Regular exercise is especially important for volunteers who will be doing fieldwork. Your ability to quickly adapt to your project’s physical demands will enhance both your enjoyment of the work and the productivity of your team. The Expedition Briefing describes the physical demands of the project and may suggest specific activities for advanced conditioning. Consider working on skills that will help you support, broaden and recall this research experience. For instance, we encourage volunteers who will be participating in field biology research to take walks and to pay more attention to their surroundings. Begin developing the patience and observational skills of a scientist. Journal writing: As a means of reflecting on this experience, you are encouraged to bring a journal to record your daily observations, thoughts, ideas, stories, drawings and/or feelings. You may also choose to take notes on scientific lectures, discussions, and findings. Your observations and field notes can be just as important to the research team as those gathered by more experienced staff members. And whether you can draw or not, sketches of your observations will also help you remember your experiences and describe them to others. Photography and art: Bring along your camera and/or art materials. Though research tasks take precedence and require focus, we encourage you to record your experience through photographs or drawings whenever working conditions allow. In addition to print film for snapshots of new friends and beautiful scenery, consider using slide film and/or digital images. Action photos of your teammates working on a research task, of the research site and of the research subject provide important visuals for presentations. As stories develop out of your day-to-day experience, keep an

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eye out for images to illustrate these stories. If your expedition inspires any artwork that you are willing to share, Earthwatch Institute welcomes the opportunity to copy and use photographs, drawings, watercolors and cartoons in its various publications and online. Emotional Preparation

Most likely, you will be working in a place you have never been before, with people you have just met, on tasks that require new knowledge and skills. Some aspects of your expedition, whether physical, social or intellectual, are bound to challenge you and prompt emotional highs and lows. Be mindful of these feelings and don’t hesitate to communicate emotional concerns to the research staff. The following sequence of feelings is typical:

• Stage 1: Everything is new and exciting; you feel terrific • Stage 2: Disappointment in the reality of the situation; for instance, it has been raining for days and the work

is more difficult than you expected it to be • Stage 3: Your emotions reach an even plateau; things don't seem so rough, you understand the work and

you feel you are making a contribution!

Being Part of a Team

Your team consists of a relatively small group of volunteers and project staff. Many people are not used to the close living conditions and/or physical demands common to field research. The ability to get along with others is of paramount importance. Your expedition may include group activities, such as meal preparation and clean-up, which require as much teamwork as the research itself. At the start of your project, staff and volunteers will establish ground rules that will ensure a fun, safe, respectful, inclusive and productive expedition experience for the whole team. When abroad or in another part of the country, you are viewed as ambassadors of your home region. Be courteous and respectful of local customs as well as the diverse backgrounds and customs of your teammates. Your professionalism and general demeanor are important to your Earthwatch scientist(s), Earthwatch Institute and all teenage volunteers who may follow you. The poor judgment of one team member, for example violating program rules or possession of illegal drugs, could jeopardize the entire mission of this and future expeditions.

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THE RESEARCH Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador The Rainforest Canopies and Wildlife in Ecuador expedition aims to provide the scientific knowledge to underpin the conservation flora and fauna in the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador in the face of deforestation and climate change.

For 2011, the focus is on:

• Biodiversity of the canopies and

• Canopy and forest interaction with the atmosphere (carbon and water cycles).

From 2011 to 2013, Earthwatch volunteers will be involved in the following activities and research objectives within the rainforest canopies and wildlife categories:

• Canopy mammal, reptile, and invertebrate survey: Teams will set up, test, and collect data from a range of innovative canopy traps to survey small canopy mammalian species, reptiles, and invertebrates.

• Camera trapping: Team members will help set up a network of pulley-based camera traps in the canopy to survey the wildlife of the treetops, which will provide the first census of this habitat in Ecuador.

• Bird survey: We will continue to collect information on the status of birds in the reserve and add to over 10,000 records collected since 2008 as part of the long-term database to monitor change.

• Climate change monitoring: Temperature and moisture information throughout the altitudinal transect of the reserve will be recorded using data loggers; the data will be downloaded and the loggers reset for the 2011–2012 field season during Team 2.

• Carbon flux: In 2011 we will use a number of approaches to investigate how carbon cycles through the cloud forest. We will set up standardized plots to allow comparison with data collected on other tropical and temperate rainforests.

• Ecosystems services and degradation: In addition to acting as carbon sinks forests also play a vital role in the water cycle through evapotransipration, influencing local climate and hydrology. In 2011 we begin investigating the influence of forest degradation on rates of evapotranspiration from the canopy.

The Ecuadorian Andes is one of the world’s most exceptional biodiversity hotspots due to its extraordinarily high number of endemic plants and vertebrates, and the maintenance of this diversity depends on the continued existence of representative areas of healthy natural ecosystems. A healthy ecosystem can be identified and monitored by studying indicator species that provide some insight into the pressures confronting the habitat. Indicator species that we focus on include birds, with over 390 species recorded in the reserve alone, reptiles and amphibians, larger animals such as endangered spectacled bears, and felines such as the puma and ocelot.

The distribution of these forest ecosystems and their associated species has been dramatically reduced over the last few decades due to both habitat loss and hunting, with future climate change likely to add increasing pressure. The primary forests of northwestern Ecuador now tend to be restricted to protected forests in relatively inaccessible mountainous terrain, such as Santa Lucía. Most of the larger mammals and many of the bird species that form the focus of our work are considered at risk of extinction by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), so we urgently need to gather information on their status and the threats facing them to determine whether the current reserve network is capable of sustaining populations in the long term.

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On a more positive note, areas considered the greatest hopes for conservation of habitat and large vertebrates include the community-run Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve and contiguous reserves that form a large forest block. There is ongoing work to establish a habitat corridor to link the protected mountain forest south of Santa Lucía to the Cotocachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve in the north, to provide larger species, such as the big cats, the extended territories needed for dispersal and long term survival. Rainforest Concern (www.rainforestconcern.org) has been working with local partners since 1994 and the northern connection through to Colombia (the Awachachi Corridor) was completed in 2002. We are now focusing on the southern section. Your invaluable contribution as Earthwatch volunteers is to assist researchers in this southern corridor, testing and employing new methods for surveying and monitoring flagship species and their habitats as they face pressures such as climate change and development. Your work will help ensure that management plans are based on sound science, and give these unique and wonderful species and habitats the greatest chance of survival.

The western slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes contain 6.7% of the total number of plants worldwide as endemics and 5.7% of the world’s vertebrates. With respect to bird diversity, Ecuador is home to some 1,600 birds (about twice as many as in each of the continents of North America, Europe or Australia!). This astonishing diversity and the fact that over 70% of the original habitat has now been lost have earned it a place in the top 25 biodiversity hotspots worldwide. In addition to its impressive biodiversity, Ecuador is also very culturally diverse with 27 indigenous nationalities and twelve native languages. The predominant spoken language is Ecuadorian Spanish, which provides a good introduction to the Spanish language as Ecuadorians tend to speak slowly and clearly.

Project Location This Earthwatch project is based in a protected forest northwest of the Ecuadorian capital of Quito (see map on next page) that spans an altitude of 1,400 meters to 2,600 meters (4,590 to 8,530 feet). The Santa Lucía Reserve, declared a protected forest in 1988, covers an area of 713 hectares of cloud forest, protecting over 320 species of tropical birds, thousands of plant species and an estimated 45 species of mammals. Mammal species registered at Santa Lucía include four species of cat (jaguarundi, ocelot, Andean cat, and puma), coatimundis (raccoon-like mammals), and spectacled bears. Native plants include an amazing variety of orchids, bromeliads, and other epiphytes that reach their crowning glories in these forests.

Santa Lucía is a community-based organization formed by local campesino families who manage their own resources. They have three basic aims: 1) to conserve and protect the cloud forest belonging to member families, 2) to develop sustainable sources of income for the members of Santa Lucía, and 3) to benefit directly or indirectly the residents in neighboring areas.

Santa Lucía has won a number of awards for ecotourism and offers a model of what a community-owned and community-run organization can achieve in terms of responsible tourism, conservation, and development. You will be part of this ongoing experiment in sustainable development.

The base station at 1,900 meters has a pleasant daily temperature in the mid to upper 20s (degrees Celsius—upper 60s Fahrenheit), although afternoons and evenings can be chilly as the clouds envelop the mountain in the late afternoon. You will be working in the region in the drier season, from June to August, although rainfall still occurs on most days during this period. To give you an idea of how very wet it is, the average annual rainfall is more than 3 meters—at 3,150 millimeters (124 inches)!

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Map showing the location of the Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve in northwest Ecuador

Research Achievements

Research at Santa Lucía has addressed a number of key environmental questions, including:

• What species are present within the reserve?

• Can we use aerial imagery to identify canopy tree species?

• What are the impacts of environmental change on species?

• Can we monitor environmental change through change in species numbers?

• How much carbon is associated with the cloud forests? In 2010, we made great progress. Our work is summarized below: Camera trapping: In 2010 we re-established the camera trap network with 14 top-of-the-range camera traps (Reconyx RC 60). These cameras have very fast trigger times and an invisible infra-red flash. These cameras have proved to be the only camera systems capable of withstanding the cloud forest environment and they also guarantee capture of imagery of all passing wildlife. Of particular interest, the cameras captured images of a Paramo Wolf, a species normally observed only at higher altitudes, descending to lower altitudes through the reserve and returning to higher ground a day later. See all the images on the web at: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/lifesci/rainforest/. The complete dataset is currently under analysis in 2011 with the aim of comparing the 2010 camera trapping season with previous camera trapping surveys in 2008 and 2009 and to determine the densities of ocelots (Leopardus tigrinus) within the reserve using PRESENCE software.

