Para La Tierra Volunteer Information Pack
Pre-requisites:
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to speak
conversational English. Applications are accepted from people of
any country or background.
Costs per month:
Volunteership
1st and 2nd month
$900*
3rd-6th month
$850*
7th + month
$800*
*Volunteers who arrive as couples have the option of paying an extra 20% if they wish to
stay in a double room (subject to availability). A 25% discount is available for Latin American
nationals.
In addition we require a $200 cash deposit, payable on arrival, in case of loss or damage to
scientific equipment through negligence. This will be refunded at the end of your stay.
Payment may also be made on a pro-rata basis for weekly periods.
As we live in a remote location, we would appreciate payment in cash on arrival. You can
also pay by bank transfer, but this incurs an additional 5% fee to cover transfer costs.
The Para la Tierra Primate Project
Thank you for your interest in working on the PLT
Primate Project! The following information should
help provide you with a picture of what the project
is all about and how your time here might be spent.
Introduction to the project:
Cebus libidinosus paraguayanus
One of the most spectacular, and unfortunately most threatened, habitats in the world is
the Atlantic Forest of South America. In the past, this Biodiversity Hotspot stretched through
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and covered all of eastern Paraguay. Now, approximately 7% of
this forest remains in small fragments. In Paraguay, only 2% of the forest remains and due to
rapid expansion of agriculture, in particular cattle ranching, soy and eucalyptus plantation,
the persisting forest is found in small isolated fragments. Paraguay is an understudied
country that is overlooked by the international scientific community. Attention is required
at both a national and international level to ensure the long-term survival of Paraguay’s
unique habitats. Within Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca is a 414ha fragment of Atlantic
Forest that Para la Tierra is working to conserve. Living within this fragment is a small
population of Azara’s capuchins, Sapajus cay and a recently discovered and very elusive
population of Black and Gold howler monkeys, Alouatta caraya.
The PLT Primate Project has three objectives:
1. The education of international volunteers.
2. Community outreach.
3. Scientific research.
There is greater need now than ever before for knowledgeable, qualified conservation
biologists working on the ground in the world’s threatened habitats. The PLT Primate
Project is committed to educating international volunteers in the study of wild primates.
Volunteers take part in six studies:
1. Long-term behavioral changes during the habituation process.
2. Use of “Decoy Behavior” in unhabituated capuchins.
3. Use of camera traps to observe anointing behavior and preference of anointing
materials;
4. Development of a vocalization archive.
5. Development of a home range use map using ArcGIS.
6. Capuchin and Howler Population Estimates for Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca
Project personnel:
Karina Atkinson: Executive Director of Para la Tierra
Karina is onsite manager at Laguna Blanca and executive director of the organisation. She
takes care of the general running of the whole organisation, and coordinates all Para La
Tierra and Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca projects. www.paralatierra.org
Paul Smith: Scientific Coordinator for Para la Tierra
Paul’s main role is to oversee all the scientific aspects of PLT’s work. He is the supervisor of
the scientific team and also helps with the publication of results. He is also the administrator
of the Fauna Paraguay website, www.faunaparaguay.com
Joseph Sarvary: Intern Supervisor and Outreach Specialist
Joe supervises all PLT interns and has several of his own projects including a bat inventory and
White-winged Nightjar study. He and Karina run all community outreach programs at PLT.
Jean-Paul Brouard: Volunteer Coordinator and Museum Curator
As Volunteer Coordinator JP’s main concern is the well-being of all the volunteers on all
projects. He also takes care of our museum, providing tours and collaborating with other
scientific collections. He is an expert in herpetofauna and Lepidoptera and runs his own
scientific projects in these areas.
Becca Smith: Primate Project Leader
Becca is the primatologist responsible for running the Capuchin Project. She has previously
worked with chamca baboons in Namibia, rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico and howler and
squirrel monkeys in Panama. Primate volunteers will work with Becca to learn about
studying primates in the wild.
Jorge Ayala and Concepcion Gomez: Forest Guards
Jorge and Conce are the two forest guards at Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca. As such, they
help to create and maintain the trail systems used for the primate project and tourists,
assist with fieldwork, take part in all outreach activities and patrol and maintain the reserve
itself.
Project volunteers:
The PLT Primate Project is committed to teaching international volunteers about the study of
wild primates. Through participation in the following studies you will be educated in the
process of behavioral field studies:
 Long-term behavioral changes during the habituation process.
 Use of Decoy Behavior in unhabituated capuchins.
