Generating Forest Income/Research Options at Iracambi

Since 2000, Iracambi has been host to over 500 researchers and volunteers hailing from universities and institutions in nearly 40 countries.  Iracambi is experienced in working with universities in order to meet the requirements of providing academic credit, which vary based on the institution.  Through our partnership with Viçosa University, we have access to professors, researchers, students, and other resources in a variety of fields. 

Groups of students should be accompanied by a professor, tutor, or other university chaperone who will work with Iracambi staff. The average stay for a group is from 5 – 7 days: we can arrange longer visits, too, if that is what you need. Before the trip, in coordination with the group leader, we can design a program to meet your needs.  If additional expertise or assistance is required, we can arrange for this from local experts, on-site researchers, or the nearby Federal University of Viçosa. 

Available Opportunities
Apart from its scenic beauty, what makes Iracambi an exceptional locale for study is that the problems we work on are hands-on ones that affect real people’s lives, not abstract concepts taught in an ivory tower. Our laboratory is a living tropical forest and its surroundings, making Iracambi a unique site for students who want to see for themselves how creating forests can mean saving lives.

Iracambi has a wide range of research and volunteer opportunities, listed below.  Whether students are looking for experience with tropical botany or the opportunity to help a community improve its standard of living, we are able to accommodate their needs.

Biological Studies
Flora and Fauna Inventories; Tropical Forest Biology; Medicinal Plant Ecology Studies; Mammals; Birds; Insects.

Forest Restoration
Forestry and Forest Restoration; Soil and Water Conservation and Watershed Management; Farm Forestry; Soils.

Generating Forest Income
Income Generating Alternatives; Medicinal Plants; Ecotourism; Payment for Environmental Services.

Natural Resource Management
Land Use Planning; Geographic Information System; Environmentally Friendly Agriculture; Mining issues.

Social Context of the Forest
Human and Social Capital; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Education; Community Engagement.

Housing & Food
Groups stay on-site in our houses or central residence hall, depending on the size of the group.  Single or double accommodation can be arranged, and all have access to bathrooms with hot water, showers, and flush toilets.  Additionally, we have computer and internet access and a small field laboratory.  Three meals per day, local country cuisine, are provided in our kitchen. Vegetarian options are available, and we will do our best to meet any other dietary needs and restrictions.  

Costs
Iracambi dedicates the majority of its resources to the direct support of the projects we work on.  Accordingly, we require researchers and interns to cover the costs of their room and board while staying here. Our charge for groups is US$ 25 per person per day. This includes all meals, internet use, utilities, and housing costs.