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Bird survey: To date we have recorded approximately 10,000 records of 190 bird species over three years. Some 50% of species recorded represent endemic species making it clear that the reserve is of extremely high conservation value. A greater species diversity was observed in primary forest, with disturbed habitats (secondary forest and silvopasture) displaying lower diversity. It is interesting to note however that 80, of the total 190 bird species observed, were actually recorded in all habitat types and we are now investigating how effective secondary forest and silvopasture are as suitable habitats for endangered, endemic, and rare species. Herpetofauna surveys: Almost all aspects of herpetofaunal understanding is lacking for the area surrounding the Santa Lucía reserve. However, since we began surveys in 2008, 21 species of reptile have been identified and a number of amphibian species are still being identified at museums. We trialed a variety of survey methods, but no single method proved particularly successful in capturing all species. Of particular interest, bromeliads have proved important microhabitats for many amphibians of the order Anura, linking significantly to their survival. Following successful trials we have now established altitudinal transects of PVC pipe traps that mimic bromeliad habitat that will be collected in 2011 to provide information on canopy anuran species. Long-term monitoring of population trends: For projects that aim to improve forest habitat, i.e. as part of REDD++ (the United Nation’s program Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), there is the urgent need to develop simple indicators of forest status. Preliminary results from the latest analyses of the bird monitoring dataset indicate that habitat quality indicator species need to be altitude specific in regions of extreme topography such as the tropical Andes. In other words,altitude is the key explanatory variable for species presence and abundance. For birds, the key to monitoring population changes depends on having sufficient replicates, or records, to carry out statistical tests to prove real change. The species that provide sufficient information include the Andean solitaire, orange-bellied euphonia, plate-billed mountain toucan, rufous-breasted antthrush, sparkling violetear, and the wattled guan. The results of an undergraduate thesis based on data collected in 2008 and 2009 suggest that, although generally easy to detect, it might be that birds may not be the most sensitive group of species for monitoring change. There is a caveat to this last sentence—we are likely to be surprised by the impacts of environmental change and unexpected effects can only be identified through a monitoring program that covers as wide a spectrum of the species present as possible. Bromeliad community structure and food webs: In 2010 several canopy bromeliad samples were taken to investigate biotic and abiotic characteristics that influence the invertebrate and vertebrate communities and food webs of bromeliad “tank water” environments. The work is still underway as part of a thesis project at the San Franscico University (Quito) with results expected in June 2011. Preliminary results show that bromeliads sampled maintain from 70 to 150 invertebrate larvae specimens, and up to 20 adult invertebrates. Predominant orders found so far include, but are not limited to: Coleoptera, Diptera, Odonata, Blataria, Saltatoria and Annelida. A few ant colonies have been found in several samples, as well as frogs from the Pristimantis genus (Strabomantidae). These canopy pools of water provide standing water habitats in a region where most water is flowing due to steep slopes and can play in important role in disease vectors, such as mosquito hosts for malaria. Carbon Assessment of Cloud Forest: New financing mechanisms for tropical forests are coming online, including financing forests directly for their role as carbon stores. With one-thirdof all carbon emissions associated with deforestation it is important to provide incentives to reduce these emission sources. In 2010 we estimated carbon stocks of the forest at Santa Lucía Reserve from 30 plots and 1,320 individual tree samples. Results show an average above ground carbon stock of 143.63 (± 27.13) t C/ha. We can conservatively estimate that the reserve provides carbon sequestration (through avoided deforestation alone) of approximately 1600 tons C per annum. To provide some context, this represents offset values for approximately 800 transatlantic return flights (per person calculation). International Level Impact: The Convention of Biological Diversity, signed by most countries worldwide, highlights the urgent need to develop monitoring systems to assess the status of species under threat. A major obstacle to this is a lack of standardized guidelines and trained personnel to enable governments and conservation organizations to actually establish and carry out scientifically rigorous rapid habitat assessments, surveys, and long-term field monitoring programs. A contributing factor is that survey methods depend on statistical designs that are often hard to apply in a number of habitats. For example, in northwest Ecuador, steepness and inaccessibility of the terrain has made standard transect surveys practically impossible, resulting in bias as survey teams are forced to follow natural features such as ridges and valleys. There is an urgent need to develop innovative survey techniques that can be practically applied to more extreme habitats to ensure countries such as Ecuador can fulfil their obligation to the CBD.

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This Earthwatch project is field testing and comparing a number of standard and innovative techniques that make use of technological advancements to assess the current status of a number of keystone groups of mammals, birds, and their habitats in northwest Ecuador. The methods will be rolled out within a number of reserves in the long term, providing a standardized protocol to monitor the efficacy of reserves in protecting habitat and species. The information is critical for reserve management, national biodiversity planning, and contributing quantitative data to the IUCN.

Local-level Impact: Community based ecotourism and scientific expeditions are critical to the long-term survival of protected areas such as the Santa Lucía Reserve. The lodge at Santa Lucía is entirely community owned with income generated distributed to the communities involved. The protected area depends on the income from visiting scientists and ecotourism to ensure the protection of their forests. The Earthwatch project can provide an income and simultaneously raise the profile of the site. With help from an Earthwatch volunteer in 2009 we are now planning to build a dedicated research laboratory at Santa Lucía and establish a research centre that would generate local employment and training in much-needed conservation skills.

Formulation of National Policy: Information generated by the project is critical in ensuring Ecuador maintains its obligations under the Convention of Biological Diversity, which states a need to monitor the status of species. The information is critical for species and habitat action plans generated at national governmental level. Data generated by the project also contribute directly to future issues of the Red Book of Mammals for Ecuador (edited by one of the Earthwatch scientists, Diego Tirira) that underpin national conservation policy.

Contribution to Conservation Efforts: This Earthwatch project aims to establish centers of excellence in Ecuador for training in field ecological techniques. This in itself would guarantee the economic survival of the reserves and the species protected. At an individual level, capacity-building is extended to Ecuadorian ecology and conservation students as they engage with Earthwatch volunteers in learning to apply field ecological techniques. The results of the first three years of Earthwatch at the Santa Lucía reserve are already evident, as the research to date has provided the reserve with the confidence to act as a field research station for the first time and host university groups interested in tropical forest science (such as the University of Sussex Tropical Forest Science Field Course in 2009 and a research team from the University of Bournemouth).

The long-term plan is to extend the monitoring network to other reserves throughout Ecuador. The scientifically rigorous long-term monitoring program will provide crucial information for reserve and corridor management.

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PROJECT STAFF Earthwatch scientists Dr. Mika Peck led an expedition to the Ecuadorian Andes in 1995 to pursue a PhD in tropical ecology at the University of Stirling, and also conducted fieldwork at Kakadu National Park in Northern Australia. The impacts of anthropogenic activity on natural systems in tropical and temperate countries became the main thrust of his research and he undertook a series of postdoctoral positions investigating anthropogenic impacts on wildlife. In 2005, he received funding from the UK Government Darwin Initiative grant for the PRIMENET project (www.primenet.org.uk), which aims to conserve the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey and other primates of northwestern Ecuador. He is a lecturer and research fellow at the University of Sussex and has taught postgraduate courses in primate conservation at the University of Oxford-Brookes. He is the lead Earthwatch scientist on this expedition and will be responsible for the coordination of the overall project, and plans on accompanying expedition Teams 1, 2, and 3 into the field (please note: schedules are subject to change).

Ana Mariscal, born in Quito, has a degree in botany and extensive experience working on conservation issues at the community level throughout Ecuador. Based at the National Herbarium of Ecuador (QNCE), she is currently completing a PhD while acting as the lead botanist with the PRIMENET project, where she has pioneered a number of new rapid habitat assessment methods. Her interests lie in forest conservation, and she has played a lead role in establishing a number of protected forests within Ecuador. During this expedition, she will lead the botanical fieldwork components and play a key role in field supervision and identification of plant species. Depending on availability, Ana hopes to be present for a number of Earthwatch teams in 2011. A native Ecuadorian, she speaks fluent English.

Tim Cane is an experimental officer in geography at Sussex University and has seven years of experience in tropical conservation working with some of the world’s rarest species in the coastal and cloud forest areas of the Seychelles. He has previously worked in Ecuador as a volunteer for the PRIMENET project, primarily working on aerial photography of the canopy at the Los Cedros Reserve. During this expedition, he will coordinate volunteer logistics and fieldwork and will be a key researcher, focusing on climatic data collection. Tim is planning on being in the field with Team 2 to download data from the dataloggers distributed throughout the altitudinal range of the reserve.

Matthew Brown has a degree in environmental science from the University of Sussex (UK) and recently completed a master’s in wildlife conservation at Imperial College (UK). He pioneered the establishment of the camera traps at Santa Lucía in 2008 and returns in 2011 as a principal investigator for all the groups. His interests lie in mammalian ecology, and he will be the lead scientist at Santa Lucía during the building and establishment of the Santa Lucía Research Laboratory that is planned for 2012. He speaks Spanish and English.

Earthwatch field staff Field Biologists

Simon Maddock has a master’s degree in zoology from the University of Wales, Bangor and is currently planning to embark on a doctoral study program. Simon’s interest is in herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), focusing primarily on ecology both in a physical environmental sense and a molecular evolutionary sense. He has a particular fascination with snakes and has worked alongside experts in South America, Papua New Guinea, and the Middle East. In 2011 he will be testing a range of innovative canopy trapping methods and investigating the altitudinal and habitat effects on herpetofauna of the reserve.

Maria Isabel Estevez-Noboa completed her undergraduate degree at Central University, Quito. She worked with Dr. Peck from 2005 to 2008 on the PRIMENET project that focused on the ecology and conservation of the critically endangered brown-headed monkey (Ateles fusciceps). She has recently been working with this team on a range of projects investigating the biodiversity benefits of agroforestry agricultural methods, and is hoping to start an MSc in primate conservation at Oxford-Brookes University (UK) in 2011. She is an experienced fieldworker with a particular interest in mammalian conservation (particularly primates) and an experienced botanist, and will be working with all teams in 2011. She speaks English and will be keen to practice in preparation for her studies in the UK.

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Miguel Angel Chinchero, BSc, is a botanist at the National Herbarium of Ecuador and an expert in plant identification. Miguel is the leading expert in the identification of vascular plants in northwest Ecuador and has worked with Dr. Peck on a range of projects since 2005, including PRIMENET, the establishment of carbon offset programs for protected forests as part of the REDD initiatives, and the assessment of botanical benefits of agroforestry in the buffer zones of protected areas. Miguel plans on accompanying all 2011 Earthwatch expeditions into the field. Miguel can communicate in English.

Staffing Schedule (Subject to Change)

Staff Member Present Team 2 (teen)

Dr. Mika Peck X

Ana Mariscal X

Tim Cane X

Matthew Brown X

Simon Maddock X

Miguel Angel Chinchero X

Maria Isabel Estevez-Noboa X

Earthwatch Teen Team Facilitator

An Earthwatch Teen Team facilitator will join your team to provide additional guidance, supervision, and activity organization for the expedition. Your facilitator will be there to help from the time you step off the plane for the team rendezvous to the end of the expedition. He or she will encourage team spirit by planning events such as team building exercises, presentations, and recreational and cultural activities. If you have any questions or problems during your expedition, such as issues with another volunteer, homesickness, or an emergency back at home, you should feel comfortable talking to your facilitator. You should also follow the advice and expectations set by your facilitator regarding safety and personal conduct. All Teen Team facilitators have experience teaching and leading groups of teenagers and are familiar with the team dynamics necessary to make each expedition a success. Remember, your facilitator is there for you! (Teen: Facilitator ratio: ~ 6:1)

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DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELD VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND ASSIGNMENTS

Project staff will hold training sessions with volunteers about the underlying theories and methods used to collect data on the status of mammals, birds, and habitats. These training sessions will be immediately followed by practical work, a problem-based learning approach that has been shown to be extremely useful and effective. Additionally, we will have discussions in evening seminars and workshops to bring together the wider issues surrounding conservation concerns within the Ecuadorian Andes.

Training sessions will take place after breakfast from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. A series of working exercises will be carried out before fieldwork begins, on days 2 and 3, to ensure volunteer comprehension and data quality. Sessions will include:

• Establishment and maintenance of a camera-trapping network • Survey methods • Compass and Global Positioning System (GPS) use • Botanical sample collection and preparation for herbarium identification • Distance data analysis for bird survey • Capture/Recapture theory and data analysis

A number of informal presentations will cover some of the following topics:

• Biodiversity, geography and ecology of Ecuador: megadiversity explained • Threats to wildlife and the importance of conservation • Mammal conservation and the role of monitoring • Climate change and Andean forests; causes of climate change, current status, and future impacts • Climate change and biodiversity • Conservation: what you can do after returning home The Earthwatch scientist(s) will give the team a more detailed onsite project briefing when you arrive.

