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| Title | Native Forest Volunteer Project, New Zealand |
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| Description |
Volunteer to work to preserve the native forest and birds on the Kauri Coast, New Zealand and get to explore an undiscovered forest while learning about conservation and wilderness skills. Join this project and help preserve the native forest and birds in a Nature Sanctuary located in an unexplored forest on the beautiful Kauri Coast, New Zealand. You can join for 2 to 12 weeks from January to March, each year. Individuals, groups, students, all welcome. The ProjectBackground This Nature Sanctuary is a privately owned native forest that is managed in cooperation with the New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) and the local regional council. The sanctuary consists of protected podocarpus forest that lies in a greater kiwi zone. The kiwi is an endangered native bird and protecting its habitat is quite important for its survival. The nature sanctuary is located away from the beaten path and it is suited for those interested to work in a remote, wilderness setting.
Native Forest Volunteering You will be working in teams of up to six volunteers with qualified and experienced leaders carrying out a variety of conservation related tasks. Work will focus on the completion of a grid network of forest trails that will be used for the control and the monitoring of the pests that harm the kiwis and the other native birds. The trails will be built according to the best practices published by the Department of Conservation and DOC advisers will work alongside the volunteers. Work tasks will include: • establishing the grid pattern The Nature Sanctuary is an unexplored forest and the volunteers will have the opportunity to be the first people in more than a generation to discover the plants and trees that have been growing in the last hundred of years. This volunteer programme includes wilderness training and the possibility to spend a few nights in the middle of the forest. Participants will also have the opportunity to go on night safaris looking for kiwis and glow worms. No previous experience of this work is necessary, as training will be provided by experienced leaders. The working day normally runs from 10am to 4pm with breaks for lunch and listening to the nature around. However, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the changeable weather. Most of the workday will be spent outside walking in the forest, so a reasonable fitness level is required. Please note that the facilities at the Sanctuary are basic. They do, however, include dry cabin accommodation and comfortable hot showers. Lodging, Travel, WeatherLodging and Accommodation You will be living and working in a Nature Sanctuary which is located on the second highest peak in Northland at an altitude of 560 meters. The closest town is about one hour drive away. The facilities are basic but very comfortable. Volunteers receive home cooked, healthy food, and you will sleep in bunk beds in insulated cabins. The living area has the following facilities: kitchen, eating area, hot showers, and outdoor toilets. A list of personal items to bring will be given to you with your final package if you are accepted on the project. The meeting point for the commencement of the project is on the starting dates: January 20th, February 3rd, February 17th, March 3rd, and March 17th, 2014 at 16:30 at the Dargaville bus station. To get from Auckland (where the international airport is situated) to Dargaville, volunteers should take a morning bus to Whangarei (Intercity, nakedbus.com) and transfer to the West Coaster bus that runs between Whangarei and Dargaville. More details will be provided with your final package if you are accepted on the project. Please note, you are responsible for all of your bus and airline costs to and from the meeting point. We can arrange a pick-up service from central Auckland if you do not wish to travel to Dargaville, however there will be an additional charge of £100 per person or £150 per couple for this service. Type of volunteers needed You should be between 18 to 50 years old, fit, healthy, capable of carrying out work in all conditions in a cold and wet climate. In addition, you need to be prepared to do a lot of walking and hiking on uneven ground every day, and to be comfortable living in a rustic conditions for two weeks. The Nature Sanctuary is one hour away from the nearest town and there might be no opportunities to go into town. This is not the programme for you if you find it difficult to be out in remote areas and cannot hike at least 4 hours every day on uneven terrain. No specific skills are needed, but those with previous experience of conservation work, wilderness travel, botany, etc. would be particularly useful, as well as those who are self-motivated as you will get more of the project if you are. The project will especially appeal to those with an interest in conservation, restoration, wilderness, exploration, and off the grid living. Weather The Kauri Coast is located in the north of New Zealand, in a region known as the “winterless north”. The Nature Sanctuary is located on the top of Northland’s second highest peak at an altitude of 560m. This means that often there is a cloud or a rain-shower that sits over the forest while at the bottom of the hill the weather is dry and hot. The wind up there is pretty strong, too! This is why sometimes we descend to the Kai Iwi lakes and spend the day at the beach. During the day, the temperature will not drop below 15 degrees, but it can get chilly at night so a sweater would be a good idea if you wish to spend some time watching the stars.
Additional detailsFor more information regarding this opportunity, please visit the main project page here, or contact Aaron here. The application form can be found here, though it is advised that applicants express interest before applying, in order to discuss personal situations. |
