We are building a sustainable research center in the rainforest of Ecuador and we need help. A few years ago, a few of us ecology, economics, and business graduates founded a nonprofit organization called Third Millennium Alliance. We raised some money and bought a lot of land in a critically-endangered rainforest and established an ecological reserve. There was a small patch of previously-degraded land right in the middle, where we have built an innovative and surprisingly comfortable research station out of bamboo, by hand. Immediately surrounding the house we are designing/growing/building a living laboratory of sustainable resource management (i.e. permaculture). Our goal is 100% food self-sufficiency within 10 years. So far, were maybe 15% of the way there. Likewise this is a testing ground for appropriate technology, such as off-the-grid renewable energy, water treatment and management, organic pesticide production, etc. We are also in need of various biological research projects and inventories, such as botanical research, cloud forest precipitation research, GIS mapping, setting up sample plots for a bio-mass inventory, and building a native hardwood tree nursery and seed collection and germination system. With the nearby community, we are experimenting with reforestation on previously-cleared land and eco-tourism alternatives, such as the Three Forest Trail.
The program is two-months. A complete program description can be downloaded at: http://www.3malliance.org/index.php?id=320 At the top of this page, you will see links to two internship opportunities. Click on the program of your choice to access a complete program description. If, AFTER HAVING READ THE ENTIRE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION, you are still interested, please send an email to the address specified in the document, with the subject heading TROPICAL PERMACULTURE AND RESEARCH INTERNSHIP or COMMUNITY EDUCATION INTERNSHIP, depending on which program most interests you. It may take us 7-10 days to get back to you, as we may be in the forest and don't have internet there. We hope to get the chance to work with you! Sincerely, Third Millennium Alliance Jama, Ecuador www.3malliance.org