During research days, expedition members will be split into teams of 2–4 people to conduct different activities; activities will be rotated to allow all volunteers to participate in the variety of projects available. Each group will be accompanied by staff to ensure questions are answered and quality data are recorded. The aim for each Earthwatch expedition is to carry out mammal, bird, and habitat surveys. The daily schedule may vary depending largely on weather conditions and immediate research needs.

The following major activities form the focus of the expedition. Each activity is expected to take one full day or less, and teams will be rotated.

• Establishment and maintenance of a camera trap network to survey canopy species: This activity includes the mounting of cameras in the canopy using ground-based catapult and pulley systems (if climbing is needed, only trained and qualified project staff will do so), collection of imagery from the camera trap network, image analysis, data collection, and input into the database.

• Establish plots within the forest to determine carbon dynamics: In 2011 we will establish permanent plots to

monitor forest carbon dynamics. The work involves labelling and collecting data from permanent plots throughout the reserve.

• Maintain altitudinal transects to monitor temperature and cloud-base height: A series of dataloggers that

automatically collect temperature and humidity have been set up throughout the reserve—Team 2 will trek to each datalogger throughout the reserve and download the information collected.

Training

Assignments

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• Bird surveys: Bird surveys take place from dawn to approximately 8 a.m., and involve recording species, number of individuals, and distance from observer. The incredible diversity of species requires a high degree of skill in identification so all data must be verified by the professional Ecuadorian ornithologists leading the surveys. Our study using point transect (10-minute counts) has to date resulted in over 6,500 individual observations of birds and forms a reserve-wide database linked to habitat and climate characteristics.

• Canopy mammal, reptile, and amphibian surveys: In 2011 we will pioneer a range of trapping methods in the canopy to survey species rarely seen at ground level. Using camera traps (explained above), Sherman traps, and a range of experimental reptile traps, we will be surveying this little-known environment for the first time.

Most activities require a high degree of physical fitness as the distances covered are all on foot in steep, mountainous terrain and very humid conditions. Volunteers should note that there will be some flexibility to choose activities but the rotation is mainly driven by research needs. Project staff cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you are in very good physical condition for this expedition; otherwise you will not be able to experience all the environments within the Santa Lucía reserve.

Team Development

Team development is essential to the success of the expedition. Staff and volunteers are required to work together for successful outcomes. Team-building exercises will form part of the framework of the project and include ice-breaking activities based on participatory methods to break down initial barriers between individuals on the first night of the expedition. Previous experience has shown that team spirit is a natural outcome from overcoming the physical and mental demands of expeditionary fieldwork. Evening meals are all shared together, providing an opportunity for discussion and bonding. Informal 10-minute team presentations at the end of each day will aim to open up more general discussion of view points and experiences.

TEAM ITINERARY AND DAILY SCHEDULE Be aware that schedules can and do fluctuate as weather and work conditions can affect the daily schedule. Should this situation arise, your cooperation and understanding are appreciated. Day 1 Evening social and icebreaking activities. Day 2 Morning seminar providing overview of project—fieldwork briefing and commencement of fieldwork. Start of evening discussion series and workshops. Days 3 – 5 Carry out fieldwork. Day 6 Recreational Day: activities will be planned by project staff and your teen team facilitator, for instance a possible trip to an archaeological site of the Yumbo civilization (Tulipe) or the town of Mindo. Please note that these trips are not included in the costs of the Earthwatch project so bring some funds (about $40 US) to cover transport, food, and entry fees. Alternatively you can relax at the lodge or go bird-watching nearby provided adequate supervision is available. Days 7 – 10 Same as days 3 to 5 Day 11 Return trek and transfer to Quito.

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Typical Daily Schedule Time Cat/Bear Survey Group Bird/Reptile Survey

Group Habitat Assessment Groups

5:30 a.m. Rise early and start fieldwork

7:00 a.m. Breakfast Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Briefing on fieldwork Briefing on fieldwork 9:00 a.m. Start fieldwork Breakfast Start fieldwork 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (either return to station or eat packed lunches in the field) 1:30 – 3:00 or 5:00 p.m.

Fieldwork or processing of field samples (times will vary for ending fieldwork based on activity, for example bird survey groups may wish to have the afternoon to relax after an early start)

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Return to field station and conduct data reduction (depending on project group) 6.00 – 7:00 p.m. Rest or recreational hour

7:00 p.m. Evening meal 8:00 p.m. Seminar and/or social event (some evenings are unscheduled recreational time);

Nocturnal reptile survey some nights Volunteers should consult a travel guidebook for information on local attractions. See the Helpful Resources section for suggested guidebooks. Earthwatch Recreational Time Policy

Earthwatch has a duty of care to our participants from the rendezvous to the end of the expedition. In order to ensure you are as safe during your recreational time as you are during research time, we have put a number of measures in place.

If there is a recreational day during the expedition, the project staff and/or Teen Team facilitator will supervise a planned team activity or a small choice of supervised recreational activities that have been vetted and comply with Earthwatch standards. You will also have the option of remaining at the project accommodations to rest, provided supervision is possible.

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ACCOMMODATION

• Sleeping (shared rooms etc.) The accomodation is extremely comfortable and sleeps over 22 people in a mix of double and shared single-gender rooms. Some rooms have double and single beds, and others have bunk beds. Please notify Earthwatch if there’s someone specific of the same gender you’d like to share a room with. It is typically not possible to have a single room. Bedding is provided but it is recommended that volunteers pack a sleeping bag to ensure extra warmth when cool, damp weather rolls in. Depending on logistics, some volunteers may share single gender cabañas (4–5 per cabaña).

• Bathroom facilities There are hot showers with particularly spectacular views of the forest. Visitors are asked to conserve water and energy but showers are always available. Bathrooms are shared by gender. In addition to ordinary toilets, the lodge has compost toilets to minimize contamination. There are facilities for washing laundry by hand. With prior notice, a (hand) laundry service may be provided for a small fee.

• Electricity: The lodge has electricity supplied by solar panels but must be rationed; electricity is shut off overnight. There is only a limited supply of electricity and limited outlets. Volunteers may use electricity to recharge small equipment on a limited basis but project equipment will be first priority. • Internet/communications: The lodge has very limited internet access but the priority of use is for administrative staff and scientific work. • Facilities/amenities: Hiking trails run through the reserve, and there is a five-a-side football/soccer pitch. There is a small supply of books for exchange, board games, and a guitar for use at no charge. The lodge is within the reserve and volunteers will walk each day to the work site. Distances will vary depending on the activity and are highlighted in the Project Conditions section below. • Services/restaurants within walking distance There are no facilities or services within walking distance of the accommodations. Be prepared to live in the mountain forest for 11 days. You will miss it afterwards!

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FOOD Eating is a communal activity involving team members and all expedition staff. We use a communal dining area so other visitors will also be present. Meals will combine traditional Ecuadorian and international recipes and, where possible, staff will use organic produce from the lodge garden. Guests are not expected to help in the kitchen but are always welcome to lend a hand both in the kitchen and in the garden.

Following are examples of the foods you might expect in the field. Please bear in mind that variety depends on availability. This list is intended to provide a general idea of food types, but it is very important that volunteers be flexible.

Breakfast: Home-made bread, eggs, fruit juice and hot drinks Granola with fruit salad, bread and jam, and hot drinks Pancakes with syrup and fruit salad, and hot drinks In addition, the traditional breakfast of rice is available for those that request it.

Lunch: Soup followed by rice and beans or lentils with salad/vegetables

Dinner: Chicken, potatoes and vegetables, dessert, hot drinks Llapingachos (potato and cheese cakes) with beef stew and salad Pizza and salad, dessert, hot drinks

Snacks/Other: Popcorn, banana chips, etc.

Beverages: Black and herbal teas, coffee, hot chocolate

Water: Drinking water is always available (water has been boiled and tested to be safe).

Dietary Requirements Please alert Earthwatch to any special dietary requirements (e.g. diabetes, lactose intolerance, nut or other serious food allergies) as soon as possible, and note them in the space provided on your volunteer forms. Accommodating special diets is not guaranteed and can be very difficult due to availability of food, location of field sites, and other local conditions. Special note to vegans and strict vegetarians: Please be aware that it is often difficult to accommodate strict vegetarians and vegans. It may be possible to get meatless meals but vegans may have a problem avoiding animal products altogether. If this poses a problem, then participation on this Earthwatch expedition should be seriously reconsidered.

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PROJECT CONDITIONS Please show this section to a doctor when he/she is completing your health form. Be sure to discuss inoculation requirements with your doctor well in advance of your departure date. See the Health Information section for inoculation information.

To the doctor:

Your patient has volunteered to join a field research team that has specific physical demands of which you and your patient should be aware. We need your accurate evaluation of your patient’s ability to meet the conditions detailed below in order to care for his/her health and safety and assess that he/she can participate fully and effectively.

General Conditions

The weather is expected to vary within the limits below.

Physical Demands

This is a very physically demanding expedition requiring volunteers to traverse steep, mountainous, frequently muddy terrain on a daily basis.

All daily fieldwork, once at Santa Lucía, does involve trekking within the reserve, so good walking legs are an essential requisite. The uphill hike to Santa Lucía at the start of the expedition is challenging, with a two-hour ascent on well-maintained switchback trails before arriving at the lodge. Volunteers are not expected to carry luggage, as mules will transport all equipment up to the lodge.

Project conditions during June and July

Humidity 20% to 80% (Cool and damp)

Temperature range 9°C/49°F to 21°C/70°F Altitude 1400 m/4590 ft to 2600

m/8530 ft

Rainfall 25 50 mm /1 2 in per month

Some fieldwork, for example, collection of camera trap imagery, will still take place in the rain, but there are a number of processing tasks that can be undertaken indoors should it rain very heavily. To give you an idea of the requirements for each aspect of the fieldwork here is a summary of what might be expected: Camera trap network establishment and maintenance: Walking distance for this activity can be variable, between 2 – 6 hours (depending on cameras under maintenance) on mountainous forest trails. Carbon Dynamics: Walking distance to sites will vary from 200 m/656ft to over 9 km/5.58 mi. Site work involves collection of botanical samples and recording of habitat data. This work involves walking,standing, and scrambling on the steep slope of the forest floor. You must be physically fit. Altitudinal climate monitoring transect (dataloggers): Similar to camera trapping.

Bird, reptile, and amphibian surveys: Varies from 30-minute to 4-hour hikes as the survey points cover the entire reserve.

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Below are the expected demands of the project, but please keep in mind that conditions may change and the project could potentially be more or less strenuous than the chart indicates.

The Effects of High Altitude

The best way for a person to acclimatize properly to high altitude is by maintaining good physical health, staying thoroughly hydrated, and ascending in stages. Therefore, it is very important that each volunteer is aware of the effects of altitude on their body prior to the rendezvous.

Altitude has unique physiological effects and different people react in different ways. It is important that volunteers avoid over exertion upon arrival. Good physical fitness (primarily cardiovascular health) can help prevent altitude sickness; however, even some people in great physical condition can have ill effects from altitude. Do not assume that your good physical health guarantees a positive response to altitude. The only way to know exactly how your body will react is to go to elevations of 2,400 m/8,000 ft or higher, preferably for an overnight stay. While the beginning of the project is designed to help you acclimatize to the altitude, taking the additional precautions will put you in a better position to fully enjoy your Earthwatch expedition experience. The effects of high altitude can include symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, sleepiness, and shortness of breath.

