Costa Rica
1. PiedrasBlancas National Park is a tropical humid dense forest along the Pacific coast. Activities for volunteers include monitoring and maintenance of park stations.
2. Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve is located at the southern tip of the Nicoya peninsula on the Pacific coast and is primarily a seabird refuge. Activities for volunteers include maintenance of park facilities and trails; environmental education in schools close to the reserve.Cabo Blanco Reserve currently has a very specific project – the monitoring of bats. Here research assistants are needed (these will be students or graduates in biology, zoology, or natural resources.
3. Cabuyal Beach Reserve is located in Guanacaste Province about 30 kilometers from the city of Liberia. This is a safe place for Black and Lora turtles that lay their eggs on the beach. The beach also protects a mangrove forest. Volunteer activities include: night patrol of the beach; occasionally assisting biologists in placing a satellite monitor on a turtle; protecting nests; and maintenance of facilities.
4. Camaronal National Reserveis a nesting ground for four of the seven sea turtles that exist in the world. The four (Baula, Carey, Lora and Black) are all endangered. The beach is located in the North Pacific in Guanacaste Province. Volunteer duties include: night patrols of breeding grounds; collect data on turtles and nesting events; collecting one or two nests each night for delivery to a nursery; and assistance with baby hatchlings to exit nests (where needed).
5. Corcovado National Park includes mangrove, forest meadow, forest alluvial plains, swamp forest containing over 500 species of trees. As well, it houses 140 species of mammals, 367 classes of birds, 40 species of freshwater fish, and 117 amphibians. This is a turtle nesting area. Volunteers carry out beach patrols for the nesting turtles, measure and record turtle populations, and relocate nests that are in danger of being destroyed by natural forces.
6. Iguanita National Reserve has dry tropical forests, , primary forests and mangroves. It contains 67 marine species, 110 bird species, congo monkeys, white tailed deer, iguanas and snakes. Volunteers maintain trails and infrastructure, and monitoring of flora and fauna.
7. Hitoy Cere Reserve is part of La Amistad biosphere. Elevations range 100-1024 meters above sea level. Home to 40 species of mammals, 230 bird species, 30 species of amphibians, and 30 species of reptiles. It is a World Heritage site. Volunteers are required for maintenance of facilities, constructing signs, monitoring flora and fauna, and environmental education in local schools.
8. Leatherback Marine National Park is a nesting location for the Leatherback Turtle,—the world’s largest turtle and endangered. Volunteers perform daytime and evening beach patrols to prevent plundering of nests, work in turtle nurseries, measure temperatures of nest, and provide information to tourists.
9. Lomas Bardudal Reserve has 7 different habitats including coastal forest, deciduous forest, and savannah. It contains over 230 species of bees and wasps and 60 species of butterflies and moths. Bird species include scarlet macaw, pavon, and toledo. Coati and various species of monkeys are also found in the reserve. Volunteers are needed for maintenance of facilities and trails, for environmental education in schools and surrounding communities, and for inventorying of flora and fauna.
10. Manuel Antonio National Park is adjacent TEFL International’s TESOL training facility. The park is a biological island of tropical humid forest, mangrove, beach vegetation, islands and a 14ha lagoon. It is rich in flora and fauna. Volunteers have opportunities to maintain trails and facilities, to education visitors, to support programs of ecotourism and education, and to monitor flora and fauna alongside researchers.
11. Marino Ballena National Park has marine and terrestrial features including sandy beaches, stony beaches, estuaries, cliffs, mangroves, islands, and coral reefs. It is a refuge for breeding humpback whales and for turtles, seabirds, and dolphin. It is on the Pacific coast. Volunteers are needed to maintain the beach and camping areas, and for improving roads and trails.
12. Pacuare Reserve is located on the Caribbean coast. It is a spawning ground for leatherback and green turtles. Characteristics include tropical rainforest, wetlands, primary and secondary forest. Here volunteers are needed to maintain facilities, and to assist staff with all aspects of turtle nesting protection.
13. Mata Redonda Reserve’s fresh water/salt water lagoon is a habitat for 60 species of migratory and resident birds. Characteristics include tropical forests, wetlands, and lowlands. Volunteers undertake hydrological modelling, determine the sustaining capacity of wetlands for cattle and horses, and analyze current environmental situations.
