ZAI006 - Nature Reserve (Plant and Animal Conservation)

Dates: Available all year.
Location: Near Heidelberg, Western Cape.
Project Aims: To become even more concerned and active in the conservation of plants and animals.
– regular awareness talks and workshops to adjoining farmers and farm workers.
- Provide more work opportunities to local unemployed people from Heidelberg, e.g. establishment of more teams to eradicate alien plant spp., training of local guides to provide an extra experience to visitors/tourists.
- Attracting more visitors and tourists to this spectacular area.
- Various training courses to workers and communities, e.g. establishment of a training center.
- The effective maintenance and upkeep of trails (footpaths) and other visitor facilities.
- The effective clearing of alien plant spp.
- Continuously strive for better coordination and preparedness for fire fighting operations.
Project Tasks: Physical work with your hands will be expected. Volunteers will have to be physically fit. Maintenance of hiking- and mountain bike trails will entail working with a spade or polaski, opening water bars, packing rocks, etc.
Clearing overgrown hiking trails will entail slashing down tall and woody vegetation with slashers or clipping it down with a pair of loppers.
Rehabilitation of old roads and disturbed sites, e.g. by packing rocks.
Reparation work to eroded roads and trails (from heavy rains) – working with a spade, off loading gravel, packing rocks, etc.
Eradicating alien plants, e.g. by using chemicals, cutting and pulling, or using a chainsaw (if adequately trained).
Maintenance to wooden signboards involves taking down signs, sanding down, re-painting and treatment with varnish, or making of new wooden signs.
Conducting of training and awareness talks by experienced volunteers (to local staff) on various conservation topics, e.g. Leave No Trace, survival skills, wilderness management, maintenance of tools, caring and management of horses, etc.
If experienced, the option also exists for volunteers to hike into the backcountry for 2 to 5 days,
Who Can Participate?: SIVP: Volunteers are requested to have some experience and/or proven desire of working within conservation.
Experience such as the following is recommended, but can be worked around: Wilderness experience, Leave No Trace, survival and map reading skills, trail maintenance experience. Experience in handling, and maintenance of general tools and an International drivers license is desirable.
Optional Activities: Volunteers will be free to travel to many beautiful nearby areas on weekends including Cape Town, Gaansbai, Mossel Bay and George.
Placement Costs: Volunteers must pay an administrative fee of 700 Rand, and purchase their own food.
Meals: Volunteers will have to purchase their own food and prepare it themselves. Volunteers will be taken into town a couple of times a week to run errands and to visit the supermarket.
Accommodation: Accommodation will be provided to volunteers with either a host family or in cottages on the reserve. Accommodation may be provided free, but volunteers are requested to estimate 200 Rand for accommodation in case the cottages on the reserve are full.
Hours of Activity: Monday to Friday - 9am-5pm
Required Items: If volunteers are planning to hike into the back country, they must bring their own tents.
Language: The predominant language in the area is Afrikaans, although people may understand English, they may not be able to speak it very well.