Note: Reporting any signs of altitude-related illness (e.g. headache, nausea, or fatigue) to staff and fellow volunteers is absolutely critical. Early detection and treatment minimizes the risk of serious consequences. Detailed instructions on this will be provided at the beginning of the expedition.

POTENTIAL HAZARDS Hazard Type

Associated Risks and Precautions

Transportation The Ecuadorian road system can be risky by Western standards due to fast and reckless drivers, rain, poor or no lighting, and poor road conditions. Road conditions in rural areas are often poor because of heavy rains and landslides. Driving at night will be avoided. Seat belt use is required whenever possible. Volunteers are not permitted to drive.

Dehydration Due to the altitude, climate, and the demanding nature of the research activities, care must be taken to avoid dehydration at all times. Dehydration is avoided by carrying plenty of drinking water. You must drink plenty of water throughout the day and be sure to get enough to eat. Do not overexert yourself and inform a staff member right away if feeling tired or ill. Re-hydration solution will be given to anyone who gets dehydrated. Radio communication between the field teams and the field stations at both sites is maintained in order to facilitate quick responses to illness/accidents. Distance/time to full medical attention is a minimum 2-hour hike plus 1.5-hour drive.

Terrain The surveys and distances that need to be covered on foot can be physically demanding. Care must be taken when working on steep slopes and walking on the muddy, slippery trails (especially after rainfall). Uneven terrain, unstable hiking surfaces, and un-protected overhangs exist at the research site. There is a risk of sprains/strains/breaks due to falling or missteps; the dense undergrowth can also cause tripping or falls. You must wear appropriate footwear (hiking boots with ankle support/wellington boots with good tread) and long trousers. Do not stand or walk near the edges of steep slopes or sheer faces. Use a walking stick for balance as needed and always walk slowly and carefully. Be aware of your surroundings, heed staff instructions, and watch where you are stepping at all times.

Activity Workload/Intensity

Sitting Low intensity, 3 hours/3 days per team (plant sample preparation, image analysis, bird survey)

Hiking Up to 10 km/6 mi on steep uneven terrain, 6 hours/1 - 2 days per team

Walking From 0.5 to 6 km/0.3 to 4 mi over uneven terrain, 1 - 4 hours/7 days per team

Carrying 2 - 10 kg/4 - 22lbs, 1 - 2 hours/5 days per team

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Altitude Volunteers sensitive to altitude changes may need a few days to acclimatize. You may wish to arrive in Quito at least one or more consecutive nights prior to the rendezvous in order to acclimatize to the altitude change prior to the team start. See the Travel Planning section below. Stay well hydrated, don’t overexert yourself, and inform a staff member if feeling any effects of high altitude. The best way to deal with high altitude is to be in good physical health, drink plenty of water, and ascend in stages. See The Effects of High Altitude above. The reserve is actually 1 km lower in altitude than Quito.

Insects Biting insects such as mosquitoes are common, so volunteers are encouraged to bring and use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to avoid being bitten as much as possible. Teams working in forested areas may occasionally be bitten or stung by bees, wasps and ants, or spiders. Bites are usually not severe but should team members develop an allergic reaction, they will be transported to the nearest clinic. Participants with allergies to biting and/or stinging insects should bring medications as appropriate (antihistamines, at least two Epi-kits, etc.), indicate their specific allergy and treatment needs on their health form, and inform staff on site as to their treatment needs and medication location. To avoid risks, appropriate footwear and clothing should be worn and insect repellent applied. Volunteers should avoid touching caterpillars, which can provoke a skin rash and potentially more severe reactions in those who may be allergic, including anaphylactic shock.

Snakes Venomous snakes, including eyelash vipers, are found in the study area but sightings are rare particularly at the higher altitudes of Santa Lucía; no participants have been bitten to date. While they are generally very wary of humans and you are unlikely to see one, it is sensible to wear sturdy footwear with ankle protection if you are walking off track. If you do sight a snake, do not disturb, antagonize or try to handle it under any circumstances. Do not make any sudden movements or loud noises, back away from the snake very slowly and inform a member of project staff right away. Should a dangerous bite occur, the preferred option is to transport the injured person to the clinic at Nanegalito where anti-venom is available. All field teams carry venom extractors and pressure bandages into the field.

Plants Volunteers should take care when touching the forest flora. Some trees/plants have spines and prickles. Do not eat any plants in the forest as many are extremely poisonous.

Climate/Weather Although cloud forests are cooler than lowlands it is important to protect the skin from the sun with appropriate clothing and sunscreen (30-60 SPF). The risk of sunburn is particularly high due to the high altitude of our location. It can rain during any time of the year, so light rain gear suitable for tropical climates is essential. At night the temperature can be chilly, so it is also important to have appropriate warm clothing.

Political/Social/ Cultural

Ecuadoran society is generally tolerant and also traditionally conservative. It is vital to be courteous to all people you meet in Ecuador—it is common to greet people in the countryside and considered rude to pass by or ignore anyone passing.

Project Tasks/ Equipment

Care must be taken in the field when collecting plant samples. A ground-based catapult system is used to get samples from high branches. It is vital that volunteers listen to directions from staff while collecting samples and stay clear of areas when warned. If climbing is necessary, only trained and qualified project staff will do so. When georeferencing images in the field, it is vital to take care of where you step in the forest due to holes, tangled vegetation, and animals. Do not stare at the canopy while walking, be aware of your surroundings, and wear appropriate hiking footwear at all times.

Personal Security

Team members should take standard careful precautions for personal safety while traveling both before and after the expedition. Volunteers should use common sense in urban centers (i.e. Quito and Guayaquil) due to the risk of petty and/or violent crime and when traveling to and from the site. It is best to travel in pairs or groups, to avoid displays of money or other valuables, to take taxis, and to avoid traveling alone or at night. It is always best practice to leave unnecessary valuables at home. In Quito, in particular, the old city center, city parks, Virgin of the Panecillo (El Panecillo) shrine, Calle Morales (often referred to as Calle La Ronda), El Tejar, Parroquia San Sebastián (old city), Gonzalez Suarez (old city), Avenida Cristóbal Colón (new city), and “La Mariscal,” “La Carolina,” “La Floresta,” and “La Marin” districts should be avoided at night due to the high risk of petty crime. Travelers are advised to avoid hiking in the areas surrounding the antennas of Volcan Pichincha and the Teleferico (cable car).

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In/near Water There is a danger of slipping on rocks in streams and at waterfalls. Wear appropriate footwear with good tread and be sure to walk slowly and carefully at all times. Avoid ingesting river water.

Disease and Health Hazards

Health hazards to consider include contaminated water that can make you sick and make expedition life miserable. It is recommended that those new to South America sterilize water that has not been boiled using iodine or chlorine tablets. All drinking water at the Santa Lucía lodge is boiled and safe to drink.

Diseases that may be found in Ecuador include malaria, rabies, dengue fever, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), hepatitis, and typhoid. Risks from insect-borne diseases can be reduced by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants. Please see the Health Information section for inoculation recommendations. Most diseases can be prevented with basic safety cautions. Please see the CDC (www.cdc.gov) or WHO (www.who.int) websites for more information. If you feel ill once you return from your trip, make sure you inform your doctor that you have recently returned from a tropical region.

Traveler’s diarrhea

Traveler’s diarrhea affects 20 - 50% of all international travelers. Always wash your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer before eating, and drink filtered or bottled water. You should also carry an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication in your personal First Aid kit. Speak to your doctor about other options for treating traveler’s diarrhea and see the ISOS or CDC websites for advice on avoiding this condition.

HEALTH INFORMATION See www.internationalsos.com for information on the current health conditions in Ecuador. At the homepage, enter Earthwatch’s member identification number: 14ACPA000075. Under “Select Resource” choose “English Country Guide,” and then select Educador from the list. Routine Immunizations All volunteers should make sure to have the following up-to-date immunizations: DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), and varicella (if you have not already had chicken pox). Please be sure your tetanus shot is current. Project Inoculations Medical decisions are the responsibility of each volunteer and the following are recommendations only. While Earthwatch can provide details regarding suggested inoculations, we are not a medical organization and decisions about which inoculations to receive should be made between you and your doctor. Health conditions around the world are constantly changing, so keep informed and consult your physician, a local travel health clinic, the US Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), the World Health Organization (www.who.int), and International SOS (see above) for the latest health information for travelers. Please consult your physician for guidance on inoculations if you intend to travel to other parts of the country.

Inoculation chart available on ISOS member site (English Country Guide, medical summary).

Required for Entry Recommended for Health Reasons Typhoid X Yellow fever X - if traveling from countries or region

where it is endemic, a Certificate of Vaccination is required.

Hepatitis A X Hepatitis B X

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Advice Regarding Diseases • Malaria: The risk from malaria is extremely low on this project as long as volunteers only travel between Quito

and Santa Lucía, as they will remain at high altitude; chloroquine-resistant malaria exists throughout the year in most areas of Ecuador with an altitude below 1,500 m/4,921 ft. There is no known risk in the cities of Guayaquil or Quito, or in the Galapagos Islands. Volunteers travelling elsewhere in Ecuador should consult their physician or travel health provider for advice on malarial prophylaxis.

• Rabies: Santa Lucía is located approximately two hours from a hospital that has the capacity to treat for rabies exposure. Direct contact with mammals is neither planned nor expected on this project but there remains a risk from stray dogs in the area. Domesticated dogs are vaccinated, and anyone bitten by a dog (very uncommon) may have the opportunity to see the rabies certificate. The rabies pre-exposure vaccination consists of three doses over a 28-day period. Please be sure to consult your physician or travel health clinic well in advance to ensure you have time for the full vaccination series. If you have previously been vaccinated, you must have a medical professional check your antibody levels; a booster shot may be required. Rabies is a fatal disease. Treatment after rabies exposure requires immediate care (within 24 hours), and this type of rapid response may not be available to volunteers on this project due to the remote locations of the research sites and potential delays due to weather, etc. Pre-exposure vaccination does not eliminate the need for post-exposure medical attention and treatment, but it does provide additional protection against the disease in the event of a delay in treatment. In addition, any bites or scratches should be immediately and thoroughly washed with soap and clean water and a topical povidone-iodine solution or ethanol. Team members should avoid stray or unknown dogs at all times.

• Tuberculosis: The WHO estimates that one-third of the world’s population is infected with the bacterium (M. tuberculosis) that causes tuberculosis (TB). Incidence of tuberculosis is higher in developing countries, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. In general, approximately 10% of persons infected with M. tuberculosis are at risk for developing active TB during their lifetimes. TB is considered highly treatable with medications that are of relatively low toxicity and cost. Volunteers returning from developing countries are encouraged to have a (PPD)-tuberculin skin-test to screen for potential infection.

