Period
May 15th 2008 to January 15th 2009
Location
Playa Piro, Osa Peninsula,Costa Rica
Background Information
Friends of the Osa is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting the Osa Peninsula's rich biodiversity through land stewardship, capacity building, education and outreach, and applied science. Our team at Friends of the Osa works with scientists, local communities, landowners, businesses and conservationists to ensure the maintenance, restoration and long-term viability of the ecosystems found on the Osa.
The goal of our sea turtle conservation program is to guarantee the health and ecological success of the sea turtles nesting on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, by integrating conservation, research, and educational outreach. Every year, volunteers from around the world come to our field site on the Osa Peninsula to make a difference in conserving the sea turtles of the Eastern Pacific. With the help of volunteers we have released more than 45,000 sea turtle hatchlings from our hatchery over the last three nesting seasons and carried out a number of educational projects to raise local awareness of the importance of conservation on the Osa Peninsula.
Duties
•Help plan program strategy in collaboration with the Manager of the Osa Biodiversity Center.
•Coordinate volunteer program
•Communicate with potential volunteers
•Schedule arrival/departure and meet new volunteers
•Train volunteers
•Ensure volunteer satisfaction (adequate food options, etc.)
•Supervise team of volunteers and assistants who in conjunction with the Coordinator will undertake:
•Nightly beach patrol to record nesting data
•Measurement and tagging of adults
•Morning beach patrol to monitor nests, count turtle tracks, check for predation, hatching
•Relocation of nests to hatchery
•Hatchery nest monitoring, temperature, etc.
•Data entry
•Test methods for reducing nest predation by coatis
•Keep track of equipment and work with administrative staff on managing the budget for the project
•Organize public outreach efforts through workshops and field trips with local schools and community groups
•Data analysis
•Write progress reports and final report
Requirements
•Must be bilingual (English and Spanish)
•Experience working in sea turtle conservation
•Advanced degree in science or conservation related degree
•Proven ability to manage teams in a variety of settings
•Excellent written and oral communications skills
•Enthusiastic attitude
Benefits/Costs
•$700 per month salary
•7 days off per month (usually non-consecutive, but variable)
•Free room and board at the facilities provided through our research station.
•Satellite internet connection, solar powered energy system
•Access to biology library at OBC
•Access to hike in forests, see abundant wildlife, visit Corcovado National Park