 Use of camera traps to observe anointing behavior and preference of anointing
materials.
You will gain essential skills including: how to locate wild primates in their natural habitat;
familiarity with the habituation process; ethogram interpretation and recognition of primate
behavior; recording behavioral data; identifying individuals; analysis of behavioral data, and
data input and statistical analysis.
The following projects will provide you with an opportunity to use a range of field
equipment, as well as allowing them to observe different aspects of capuchin behavior:



Development of a vocalization archive.
Development of a home range use map using ArcGIS.
Use of camera traps to observe anointing behavior and preference of anointing
materials.
This includes: how to use camera-trapping technology to observe cryptic social behaviors;
using a directional microphone to record vocalizations; and how to use a handheld GPS and
ArcGIS.
The final project (Capuchin and Howler Population Estimates for Reserva Natural Laguna
Blanca) teaches you about survey and census methods that can be used to estimate the size
of the reserve’s primate populations – primarily distance methods, including line and point
transect sampling and how to use the program “Distance” to obtain a reliable population
estimate.
After taking part in these studies you will have the opportunity to design, develop and trial a
pilot study, allowing you to practically apply theoretical background in the field with the
help of a qualified primatologist.
The permanent PLT team and the current volunteers and interns together make a closely
interacting team, regardless of what project you are assigned to projects. Team effort is
important when living together in close quarters, and gives us all lots of opportunity to learn
new skills. It’s also very important that we all take time to relax and have fun - swimming or
kayaking in the lake, movie nights or just reading in the hammock are all popular activities!
You can also feel free to take a break from primates for the day and join in on any of PLT’s
other projects. Additionally, fees paid by visitors not only cover costs of food and fuel, but
helps us develop projects and achieve our objectives – to investigate and protect the
reserve of Laguna Blanca and the fragile wildlife it contains.
A typical working day on the project:
1. Get up before sunrise - between 5am and 6am depending on the time of year.
2. Go to the forest to either search for the monkeys, carry out survey transects or cut
trails.
3. Come back to the house between 10-11am and input all data collected.
4. Take part in one of the activities as required by the project.
Volunteers will be walking several kilometres through the forest per day, with
Saturday afternoons and Sundays off. You’ll never be asked to do anything you
aren’t completely comfortable with.
Life at the field station
What we provide:
You will receive three meals per day at set times where all staff and visitors eat together and
the menu is rotated on a fortnightly basis. You may be asked to help with preparation of
meals on Sundays – new menu ideas based on the food we have available are always
welcome!
Unlimited tea, coffee, yerba and diluting juice is available all day at no extra cost and
frequent rehydration is encouraged.
You will be collected from Santa Rosa del Aguaray, which is the nearest town to Laguna
Blanca, at the start of your stay (the Project Coordinator will contact you prior to your
arrival in Paraguay to arrange this) and returned to Santa Rosa del Aguaray at the end.
There is also a bus which runs to and from the reserve to Santa Rosa which you can use at
other times at a cost of 10,000 Guarani’s ($1.50).
All staff and visitors sleep in the same building. Each bedroom houses between 2 and 6
people and has a private bathroom with hot water shower.
The Volunteer Coordinator will give a welcome presentation and orientation soon after your
arrival. This will include a brief introduction to Laguna Blanca and Para La Tierra, health and
safety training, explanation of rules and regulations and a tour of the area. Over the next
few days, Becca the Project Leader will introduce you to the Atlantic Forest and begin your
project-specific training.
Other services:
Staff will make a weekly/fortnightly shopping trip to Santa Rosa and you can order any
additional items you need at this time (e.g. shampoo). An additional 5,000 PYG (around $1)
will be charged to help cover fuel prices.
We have a wifi internet connection and two laptops available for your use – we also have a
Skype account so there is no excuse for not contacting your family! However, most
volunteers have found it very useful to bring their own laptop for internet, work and
entertainment.
We also have an extensive range of items which can be bought onsite:
LIST OF COSTS (may be subject to change)
Guaraní’s
Bottles of fizzy drink
5,000
Chocolate milk
3,000
Packet of biscuits
5,000
Bar of chocolate
20,000
6 Cans of beer
25,000
12 Cans of beer (1 pack)
50,000
Large bottle of wine
50,000
Bottle of rum
30,000
Cigarettes x 20
7,000
90g of toothpaste
9,000
100g of laundry powder
2,500
Packet of chewing gum
3,000
Throat sweets
5,000
Soap large/small
4,000/2,500
Any proceeds from sales will be invested directly back into to the Para La Tierra project
fund.