• Dengue fever: Dengue fever is endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-east Asia, and the Western Pacific, and can occur throughout the year. Globally, there has been a 30-fold increase in the number of reported cases of dengue over the past 50 years. Dengue fever is a flu-like virus spread primarily by day-biting mosquitoes. It is characterized by fever, headache, rash, vomiting, and severe muscle pains. There is no vaccine and mosquito bites should be avoided whenever possible. Insect repellent and long sleeves and pants are highly recommended. There is no treatment for standard dengue fever other than acetaminophen (avoid aspirin), fluids, and rest. It is usually resolved after about two weeks. However, hemorrhagic dengue fever, characterized by bleeding and shock, can occasionally occur and requires medical care.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF SPECIAL CONCERN

Condition Concerns and Precautions Any chronic physical condition, limited mobility (e.g. back, neck, knee, etc. problems) or lack of fitness

Volunteers must be physically fit to participate in this project. Please be realistic about what you can actually manage physically. Volunteers are expected to walk/hike on very uneven terrain. Volunteers must be able to hike two hours uphill over difficult terrain to reach the project accommodations and, at times, will need to hike off-trail or uphill on slippery vegetation. Persons with significant mobility challenges will find participation in this expedition difficult or impossible. Further, the isolated nature of the research site makes it critical that volunteers are of both good physical and mental health to avoid placing themselves and other members of the expedition at risk.

Sensitivity to Altitude Please note that some conditions may be aggravated by high altitude (sickle cell anaemia, chronic heart and lung diseases, etc.); please consult your physician prior to joining the team.

Sensitivity to humidity/ sun/heat

If you are sensitive to heat or humidity, you will find participation in this expedition difficult or impossible. Be aware that many common prescriptions can increase your sensitivity to sun and heat. Please consult a physician prior to joining the team.

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Allergies Volunteers with allergies should bring along medications (antihistamines, etc.) to relieve symptoms. Volunteers with bee or wasp allergies should be advised that these insects are present and should bring along medications (antihistamines, at least two Epi-kits, etc.) as appropriate; volunteers with severe allergies must inform staff on site as to their treatment needs and medication location in the event of an emergency and note the details of their condition on their health forms.

Phobia of heights A phobia of heights may cause discomfort on the steep trails to both sites; people suffering from this should consider alternative expeditions.

Fear of insects The forest environment is home to a diverse range of insect species. At this altitude few pose any great threat, but volunteers with a real fear should consider other expedition choices.

Impaired hearing Because of the high humidity, those persons using a hearing aid device may find it doesn’t work properly. You should consider purchasing a hearing aid dehumidifier. See http://www.shopmash.com/AIDS_TO_DAILY_LIVING/HEARING_ASSIST_DEVICES/HEI400587/product.aspx for one example.

Sleep apnea Volunteers must be able to do without C-PAP machines for the length of the project as this project may not have a reliable source of electricity throughout the night.

Additional Health Information Resources • Travel health website: www.mdtravelhealth.com • The Travel Doctor: www.tmvc.com.au • Australian Department of Health and Aging: www.health.gov.au • Hospital for Tropical Diseases: www.thehtd.org • Travellers Healthline Advisory Service Tel: 020 7950 7799 • MASTA Travelers’ Healthline (UK) Tel: 0906 8 224100 (within UK)

EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELD

Lodge staff is trained in basic first aid. If an injured person cannot walk down the trail, staff will carry him or her. Transport can be arranged from the foot of the trail to the Hospital de Nanegalito, an hour‘s drive away. The lodge has radio and cell phone communication with Santa Lucía staff in the valley 24 hours a day. Hospital de Nanegalito is equipped for most emergencies and non-emergencies, and has ambulance transport in the event that the person needs to be transported to a hospital in Quito. There is a doctor in Nanegal Saturday through to Wednesday. There is a small charge for treatment in Nanegalito (usually less than US$10). In Quito, costs are higher. Medicines are cheaper than in western countries but some can be expensive. People should bring around US$100 to cover emergency transport, medicine and treatment (most medical expenses can be covered by Earthwatch’s travel insurance but sometimes this means requesting a reimbursement after the fact). It is very important that people bring sufficient prescribed medication for their needs. People with life threatening allergies must carry the relevant antidote (e.g. anti-histamines or at least two Epi-kits).

Santa Lucía Lodge can arrange transport to Quito in the event of emergencies.

Proximity to Medical Care

Physician, nurse, or EMT on staff Project staff are not medical professionals Staff certified in safety training

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and First Aid: Jorge Noe Morales Edison Tapia Julio Ayala Eduardo Tapia Vicente Molina Francisco Molina Paulina Tapia Wilderness First Responder: Mika Peck Tim Cane

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Nearest hospital and/or clinic

Hospital de Nanegalito Eloy Alfaro y Guayaquil Nanegalito Tel: +593 (0) 2 211 6376 /197 (24 hrs) Distance: 45-minute walk down from the lodge (longer if person needs to be carried) followed by an hour’s drive Hospital Nanegal Sub Centro Cumandá y Centinela Nanegal Tel: +593 (0) 2 215 7081 Distance: 45-minute walk down from the lodge (longer if person needs to be carried) followed by a 45-minute drive to Nanegal.

COMMUNICATIONS Emergency Communications in the Field The mobile phone network is effective throughout most of the reserve and used to communicate between field groups and the base camp. In emergency situations, messages are relayed by radio and cell phone to the lodge from the reserve headquarters situated near the local village.

The emergency contact number at Earthwatch in the US is +1 978 461-0081. After business hours, leave your message with the live answering service. State that you have an emergency communication and leave a clear message with the name of the expedition, your name, location from which you are calling, and if possible, a phone number where you can be reached. An Earthwatch staff person will be contacted and will respond to your call within one hour.

Personal Communications

There is cell phone reception at the lodge so volunteers may bring and use their own cell phones during recreational time. Volunteers will need to check with their carrier to find out if their phone will work in Ecuador and how much calls will cost. Cell phone use is not permitted during project activities. Unless volunteers bring their own mobile telephones, they should expect to be isolated for the duration of fieldwork at the lodge. There is reception for most cell phones at the lodge but in the valley there is only reception for PORTA phones.

Family and friends of Earthwatch volunteers should be aware that personal communication with outsiders is not always possible while participating in an expedition. Earthwatch encourages volunteers to minimize outgoing calls; likewise, family and friends should restrict calls to urgent messages only. Measures have been taken to ensure that appropriate communication tools are available in cases of emergency.

All volunteers are asked to remember that Earthwatch expeditions offer a rare chance to “unplug” from hearing ringing phones and having to hear others’ phone conversations, and to regulate their cell-phone with respect for fellow volunteers and staff.

Contact Information If necessary, volunteers can be reached via the contact information below.

Address Mail takes a long time to arrive if at all. Please do not send mail. Phone +593 2 2157 242 or

+593 2 2157 183 For emergencies only. We cannot guarantee that an English speaking person will answer the phone. Messages will be relayed to the volunteer at the lodge by radio.

Fax +593 2 2157 242 This is a possible, but not effective, means of communication Email info@santaLucíaecuador.com The community of Santa Lucía is happy to reply to enquiries from

families as to whether or not the relevant volunteer has arrived safely. In emergencies only, messages by email can be relayed to the volunteer at the lodge by radio. Emails will be answered in English.

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TRAVEL PLANNING Note: Earthwatch Institute’s international emergency medical and evacuation assistance provider, International SOS, has a wealth of useful information available at their website, including visa, passport, currency, medical, etc. information for the country in which this project takes place. See www.internationalsos.com and enter Earthwatch’s member identification number: 14ACPA000075. Under “Select Resource” choose “English Country Guide,” and then select this project’s country from the list.

• You are encouraged to register your travel itinerary with your embassy. For information on embassies around the world see www.embassyworld.com

• Citizens of Australia may register online at: www.orao.dfat.gov.au. • British citizens may register online at: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/staying-safe. • Citizens of the United States may register online at: travelregistration.state.gov. • Citizens of other countries are encouraged to check with their appropriate embassy or consulate

regarding registration.

RENDEZVOUS The rendezvous information for this project has been removed from this web version of the Expedition Briefing. Please do not make any travel arrangements to join an expedition on this project without having full and up-todate rendezvous information from Earthwatch. Full rendezvous details including places and times are available from Earthwatch upon request prior to registration for an expedition. Please use the ‘Contact Us’ button on the top right hand corner of our website to get in touch with us and we will be very happy to help you. This information is provided in the printed version of this Expedition Briefing. Early Arrival Teen Team volunteers are discouraged from arriving in the area early. You are advised to follow the rendezvous instructions above. Regardless of when you arrive, you must meet your team at the designated time and place. Should you choose to travel before your expedition, be aware that you will not be covered by Earthwatch Institute’s travel and medical insurance (see the Before You Leave section) and you will be responsible for any costs or arrangements associated with your early arrival.

Late Arrival Please do not reserve a flight that arrives after your team’s scheduled rendezvous time. If a Teen Team volunteer is late for the rendezvous, either a project or Earthwatch staff member will wait in Quito until they arrive. Team members should stay put on arrival at the airport until project staff arrive to meet them or give them further instructions. If your flight is delayed and/or you miss the rendezvous, call Carolyn Halcrow. If you miss the rendezvous time, accomodation may be able to arrange private transport from Quito ($70). Any costs (accommodation, transport or other) incurred due to a late arrival will be the responsibility of the late volunteer.

In the event of luggage being lost from your international flight (not common but it does happen), our experience is that it doesn’t make sense to hang around in the airport as the bags won’t turn up until the next flight with the same airline, usually 24 hours later, at which point it should be relatively easy just to pick them up. In theory, airport personnel can deliver to an address in Quito or to Nanegal (they have done it once) but that’s an uncertain business and can take several days. Prepare for this by bringing some extra clothing in your carry-on luggage.

If you are unable to reach Carolyn Halcrow, call Earthwatch in the United States at +1 978 461-0081 or +1 800 776-0188. (Please note that the 800-number works as a toll free call only for calls placed within the US.) If you call after normal business hours (M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., US EST), leave your message with our live answering service. State that you have an emergency communication and leave a clear message with the name of the

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expedition, your name, your location, and phone number(s) where you can be reached. An Earthwatch staff person will be contacted and will promptly respond to your call.

Remember that Earthwatch is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; someone is always “on call” to respond to messages that come into our live answering service.

Departure It takes up to two hours to get from the accomodation to Maquipucuna (the start of the trail), then two and a half hours to get to the airport. Officially passengers are supposed to be at the airport three hours before take off, so do not book a departing flight before 5:45 p.m.

Teen Team expeditions officially end when volunteers are dropped off at the designated departure point. It is not possible to schedule alternative departure points or times; therefore, you are advised against extending your travel beyond the expedition.

Note: Early departures cannot be accommodated except in cases of emergency. Before leaving a project early for any reason you must sign an Earthwatch release form.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Passport Information Most volunteers traveling from outside the host country will require a passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel.

Visa Information Citizens of the US, EU, Australia, Canada and Japan do not need a tourist visa for entry. Citizens of other countries should check with their travel agent or a visa agency for specific visa and entry requirements. Travelers are advised to check visa regulations well in advance of traveling.

Note: If you are traveling from outside the US to Canada, Mexico, Latin America, South America, The Bahamas, or the Caribbean and have a stopover in the US, you are required to register through the ESTA program.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Online registration is now mandatory for all visitors traveling to the United States without a visa. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is used to screen short-term visitors who are citizens of the 36 countries eligible for the US Visa Waiver Program (for a list of participating countries, see travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#countries).

Visitors are required to complete ESTA at least three days before traveling to the US. Once approved, the authorization will be valid for up to two years if the individual’s passport does not expire in the meantime. Applications can be submitted through the ESTA website esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. Note: As of September 2010 ESTA will cost approximately US$14.00.

