Volunteer Conservation & Environment in Costa Rica - Tropical Forest Conservation

Conservation & Environment Volunteering in Costa Rica

Projects Abroad offers you a fantastic opportunity to learn about tropical conservation and work in endangered habitats - while volunteering abroad in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has become a conservationist's paradise. Its government has developed a positive attitude and is doing much to protect its many natural resources. Indeed, over 25% of Costa Rica is devoted to the conservation of plants and wildlife. More than any other country in the world! In addition, Costa Rica is a politically stable democracy, with low crime rates and a good attitude towards conservation and environmental sustainability.

Ecotourism has become very important to Costa Rica, bringing in over one billion US$ per year. But as tourism becomes one of its major commodities, the people of Costa Rica need to ensure that the natural resources of this diverse, beautiful land are not destroyed.

Volunteer Conservation in Costa Rica: Tropical Forest Conservation

Our Conservation & Environment programme is based in Barra Honda National park, about two hours drive from Liberia. Barra Honda is made up of 5,600 acres of dry tropical forest, below ground there is also an extensive network of over 42 caves and limestone caverns to discover. The park has a look out point which offers impressive views of the valleys of the Tempisque River and some of the islands in the Golf of Nicoya.

There is a wide variety of wildlife found within the park including monkeys, deer, raccoons, ocelots, peccary, opossum, anteaters, iguanas, margay and abundant birdlife.

Your Role as a Volunteer on the Conservation & Environment Project in Costa Rica

Volunteers have an important role to play in Costa Rica's Parks and Reserves. Despite Costa Rica's progressive approach towards conservation the protected areas are still under funded which means that they can only employ a few full time staff. Your presence gives them the extra hands needed to work on larger and more significant projects.

You will be involved in essential activities in the park such working on trail systems within the reserves, constructing and maintaining trails, as well as extending, establishing (and testing) camping, picnic sites, and viewpoints. You will be working alongside park staff, and park rangers and temporary resident scientists.

Volunteers will also be involved in improving access to the caves and caverns before undertaking research to find out more about the many species of bats which live within the caves.

Our project coordinators are keen for you to assist in environmental education projects and you might be expected to do some work with the local communities to heighten their awareness of conservation issues. This helps your volunteering efforts to be felt throughout the wider community and helps local people understand the importance of conservation in their area.

There is a lot of work to do at the site and to make the most of your time there you will work six days a week with one day free to relax or take a trip. However there is often transport heading into town in the afternoons during the week and you will often be able to travel to check emails, visit the bank, etc. Work schedules will vary depending on the amount of work and the existing schedules at the parks.

The project site is within easy reach of the Projects Abroad - Costa Rica office in Liberia and you will receive regular visits from our staff.

You may also choose to spend some weekends in Liberia getting to know the other Teaching, Care, Sports and Spanish volunteers who will be enjoying their overseas voluntary work opportunities in the town.

This project is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely on a variety of conservation activities please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.