IPBio Amazon Biodiversity Research Assistant

Volunteering as a 21 year old photographer from Belgium, was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to grow as a photographer while enjoying the beauty and spirit of the Amazon rainforest and the town Alter do Chao.

I didn’t like the Birdinventory at the reserve and at son Risal. Because there weren’t enough birds to see and the hole day felt kinda unsuccessful. But apart of this every invetory was diversified and interesting. I loved especially the Arthropods because we always found some new insects. I enjoyed the group work of two for some invetories ( mushrooms, frogs and trees) because it helped to get to know the other volunteers better.

The experience with IPBio was amazing. It is a beautiful place where you can feel nature in its purest form. The field research activities have been very stimulating, encouraging you to focus on the environment, pay attention to small details and enjoy every minute. The way of working is very organised, which makes it easy and motivating, and the staff take care to teach and accompany each volunteer during their stay. On the other hand, the village and its surroundings offer many things to do. The local community is very friendly and it was fun to join their cultural events; they made me feel at home. There are also countless tours and activities to do on the weekends. It has been a very valuable experience that has undoubtedly helped me to get to know myself better and to know what I need in my life.