Citizens of countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) traveling to the US for tourism or business for 90 days or less do not need to obtain a visa provided they have a valid passport. (For exceptions see the VWP Quick Reference Guide on travel.state.gov/pdf/VWP-QuickReferenceGuide.pdf).

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Essential Information for Volunteers Requiring Visas

Type of Visa You must get a TOURIST VISA. Where to Get a Visa

Contact the nearest Ecuadorian embassy or consulate to find out how to apply for your visa. Please note that this process can take weeks or more. We strongly recommend using a visa agency, which can both expedite and simplify the process. See below for a list of visa agencies.

Required Information

You will need to send your passport (valid for at least six months beyond your stay), a visa application and immigration form, 2-4 passport-size photos plus payment to the embassy or visa agency (if applicable). Please be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your stay.

Contact Information

You may be required to list the following contact information on your visa application and immigration form: Francisco Molina, Administrador, Santa Lucía Recepcion de Santa Lucía, Nanegal – Barrio la Delicia, Quito. +593 2 2157 242

Cost of a Visa

Generally between US$40-100, but varies from country to country and can potentially cost up to US$180. A visa agency will charge an additional fee.

Reminder: The purpose of your visit is for vacation, holiday or travel. Foreign immigration officials do not always understand the concept of a “working vacation” or even “volunteering.” Words such as “working”/”volunteering,” “research” or a “scientific expedition” can raise questions concerning the country’s foreign labor laws and/or prompt questions about official scientific research permits and credentials, etc., to which volunteers on their own will not be equipped to respond. All required research permits for the project are in place and have been approved by the proper authorities.

Visa Agencies

In the United States In Europe In Australia Travisa* 290 5th Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10001 Tel (212) 613-2223 Fax (212) 613-2287 Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST Web: www.travisa.com (*See the website for additional offices)

CIBT, Inc.-UK 25 Wilton Road Lower Ground Floor Victoria SW1V 1LW T: 0844 736 0211 Fax: +44 (0) 207 828 5411 Calling from Europe outside UK: +44 (0) 207 802 1000 Email: info@uk.cibt.com Web: www.uk.cibt.com (has alternate address for urgent requests)

Ask your travel agency if they can send your visa application on your behalf.

Additional Passport and Visa Resources

• For Japanese citizens: www.rainbowt.jp/travel/visa_top.html • For Australian citizens: www.passports.gov.au and www.dfat.gov.au/visas/index.html • For US citizens: www.passportvisasexpress.com • Travel Document Systems: www.traveldocs.com/index.htm

Volunteers Under 18 Years of Age Entry to Foreign Countries

It may be possible for 15 to 17-year-olds to participate on standard Earthwatch teams if accompanied by a parent or guardian. However, in an effort to prevent international child abduction many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points to protect minors. Thus, if a minor will be traveling with only one guardian or if for any reason they will be traveling alone (such as for a Teen Team), it may be necessary to have a notarized letter from all legal guardians stipulating that they may travel unaccompanied or in the presence of a single guardian. This letter must give an explanation for why only one parent or someone other than a parent is signing the letter.

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For example, if one parent is deceased, only one parent has legal guardianship, or someone other than the parents are legal guardians, the letter should state that.

Airline Documentation Requirements

Airlines may also have documentation requirements for unaccompanied minors. Parents of minors are responsible for checking with each airline that their child will be flying to ensure that sufficient documentation is provided. This could include a copy of a birth certificate or a notarized letter stating that the minor has his or her parent’s permission to travel alone or with only one parent.

Important Note: Requirements by specific countries and airlines vary and change frequently. You MUST keep informed of the requirements on your own to avoid problems at immigration. If a letter is not available, the volunteer under 18 can be refused entry into the country or on a flight. There is nothing Earthwatch Institute can do to help in this circumstance.

INSURANCE

MedEvac assistance, advice, and insurance are included in the contribution you pay to Earthwatch. It covers your travel medical risks, including medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation, while you are traveling and it provides trip cancellation insurance (see www.earthwatch.org/downloads/Insurance/post15Jan_TravelFAQs.pdf for more details), baggage and personal money insurance. It doesn’t provide personal liability insurance. This coverage is valid in the country of your Earthwatch expedition (Note: For US volunteers, as long as the expedition is over 100 miles from your place of residence) and during travel to and from your expedition. Please see the FAQ for information about when coverage starts and ends. If you have additional vacation time before and/or after your Earthwatch expedition that forms part of your overall time away from your place of residence, this additional vacation time is not covered under this policy. If you are in any doubt as to whether your travel plans before and/or after your Earthwatch expedition constitute additional vacation time please contact Michelle Ralph at Sutton Winson at michelle.ralph@swib.co.uk. This insurance policy is secondary to your existing health insurance policy (e.g. the NHS in the UK).

For Volunteers Who Sign Up Through the Earthwatch UK/Europe Office or Earthwatch Japan

Details of this insurance policy are included in your expedition briefing pack and can be found at www.earthwatch.org/europe/expeditions/insuranceinfo. Please refer all queries regarding this policy to Michelle Ralph at Sutton Winson in the UK. You can email her on michelle.ralph@swib.co.uk or call her on +44 (0)1444 251164 (fax: +44 (0) 1444 251250).

Information about additional insurance available to UK residents for coverage before or after your Earthwatch project can be found at www.earthwatch.org/europe/insuranceinfo. Should you have any questions about whether you require coverage for your travel plans please contact Michelle Ralph at Sutton Winson. Earthwatch is not authorized by the FSA to give advice on any additional travel insurance you require. For Volunteers Who Sign Up Through the Earthwatch US Office

Details of the US insurance policy can be found at www.earthwatch.org/expedition/insurance. Please refer any queries regarding this policy to Michelle Ralph at Sutton Winson in the UK, michelle.ralph@swib.co.uk. Or, from the US, dial 011-44-1444-251164 (fax: 011-44-1444-251250). Please note the time difference between the US and the UK, and call during UK business hours, which are from 08:45 to 17:00 GMT (from November to April) and GMT +1 (from April to November). You may also leave a message and request that she call you back. Information about additional insurance can be found on www.earthwatch.org/expedition/gear_flights_more.

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Emergency Medical and Evacuation Assistance (For All Volunteers)

Emergency medical and evacuation assistance is available for all Earthwatch participants from International SOS (ISOS), a 24-hour, independently-operated international emergency medical and evacuation service. Please see the contact information and card on the General Information page. Participants should carry the card with them on the expedition.

PACKING CONSIDERATIONS

PLEASE SEE THE PACKING CHECKLIST AT THE BACK OF THIS EXPEDITION BRIEFING AND REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR BRIEFING WITH YOU ON YOUR EXPEDITION.

General Considerations • Do not bring more luggage than you can carry and handle on your own. Bear in mind that mules will be

carrying your luggage and all equipment up to the lodge, so please do not bring any unnecessary items.

• Backpacks and duffle bags rather than suitcases are easier (and more comfortable) for the mules to carry.

• If traveling by air and checking your luggage, you are advised to pack an extra set of field clothing and personal essentials in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is lost and/or takes several days to catch up with you.

• Many airlines have strict baggage policies. Please check with your airline(s) on baggage weight limits, liquid restrictions, fees for checked baggage, etc.

Weather Considerations Please take weather conditions into consideration when packing for your expedition. Climate information can be found in the Project Conditions section.

The climate varies between warm daytimes and chilly evenings, early mornings and nights, particularly when the clouds roll in. You should also prepare for occasional rainfall and pack accordingly.

Cultural Considerations Rural Ecuador is in some ways very conservative. Revealing clothes are considered inappropriate. In addition to the policies described in the Earthwatch Teen Behavioral Agreement, there is a code of conduct for all visitors to Santa Lucía which covers some aspects of local culture and perception—it is summarized below.

Santa Lucía Reserve—Visitor Code of Conduct

Around the world, experience has shown that tourism can have both positive and negative impacts on the natural environment and on communities. By visiting Santa Lucía you are playing an essential part in the conservation of the forest and in the provision of sustainable employment. We ask for your help to ensure that ecotourism does indeed benefit the area and local people, and that it does not damage either the environment or the well-being of the local community.

We enjoy sharing our way of life with visitors and we believe that both visitors and local people can benefit by meeting and learning about each others’ lives. You will receive a warm welcome at Santa Lucía and in turn, we ask that you are respectful of our community and its norms and culture, which may be different from your own. Please be aware that your actions have impacts that extend beyond your stay and affect both the ecotourism project and the community.

Romantic Relationships: Romantic relationships within the context of different cultures can have serious impacts on the visitor, the local resident, and the community. The special attention that visitors receive may be mistaken for personal attraction and the general romanticism more common in Latin cultures may be mistaken for personally strong feelings. Conversely, a local resident may develop expectations that the relationship will continue and lead to emigration to your home country. The local resident may also consequently have a difficult

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time dating other local residents. The community may be affected by the alteration of norms in sexual behavior, a feeling of under-appreciation among local women, and the disruption of pre-existing relationships.

Quiet Time: Out of courtesy to our guests, staff, and neighbors, we request that everyone is quiet by 9 p.m., seven days per week, in both the lodge and the volunteer house.

Gifts: Please think carefully about the impact of gift giving in the community. An act of generosity may have unintended consequences such as engendering jealousies, fostering false friendships, or creating reliance. Please never give or lend money. For the well-being of our community, if you are asked for money, loans, or gifts by anyone please inform one of the Earthwatch scientists.

Essential Items Make sure to bring your Earthwatch expedition briefing with you! It includes essential information to which you may need to refer during your expedition, as well as during your journey to and from the project site.

Although this expedition is not in the rainy season, volunteers should be prepared for wet weather as well as hot, sunny weather (do not underestimate the sun if even if it is overcast or cool). Evenings can be cool, but not cold. If you are particularly susceptible to insect bites, long sleeves and long trousers are best. Knee-high rubber boots are essential and should be considered required field gear.

Make sure to include a good headlamp (with new batteries). This will be especially useful if you want to go at dawn to see the male cock-of-the-rock birds make their colorful and aggressive mating displays at the hillside areas known as “leks.”

Please see the Expedition Packing Checklist for a complete list of what you will need to take with you. You are encouraged to go through the list and mark off each required item right before you leave for your expedition.

Gear Shops US volunteers may choose to visit the Earthwatch gear shop, New Headings (earthwatch.newheadings.com), a fun, easy-to-use, one-stop-shop that answers the "What to Pack" needs for your upcoming Earthwatch expedition. New Headings offer a broad range of outdoor equipment and travel gear including a selection of Earthwatch embroidered apparel.

Our recommended clothing and kit provider in the UK is Nomad Travel (www.nomadtravel.co.uk/earthwatch). A full list of clothing and kit is available to order online and they also have stores in the UK many of which have travel clinics where you can get health advice and vaccinations. Earthwatch volunteers benefit from a 10% discount on all clothing and health services so be sure to contact us for a special code before you buy anything from them online or visit their stores and clinics.

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ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION

• Local currency: Ecuador uses the US dollar (US$). See www.xe.com/ucc for currency information and exchange rates. Smaller bills ($20 and smaller) in good condition are best as sometimes it is difficult to get change and damaged bills are often rejected.

• Language: Ecuadorian Spanish is spoken clearly and is fairly easy to understand if you have some Spanish skills. The project will be conducted in English.

