What I will be doing in Ecuador: 
I will be planting over 1,000 dry forest and mangrove trees that will work to combat the current environmental crisis and rebuild the devastated ecological system in this area. I will work side by side with the local community, create relationships with people from a different culture, and watch as our hard work makes a difference. I will collaborate on beautiful murals that will forever brighten the city of Bahia de Caraquez. I will learn more about sustainable agriculture, environmental restoration, and the problems facing our planet. 

The perfect combination of hard, rewarding work, adventure, and fun!    

Why this work is important:
The Ecuador rainforest is home to potentially one of the worst cases of oil pollution currently seen in the world. Before the 1960s, the Eastern rainforests of Ecuador were mainly unexplored and isolated. But Texaco’s (now Chevron) discovery of oil turned the densely populated rainforests into a maze of roads, construction, and workers. The workers built what were called “boom towns” which led to rainforest clearance that has claimed over 10,000 square miles of previously lush forests.

Texaco was in operation in the Ecuador Amazon until 1992, and during that time it spilled over 17 million gallons of oil and dumped over 18 billion gallons of waste into the rainforest, resulting in the contamination of around 1,700 miles of the pristine ecosystem. The waste was dumped into 600 open air pits with no protective lining, and the overflow was piped into the nearest rivers. The soil in these areas is so polluted that nothing will grow, fish have died, and drinking water is polluted. Cancer rates have appeared to rise in the polluted areas.

The future of the Ecuador rainforests:
The Ecuadorian government has expressed intent to protect its rainforests but without the proper financial ability and commitment from the international community, it is unable to make any real progress. Along with political will, the installation of eco-tourism programs, and and cooperation from the population of Ecuador, volunteers like me can make giant steps towards bringing the rainforests back to their previous glory.

The value of rainforests:
The Ecuadorian rainforests are home to what some believe to be the most diverse set of species on earth, providing a home to over 800 species of fish, 300 species of mammals, and thousands of plants and trees. But it also houses humans, as well. The Amazon region is home to two small tribes: the Taromenane and the Tagaeri. They live in isolation from the rest of the modern world, and their rights to isolation are protected by Ecuador’s constitution. Medicines, ranging from malarial treatments to anesthetics, have been extracted from forest plants in Ecuador’s forests.

The rainforests are also valuable on a worldwide scale. The deforestation of the amazon could case severe global warming, leading to rising ocean levels and flooding of coastal regions around the globe. The true effects of climate change are just beginning to be understood, but it is estimated that climates would be altered so severely that some staple crops, such as wheat, would no longer be able to grow.

This is a truly an amazing opportunity. In my opinion, creating connections with people from a different culture is one of the most rewarding things you can do. I was in Thailand for two weeks earlier this year and met people from all around the world. They all had a completely different upbringing and lifestyle, yet it was easy to create lasting relationships with them. These relationships gave me insight to not only the the world as a whole, but also myself and specifically my country. In Ecuador I am getting the opportunity to work directly with people from a different culture. I get to create global connections, learn about another way of life, and gain insight on my own lifestyle, all while I help our beautiful planet. The environmental crisis is a real and urgent problem, one that we as humans must combat. By going to Ecuador this Winter Break I will actively participate in the push to become a unified human race that cares and works to save the only planet that we have.