ECUADOR – A WILDLY DIFFERENT PLACE

Kit England

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME

22 years old Currently doing a Masters degree in ‘Environment,

Politics and Globalisation’ Travelled after finishing my first degree Quite adventurous – liked the idea of exploring new

places So why Ecuador?

ECUADOR IN CONTEXT

One of the smaller countries of South America

Colonised by the Spanish in 1531

Bordered by Columbia, Brazil and Peru

SOME FACTS ABOUT ECUADOR

Population 13.4 million people

Capital city is Quito Main language is Spanish Important for

conservation – plants, animals and birds Also home to GalapogosIslands Divided into 3 main

regions

GEOGRAPHY OF ECUADOR

West – Amazon region - Hot & rainy

Highlands (“La Sierra”) – Home to Andes and cloud forest

Coast (“La Costa”) – cool and dry

WHAT I WAS INVOLVED IN

Worked at ‘La Hesperia’ Biological Reserve and Research Station

Practiced Rainforest conservation, organic farming and community development.

Also learnt about some other things– making coffee, history, horseriding... The works!

FOREST CONSERVATION

Large amount of deforestation

Growing in the wild is hard!

Start as saplings in the nursery

Planted out in reforestation lines

Looked after for 3 years

ORGANIC FARMING

What is organic farming? Includes animals, as well as fruit and veg Tries to be sustainable – so that people don’t have to

rely on other people. Difficult to farm in South America

Surprisingly bad soil! Inconsistent climate – Lots of rain!

COMMUNITY PROJECT

Trying to raise funds to help buy a building for the people of the local town (‘La Esperie’)

Aim to provide childcare to enable Mothers to work Also to provide training to people in I.T. Eventually looking to become an agricultural co-

operative Sharing of resources – seeds, tractors, labour Sharing the profits of what they make

Don’t have to be in Ecuador to help – I’ve been raising funds since I left!

NOT JUST ABOUT VOLUNTEERING!

Visit wasn’t just about volunteering – a chance to travel and meet new people

Kayaked around the Amazon, visited ‘Mitad del Mundo’ (the Middle of the World), local market towns, and the Incan city of Ingapirca

MORE INFORMATION

La Hesperia website: http://www.volunteersecuador.com/

Jatun Sacha foundation: http://www.jatunsacha.org/ingles/

Any Questions?