• Electricity: AC 60 Hz, 120/127 volts (see image). For additional information see kropla.com/electric2.htm.

• Time zone: GMT/UTC – 5. For time worldwide with GMT/UTC, see: www.worldtimeserver.com

• Personal funds: If you choose Rendezvous Option 1, you will need to bring $30US to cover the cost of your room and the taxi from the airport. If you wish to join either of the recreational day trips to the Yumbo archeological site or to Mindo, you will need to bring cash to cover the costs of transport, food, and entrance fees (about $40US). Nature guides may also be available for the recreational day for approximately US$30 per day. There are ATMs at the Quito Airport. Once in the field, however, you will be unable to access ATMs or banks. If requested ahead of time, we can sell snacks such as chocolate bars. Volunteers should bring cash (US dollars; approximately $150-$200US for the entire trip) in good condition in small denominations as change is hard to find. Volunteers should change any other currency in Quito or before arrival to Ecuador. Travelers’ checks are not accepted at the lodge.

• Checking luggage: Please note that if you will be taking an international flight that has one or more connections within the country of your destination, it will be necessary to collect any checked bags at the airport where you first arrive in the destination country. After proceeding through Customs, you will have to recheck your luggage before flying on to your final destination.

• Telephone dialing codes: When calling Ecuador from another country, dial the country’s international dial out code, followed by (593) and the number. When calling within Ecuador, omit the (593) and dial (0). When calling another country from Ecuador, dial (00), followed by the other country’s country code and the number. PLEASE NOTE: you should check with your cell phone provider to obtain any carrier-specific dialing codes you may need; many providers have dialing procedures that may differ in whole or in part from these directions. For additional information see kropla.com/dialcode.htm.

• Additional information: Tipping is not common in Ecuador. If volunteers wish to leave a tip for staff at Santa Lucía, they can either put it in the “tip box,” which is for all staff, or give money to individual staff. Alternatively, you can leave money for Santa Lucía as a whole. None of this is required or expected, but is a nice way to show appreciation for exceptional service.

Country Information

• UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo • Country information from around the world: www.countryreports.org • National Geographic Map Machine: plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine • US State Department: www.state.gov • Online unit conversions: www.onlineconversion.com • Worldwide weather: www.wunderground.com or www.tutiempo.net/en • ATM locator: visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp or

www.mastercard.com/atmlocator/index.jsp

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RECOMMENDED READING Below are additional recommended materials for those interested in further preparing for the expedition. Many can be purchased online through popular vendors. See the Helpful Resources section for suggested vendor websites.

Scientific Media

Books

• Ghazoul, Jaboury and Douglas Sheil. 2010. Tropical rain forest ecology, diversity and conservation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Highly recommended. This is the most up-to-date textbook describing the state of knowledge on the tropical rainforest. Well written and informative.

Popular Media Field Guides • Kricher, John. 1999. The neotropical companion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. The ideal

guide for the tropical naturalist. John Kricher gives a broad overview of the important themes without compromising accuracy. He clearly explains ecological processes and provides descriptions of wildlife with a strong emphasis on conservation.

• Forsyth, Adrian and Ken Miyata. 1987. Tropical nature: life and death in the rain forests of Central and

South America. Beaverton, OR: Touchstone Press. The conversational style of the book makes this one of the key introductory texts for anyone wanting to understand the incredible interrelationships that make up the tropical rainforests. Ideal for the field, it contains facts about climate, flora, and fauna, with many examples drawn from Ecuador.

Project Field Report

Each Earthwatch Institute-supported project submits a report on the past year’s research and results to Earthwatch, generally on an annual basis. The most recent field report for this project is available online through www.earthwatch.org/FieldReportpdf/Peck_FieldReport2010.pdf. Note that reports are not available for all projects.

Project-related Websites

• Website for the Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve: www.santalucíaecuador.com • Website for Rainforest Concern: www.rainforestconcern.org • PRIMENET project website: www.primenet.org.uk

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Additional resources can be found on our Gear, Flights and More pages: For volunteers who sign up through our US office: earthwatch.org/expedition/gear For volunteers who sign up through our UK office: earthwatch.org/europe/expeditions/gear

Travel Booksellers We encourage you to buy a guide book to your chosen destination as well as any other books that may be of interest. One excellent resource is the Travel Bookshop (www.thetravelbookshop.com)

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Think of Longitude Books as a bookstore organized geographically! Here you’ll find travel guides, maps, field guides, accounts of exploration, travel narratives, books on culture, art and archaeology, in addition to academic books on anything from the tropical rainforest to the polar ice cap.

Travel Agencies and Advice STA Travel is the preferred travel supplier for Earthwatch Australia. Every booking made through STA Travel will benefit Earthwatch’s research programs. STA Travel services all types of travel requirements and one of their biggest strengths is in complex travel requirements. In addition, STA Travel offers unique Student, Teacher and Youth airfares that are not available through any other travel agent To find out how STA Travel can help you please contact either Matthew Forster or Worasak Triprasertant on: Phone: 03 9207 5908, Fax: 03 9347 0547, Email for reservations: nccc@statravel.com.au Branch Postal Address: 235 Faraday Street, Carlton, Vic 3053 • STA Travel: http://www.statravel.com

65 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel: +1 617 576.4623 Fax: +1 617 576.2740 Email: cam@statravel.com

• STA Travel (UK): http://www.statravel.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1865 792800 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 792911 Email: manager.oxford@statravel.co.uk Quote code: EWE01/02

Earthwatch has an official partnership with Fly for Good and strongly recommends volunteers use their services to book airfare for expeditions and take advantage of Fly for Good’s humanitarian discount rates on several international airlines and routes.

Before you can access Fly for Good’s discounted rates you must set up a profile. Go to Sign in and enter your information. When asked to enter an Approval code, enter: EW360. List Earthwatch Institute as your affiliated nonprofit. At this point your account will be approved and you will be sent an e-mail confirmation. • Fly for Good: www.flyforgood.com

511 East Travelers Trail Burnsville, MN 55337 USA Tel: +1 877.359.4466 (877.FLY.4.GOOD)

Earthwatch volunteers have 24-7 access to Fly for Good staff in the event that flight issues cannot be resolved with your airline by calling +1 952-220-8465 or +1 877 499 5592. WEXAS are the UK’s tailor-made travel experts. An assigned WEXAS consultant, with significant experience with Earthwatch and our programmes, is on hand to provide you with travel advice and support. Call them on: 0044 (0)20 7838 5858 or email: earthwatch@wexas.com WEXAS is normally a members-only travel agent. However, as an Earthwatch volunteer you benefit from our WEXAS membership, so be sure to tell them you are an Earthwatch volunteer for full access to WEXAS’ best rates.

• Wexas International (Europe): www.wexas.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 7581 8761 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7581 7679 Email: southern@wexas.com Quote code: EWE01/02

Earthwatch is a partner with Travelocity in their Travel for Good/Change Ambassadors Grant Program, which allows would-be volunteers to apply for funding that can be used to cover the costs of an Earthwatch expedition and its associated travel costs. Visit www.travelocity.com/TravelForGood for more details.

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• Travelocity: www.travelocity.com Australian volunteers may apply here: www.zuji.com.au/ 3150 Sabre Dr. Southlake, TX 76092 E-mail: travelocity@travelocity.com

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APPENDIX Altrichter, M., E. Carrillo, J. Sáenz, and T.K. Fuller. 2001. White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari, Artiodactyla:

Tayassuidae) diet and fruit availability in a Costa Rican rain forest. Revista de Biología Tropical 49(3-4): 1188-1192.

Benavides, A.M., A.J. Duque, J.F. Duivenvoorden, G.A. Vasco, and R. Callejas. 2005. A first quantitative census

of vascular epiphytes in rain forests of Colombian Amazonia. Biodiversity and Conservation 14(3): 739-758. Bradley, R.S., F.T. Keimig, H.F. Diaz. 2004. Projected temperature changes along the American cordillera and

the planned GCOS network. Geophysical Research Letters 31(16): Art. No. L16210. Brokaw, N.V. and J.S. Grear. 1991. Forest structure before and after Hurricane Hugo at three elevations in the

Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico. Biotropica 23(4a): 386-392. Buckland, S.T., D.R. Anderson, K.P. Burnham, J.L. Laake, D.L. Borchers and L. Thomas. 2001. Introduction to

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Participant Rights & Responsibilities (page 1 of 3)

This document contains important information concerning Earthwatch Institute policies and participant rights and responsibilities for inclusion on an Earthwatch expedition. Please read this document thoroughly and sign the enclosed Liability Release form to indicate that you understand and accept the risks inherent to your expedition and the policies, rights, and responsibilities enumerated in this document. Participants will not be permitted to partake in an expedition until Earthwatch has received the signed release form. Intellectual Property Rights It is permissible to share photos, videos, and stories of your expedition with family, friends, local media, and in a public forum. Sharing your new perspectives and experiences is welcomed and encouraged. However, please recognize that all information, data, and images shared or gathered in the course of your expedition’s field work become the intellectual property of the Earthwatch scientist (ES). Co-opting or plagiarism of data, images or information gathered during an expedition for use in a scientific thesis, masters or PhD work, or for profit or for the academic or business use of a third party without the permission of the ES is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that data gathered during the interviewing of local people becomes the intellectual property of the ES. Earthwatch scientists have the right to place additional restrictions on your ability to share data or certain research-related images. Conversely, an Earthwatch scientist may give written permission to use data and images for academic or profitable activity. Please be sure to ask what is acceptable to the Earthwatch scientist. Fellows or scholarship recipients are sometimes required to submit a written report reflecting what they have learned on a project, sometimes as a step toward developing a curriculum. Earthwatch scientists have the right but not obligation to review and edit materials involving information gathered on one of their expeditions.

Discrimination Earthwatch does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other reason prohibited by applicable law and respects participants’ right to privacy. However, you must be aware that local laws in countries in which Earthwatch operates may not be anti-discriminatory and that the possibilities exist that local residents may not have an awareness of best practice regarding discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated on Earthwatch teams. Disruptive behavior, or verbal, physical or any other type of abuse or harassment will also not be tolerated. Violation of Earthwatch’s non-discrimination policy is grounds for expulsion from the program without a refund.

Intimate relationships Earthwatch scientists, their staff, their colleagues, and their associates are prohibited from becoming romantically involved with participants during the entire duration of the period that the team is in the field. Romantic relationships that may otherwise seem permissible may eventually create an unpleasant or unproductive work environment and are therefore strongly discouraged for the duration of an Earthwatch project. Sexual Harassment Please recognize that the relationship that exists between Earthwatch scientists and staff and participants is analogous to the student-teacher relationship. Therefore, please be aware of the following policies. Sexual harassment of participants by the Earthwatch scientist or Earthwatch staff is prohibited. Likewise, sexual harassment of other participants, Earthwatch field staff, or local people by participants is also prohibited.

