Forest training courses

HM001 Jungle Survival and Neo-tropical Forest Ecology (Weeks 1, 3 and 5) 

This course is a requirement for all Research Assistant and Dissertation volunteers who will be working in any of the forest sites. The course takes one week and comprises a series of lectures and practical exercises to provide an introduction to tropical forest ecology, forest mensuration and biodiversity monitoring techniques. In addition the course teaches participants how to operate safely and healthily in remote forest areas. Activities include cooking in the forest, navigating using compasses and, in the event of becoming separated from companions, how to find food and water in the forest. In addition, training is given on selection of safe camp-sites and how to set up camps with minimal forest disturbance.

Canopy Access Experience (Weeks 1 - 8 one-day additional course within your normal schedule)

The tropical forest canopy is the richest, least explored and most threatened habitat on the surface of the planet, providing a home to 40% of all life on earth. It is an incredibly beautiful and dynamic place but, due to its inaccessibility, remains almost completely unexplored. Canopy Access Limited, the team that helped David Attenborough ascend into the canopy for Life of Mammals; Life in the Undergrowth and Planet Earth series, will be on site to provide access to the canopy for the science teams two days a week. For the rest of the time the team will be at Base Camp or Santo Tomas (at both places each week), running a one-day course on safe ascent into the canopy. Note that if you are working at one of the fly camps or in Buenos Aires you will still be passing through the sites where the Canopy Access teams will be based. This course costs £75 (approx $125) and gives you the opportunity to ascend high up into the canopy. Depending on timetables and weather conditions, the course may include time in the canopy at dusk or dawn, to see the sun rise or set and hear the birds singing all around you. You do not need to choose the Canopy Access Experience as one of your options - you can do this as an optional extra as part of your jungle training course. However, you do need to pre-book with Canopy Access Limited (www.canopyaccess.co.uk)

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HM002 Spanish Language Training (Weeks 1 - 3) 

Those wishing to use the expedition to improve their Spanish can opt for a week of intensive Spanish tuition. The course is a requirement for social science dissertation/Senior Thesis volunteers on either the marine or forest projects unless they already have fluent Spanish. It involves a mixture of taught sessions and more informal learning in a Spanish-speaking environment. Those doing dissertations or theses will be working with supervisors during this week developing their questionnaires and detailed plans for their projects. Accommodation is with local families, and the course therefore offers a good chance to get to know the people and culture. Operation Wallacea runs a course for beginners but also offers courses at more advanced levels.

HM003 DNA field sampling course (Weeks 2 - 5) 

An important aspect of modern conservation biology is incorporating genetic information (from DNA and RNA) into biodiversity studies. Most molecular biology activities are limited to a sterile lab. However, this course takes advantage of recent technical developments to combine fieldwork with an on-site field genetics lab. Volunteers on this one-week course work with the biodiversity assessment teams at Base Camp for most of the week, helping with the biodiversity surveys and collecting material for extraction of DNA. During this week some of this time will be spent working in small groups in the field lab under tuition learning how to extract DNA, amplify it with specific primers using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and then visualising the results using electrophoresis. DNA extraction will be done via FTA Whatman cards. No prior knowledge is needed.