Volunteering in Environment Conservation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is thought to be the most biodiverse country in the world; despite its tiny size, Costa Rica is home to five per cent of the Earth’s biodiversity. As an environmental conservation volunteer, you will help conserve and protect precious wildlife and ecosystems at a nature reserve in San Ramon. Formerly a forested area, the reserve’s trees were cut down for cattle grazing. As part of a reforestation project, the reserve is being repopulated with trees, providing natural habitats for the area’s biodiversity and conserving local groundwater.
Program Video
The reserve is home to a vast array of animals, insects and plant life, and is also vital for the conservation of water levels in San Ramon and neighboring Palmares. Volunteers tend the reserve, greenhouse and butterfly garden, lead visitor tours and increase awareness of environmental conservation and the importance of the reserve to the local area. Find out more about environmental conservation volunteering in Costa Rica by downloading the uVolunteer program brochure
Quick facts
- Program: Volunteer Costa Rica
- Location: San Ramon
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Language Requirement: Basic Spanish
- Airport Pick-up: Yes, for $75
- Travel Insurance: Not included
- Suitable for Groups: Yes
- Region: Alajuela
- Project Site: Nature Reserve
- Minimum Age: 18
- Accommodation: Dorm Home
- Meals: 2 Meals Daily
- Start Dates: Every Other Friday
- Suitable for Families: Yes
Your role as a volunteer
Your role as a volunteer is to work on assignments that foster continual development of the reforestation reserve. As a volunteer you will work in the recovery of the butterfly farm, help with maintenance and reforestation (plant trees, work at the greenhouse, among others duties. The reserve staff is not always there because in these days they are trying to get donations for the foundation but will assist you at the beginning of your program, but once you are fully trained you will be working on your own or with other volunteers.
Tasks may include:
- Clearing land for reforestation
- Working in the butterfly garden
- Categorizing pants and animal s observed
- Working on land stewardship projects
Work schedule
Conservation volunteers work four days per week, from Monday to Thursday. Working hours usually work from 8 am until 2 pm, although this is subject to change – especially during the rainy season.
Journey to work
The environment conservation project is located in the town of San Ramon. You will have to take a short bus ride no longer than 30 minutes to the project site.
Closed dates
This project is closed during the fourth week of December and the first week of January, as well as for a week preceding Easter Sunday.