Sexual harassment infringes on an individual’s right to an environment free from unsolicited and unwelcome sexual overtones of conduct either verbal or physical. Sexual harassment does not mean occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature. Sexual harassment refers to conduct which is offensive, which harms morale, or which interferes with the effectiveness of Earthwatch expedition teams; such conduct is prohibited. Lewd or vulgar remarks, suggestive comments, displaying derogatory posters, cartoons or drawings, pressure for dates or sexual favors and unacceptable

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Participant Rights & Responsibilities (page 2 of 3)

physical contact or exposure are examples of what can constitute harassment. No one should be touched in areas that otherwise would be covered by a bathing suit. It is important to realize that what may not be offensive to you, may be offensive to participants, the local population, and Earthwatch field staff. Any individual who feels subjected to sexual harassment or has any knowledge of such behavior should report it at once to his or her PI or to Earthwatch staff members. All Earthwatch scientists and Field Team Leaders (FTLs) will notify Earthwatch immediately when an accusation of sexual harassment or abuse is made or witnessed. All reports of sexual harassment will be handled with discretion and will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Any participant who is found to have engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment will be immediately removed from the expedition at his or her own expense. If a minor is immediately involved in allegations of sexual harassment, his or her parents will be contacted. Drugs Laws on drug use in most countries are severe and may carry lengthy imprisonment or death penalties. I understand and accept that the manufacture, possession, use, purchase and/or sale of illegal drugs or other illegal substances while on an Earthwatch expedition is strictly prohibited. Prescription drugs may only be purchased and used by the individual indicated on the prescription in keeping with their intended use guidelines. Alcohol Local statutes, customs, practices, ordinances, and regulations with regard to the use, possession, sale, or purchase of alcohol are applicable to all participants and project staff in Earthwatch expeditions. Participants and project staff on Earthwatch expeditions must comply with the law of the country in which a project is located regarding the minimum age required to consume alcohol. In addition, restriction on the use, possession, sale, or purchase of alcohol may be set by the Earthwatch scientist. Any restrictions on the consumption of alcohol should be clearly outlined by the project staff in the briefing to participants at the start of the project, and in the Expedition Briefing. Consumption or possession of alcohol or smoking is not permitted on any Earthwatch Teen Team, regardless of local law. Excessive consumption of alcohol by staff or participants is not acceptable on any Earthwatch project. Intoxication can jeopardize personal safety, in addition to the safety of the team. It can also cause delay, and hinder response in the event of a crisis or emergency situation. Earthwatch staff and the Earthwatch scientist have the discretion to remove individuals from the project who consume alcohol in a time and manner that endanger the safety and/or productivity of the expedition.

Minors Earthwatch considers participants under eighteen (18) years of age to be minors. Minors are not permitted to participate on any of Earthwatch’s standard teams unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in which case the minimum age is sixteen (16). Minors on regular teams do not receive additional guidance or supervision from Earthwatch beyond what is offered to the adult participants. The number of minors on regular teams is limited to two (2) per team. Earthwatch has developed teams specifically for 16 and 17 year olds (“Teen Teams”) as well as teams specifically for families (“Family Teams”) with children as young as 10 years old. These teams focus on the same research activities and have the same expectations as our regular teams, but with more facilitation and support. Exceptions for some projects are made at the discretion of Earthwatch and the Earthwatch scientist. Due to a more in-depth screening process for certain programs that select candidates based on school year rather than age, there may be 18 year olds fielding on the same team as 16 and 17 year olds. Please be aware that some Earthwatch projects do not allow participation by minors in any circumstance.

Participants and Driving Participants are not allowed to drive project vehicles or aircraft during an expedition. In select circumstances, participants may be able to drive boats under the direct supervision by project staff. These circumstances are pre-determined by project staff in collaboration with Earthwatch. Participants must respect the restrictions for boat driving in place for each project.

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Participant Rights & Responsibilities (page 3 of 3)

If a project environment is such that participants can drive their own vehicles to the rendezvous, those who have driven themselves to the project may not drive their own vehicles to, from or for project activities, including the transport of project equipment after arriving at the site. Participants who have driven themselves to the project may choose to utilize their own vehicle during recreational time, but project staff will brief them on the driving restrictions. All driving during recreational time is done at your own risk. Please be advised that the only exception to the above driving restrictions is emergency situations. Riding in other participants’ vehicles is not covered under the participants’ insurance policy for the expedition. Riding in another participant’s vehicle is done at a participant’s own risk. In the Event of an Emergency In the event of emergencies, judgments must be made by Earthwatch field staff and participants. While Earthwatch makes an effort to ensure that qualified people make the most informed decisions possible, occasionally first aid may be administered and other immediate steps taken by expedition participants who are not licensed medical providers. Each Earthwatch expedition has safety protocols and emergency procedures in place. Earthwatch encourages team members (the field staff and participants) to exercise their best judgment with regard to their own safety and the safety of other team members. Other participants may perform “Good Samaritan” actions, or actions taken to assist fellow participants during emergency situations in the field. However, Earthwatch does not encourage or expect you to jeopardize your own safety or that of others in attempting to rescue or assist your fellow team members. Right of Refusal Earthwatch reserves the right to refuse an applicant’s participation on Earthwatch projects at any time and to terminate any work being done by a participant and require the participant to vacate the project site if any of the Earthwatch Expedition Team in his or her absolute discretion considers it appropriate. In this event, the participant (and his/ her parent/ guardian, if appropriate) will be responsible for arranging and paying for any accommodation, travel or other arrangements which may be necessary following the termination of a participant’s involvement in a project, for whatever reason and may not be eligible for a refund. Earthwatch and the project staff may not refuse a participant for discriminatory reasons (race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other reason prohibited by applicable law). Earthwatch will make reasonable efforts to accommodate participants with disabilities and the organization endeavors to find appropriate expeditions for those participants that have physical limitations. Refusal of a participant is an unusual event and is generally due to either an applicant’s failure to meet the essential eligibility requirements of a particular project, or in the interest of team compatibility. In the event that an applicant is refused participation, Earthwatch will refund in full any deposit or payment made toward the expedition. Earthwatch scientists have the right to refuse special requests, such as media visits (film, photography or print), special groups or teams (students, donors, etc.), if they conflict with Earthwatch scientist schedules, safety, research objectives or general performance of the team.

Any participant found in violation of any of the policies described in this document (“Earthwatch Institute Policies & Participant Rights and Responsibilities”) is subject to removal from the team at their own expense. By signing the “Liability Release” form, participants are indicating that they have read and understand the policies in this document. Removal of a participant from a team is at the discretion of the Earthwatch scientist or Field Team Leader and Earthwatch staff. In addition, Earthwatch will support the right of the scientist to send participants away from a project once in the field should their behavior compromise the safety, research objectives or general performance of the team, or if the participant has violated a stated policy. In the event that a minor is dismissed from a project, Earthwatch will contact the participant’s parents or legal guardian prior to their dismissal. Should a participant be removed from a team, he/she is responsible for any or all costs associated with departure from the team and will receive no refund of the share of costs of the expedition nor any expenses incurred in participation on the expedition.

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EXPEDITION PACKING CHECKLIST Required Items

� This Expedition Briefing � Photocopies of your passport, flight itinerary, and credit cards in case the originals are lost or stolen;

the copies should be packed separately from the original documents � Passport and/or visa (if necessary) � Documentation for travel by minors (if necessary) (See Volunteers Under 18 Years of Age in the Travel

Planning section � Certification of inoculation (if necessary) Clothing/Footwear for Fieldwork **Clothing should be in muted colors for birding, e.g. not bright red or yellow** � Be sure to bring your Earthwatch t-shirt and remember to wear it, as appropriate, throughout your expedition � Synthetic quick-dry or light cotton trousers (avoid shorts to protect yourself from insect bites) � Synthetic quick-dry or light cotton long-sleeved shirts � T-shirts or short-sleeved shirts � 2 sweaters/sweatshirts/fleece jackets � Extra socks (at least one pair of socks designed specifically for hiking are recommended) � Rain gear (such as a light rain poncho) � Knee high rubber boots with good tread—essential � Hiking boots � Sun hat Clothing/Footwear for Leisure � One set of clothing to keep clean for the end of the expedition � Trainers (sneakers) or sandals for wearing inside the lodge and cabañas � Pajamas/sleepwear � Warm hat for cold evenings Field Supplies � Strong backpack containing all clothing, gear, etc. (to be strapped to mules for transport) � Small daypack/rucksack to use during daily field trips � Drybag or plastic sealable bags (good for protecting equipment such as camera from dust, humidity, and

water) � Insect repellent spray with DEET (if you react to DEET, effective natural alternatives also exist) � Sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or higher � 2 (two) 1-liter water bottle(s) � Digital watch for timing observations � Flashlight or headlamp with extra (new) batteries and extra bulb. The headlamp is particularly useful if you

want to go at dawn to see the male cock-of-the-rock birds make their colorful and aggressive mating displays at the hillside areas known as “leks.”

� Work or gardening gloves � Small notebook and pens/pencils with pocket clip

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Bedding and Bathing Note: Blankets, pillows, and towels will be provided by the project. � Sleeping bag, recommended for particularly cold nights � Earplugs—the lodge is not soundproofed and this is a vital accessory to ensure a good night’s sleep! Personal Supplies � Personal toiletries (biodegradable soaps and shampoos are encouraged) � Antibacterial wipes or lotion (good for cleaning hands while in the field) � Personal first aid kit (e.g. anti-diarrhea pills, antibiotics, antiseptic, itch-relief, pain reliever, bandages, blister

covers, etc.) and personal medications � Wash cloths and/or reusable microfiber cloths/flannels � Sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or higher Miscellaneous � Spending money � Camera, film/memory card(s), extra camera battery (if you bring a digital camera, bring your interface cables

for downloading – although please note there is limited availability for this on site) � High protein snacks (i.e. Power Bars, nuts, trail mix, etc. for long stretches in the field between meals)

Optional Items

� Binoculars, if you have them (7 x 35 or 8 x 40 power is recommended) � Blank CD or DVD for sharing digital photographs at the end of the expedition � Biodegradable laundry soap if you might hand wash your own items of clothing � Travel guide � Books, games, journal, art supplies, etc. for recreational/rest time and travel � Reading light (headlamp works well) � Walking stick—but only if you already own one � Dry box to protect equipment from humidity (cameras, hearing aids, etc.)

Our Mission Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. We believe that achieving a sustainable future requires objective scientific data from the field—and that the scientific process must engage the general public if it is to change the world. To that end, we involve people from all walks of life directly in global field research. We invite you to join us.

Offices: Earthwatch Institute 114 Western Avenue Boston, MA 02134 USA info@earthwatch.org www.earthwatch.org Toll-free: +1 (800) 776-0188 Phone: +1 (978) 461-0081 Fax: +1 (978) 461-2332

Earthwatch (Europe) Mayfield House 256 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DE UNITED KINGDOM info@earthwatch.org.uk www.earthwatch.org/europe Phone: +44 (0) 1865-318-838 Fax: +44 (0) 1865-311-383

Earthwatch (Australia) 126 Bank Street South Melbourne VIC 3205 AUSTRALIA earth@earthwatch.org www.earthwatch.org/australia Phone: +61 (0) 3-9682-6828 Fax: +61 (0) 3-9686-3652

Earthwatch (Japan) Sanbancho TY Plaza 5F Sanbancho 24-25, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075 JAPAN info@earthwatch.jp www.earthwatch.jp Phone: +81-(0)3-3511-3360 Fax: +81-(0)3-3511-3364

An international nonprofit organization founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1971

Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment

Our vision is for a world in which we live within our means and in balance with nature