Volunteers can buy washing powder and rent access to the washing machine for a small fee
but we would encourage you to allow our cook, Gricelda, to wash your clothes for you for
which she charges by the item. This provides her with a little extra income which fits with
PLTs mission of helping the local community.
What to pack:
Field clothing:
 Lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho
 Light but tough full-length trousers
 Trainers (sneakers) or lightweight boots (NON-waterproof boots are very much more
comfortable and healthier for your feet in this climate)
 Breathable socks (e.g. merino wool is much better than cotton in this climate)
 T-shirts
 Thin long-sleeved shirts
 Brimmed hat
 Mosquito head net
 Head bands
Field equipment:
 Torch/flashlight and/or headlight
 Water bottle or camel pack
 Camera (optional)
 Binoculars (optional)
 Compass
 Field backpack/waist sack
 Small waterproof notepads
 Insect repellent
Non-field clothing and equipment:
Autumn/fall and winter extras (June and July are the coldest months, when some mornings
may be frosty):
 Fleece Jacket
 Thermal leggings
 Warm hat and gloves
 Thick socks
 Sweaters/jumpers
Summer extras (summer is hot and wet from September to April, when temperatures can
reach 45˚ C):
 Extra cool breathable clothing
 Mosquito net (optional – there is no malaria in Paraguay)
 Lots of suntan lotion (it is expensive here)
 Wide-brimmed hat
 Swim suit/shorts
All seasons:
 Things to do in spare time - music, books etc
 Earplugs (different volunteers have different working hours)
 Towel
 Laptop (optional)
We live in a remote area and some things are hard to come by. If you can find a corner of
space in your suitcase, we would really appreciate:
 Tea (e.g. Tetley, Scottish Blend, Yorkshire Tea)
 Marmite
 Tubes of curry paste
 Nuts
 Creamed coconut
 Pesto (red or green)
 Tinned/dried mushrooms
 Tinned chickpeas
 Tinned kidney beans (or other beans)
 Angel Delight
 Anything else you might want to bring which is safe to carry.
We can also use outreach equipment for projects in schools etc. so we appreciate pens,
pencils or any other stationary which we can gift to local children.
First aid kit:
We have a complete first aid kit at the PLT house but you will need to bring a few items with
you to take into the field with you each day:
1. Pressure bandage,
2. Assorted plasters,
3. Antibacterial hand gel and wipes,
4. Oral rehydration sachets,
5. Sterile dressing, micropore tape and bandage
6. Non drowsy antihistamines.
If you are unable to arrive with any of these items, we have spare supplies you can purchase
through our tuck shop.
Mobile phones:
You can get a mobile phone upon arrival at the reserve, complete with a Paraguayan SIM
card to allow you to communicate with base and your team mates for 200,000 Guaraní’s.
We will then buy the phone back from you in the same condition at the end of your stay for
175,000 Guarani’s.
Vaccinations and pre-travel advice:
Please consult with your GP or local travel clinic for advice on which vaccinations you need
before travelling to Paraguay. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to Paraguay.
In order to undertake fieldwork with PLT we ask that you have an up to date tetanus
vaccination. For anyone wishing to work with small mammals we strongly suggest that you
have a rabies pre-exposure vaccine (3 injections over the course of a month – allow time!).
The rabies pre-exposure is compulsory if you wish to work with bats. Please bring your
vaccination card with you to the project.
Malaria is not present in Paraguay but if you are staying with us as part of a bigger trip
around South America we recommend you continue taking your prophylaxis while you are
with us.
We recommend visiting a dentist before you leave home – especially if you plan to join us
for an extended stay.
If you are on any medication please pack it in your hand luggage and bring enough for the
duration of your stay. You will be asked confidentially if you are on any medication when
you arrive, please answer honestly. Likewise if you have any special needs please let us
know in advance so we can do what we can to assist you.
If you have any dietary requirements we will do our best to accommodate these but please
understand that options are limited here and it is not always possible. Please let us know in
advance of your arrival. Vegetarians will not have a problem!
All volunteers/interns must have adequate travel insurance for the duration of their stay.
Volunteers/interns need to be insured for up to £1000000 (or equivalent) and it must cover
repatriation. You will be asked to provide evidence of this on arrival.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate visa for entry into Paraguay and
for the duration of your stay. Please let a member of staff know if you need renew your visa
before it expires – we can help you to arrange a visit to the border to renew your visa.
We hope to see you soon at Laguna Blanca!