Conservation Biology Internship Paraguay

Have the time of your life in Paraguay!

At Para La Tierra we specialize in training life sciences undergraduates and graduates in the skills they need to enter further education or the job market. We are here to help you develop your project design and management skills while you gain experience of a wide variety of field work techniques. You will leave Para La Tierra with an excellent knowledge of how to carry out field projects as well as an understanding of neotropical flora and fauna. You can also join in on our workshops to learn how to write project proposals, operate statistical software and use GIS among other things. At the same time you’ll be immersed in Paraguayan culture in one of Paraguay's most beautiful locations - Pilar, Neembucu (aka the City of Birds).

Spend time away from it all in a  little-known paradise...

 Paraguay remains one of the least  visited countries in South America yet  is also amongst the most friendly,  safe and traditional. Paraguay is  perfect for an adventurer ready to  explore a different world off the  beaten track. Para La Tierra is based  in the small colonial town of Pilar, a  beautiful location in the southwest of  Paraguay. The city sits near the confluence of the Paraguay and Parana Rivers, amid the largest wetland in the country. The Neembucu floodplain is home to an amazing diversity of birds, insects, amphibians and fish. The habitat is an incredible mosaic of various ecotones. From Gallery forest to papyrus swamps, from Chaco scrub to open lakes and estuaries, Neembucu plays host to it all. Our scientific staff has begun by setting goals to establish inventories of the different habitats and define exactly what makes each island of habitat unique. Having arrived in the new site just 9 months ago, we have already discovered more than a half dozen new species for the country and we believe we've found a new species of Dragonfly that has never been recorded anywhere else in the world -Any field biologists dream! Come and join us and you too will be able to contribute to the conservation of this threatened and fragile ecosystem while discovering new species and new behaviors.

Work hard, play hard!

As an intern you will begin your project before you even leave home as you work with our intern supervisor to design your project and complete a literature review. You can choose to begin your own project from scratch depending on your own interests, or you can pick a project from our list of options which you can find on our website. By the time you arrive you’ll be in the final stages of planning and ready to start exploring the habitat. Your fieldwork will start soon after and you might want to enlist some of Para La Tierra’s volunteers to help you. At the end of your fieldwork, you’ll write up your project results and give a short presentation of your study to the other interns and volunteers in the house. After all your hard work you’ll leave with an academic reference and a certificate, plus hundreds of fantastic memories to share with those at home.

 Have a direct impact on  conservation in South America

 You will be directly involved in  helping us to conserve this  threatened habitat by aiding us in  scientific investigation of the area  and making our results public to help  raise awareness of the ecological  importance of the Neembucu Wetlands.  

You'll meet like-minded people,  engage in conversations with  individuals from all over the world,  and learn about other cultures. Our  staff come from four different  continents!

The fine print  

Costs are $875 per month for the 1st two months and $825 for each subsequent month. You can also pay on a weekly basis pro rata. (There is discount for South American nationals) 

The cost  includes three meals a day, accommodation in a shared room  with a bathroom and hot water  shower, WiFi, access to leisure activities such as kayaking and horse riding, administrative costs and a  small contribution to Para La Tierra's projects, which help give local children better access to education.   

 How do I apply? 

 We have already hosted more than  300 interns who have progressed to  careers in biology and conservation.  References from past interns are  available on request. Internships  require a minimum stay of 3 months  and you can apply by sending your  CV/resume to  rebecca@paralatierra.org.

 For more information  see www.paralatierra.org

Addtional links:

Rolex Awards for Enterprise Video

Earth Times Article

Innovate Development Article

Every Second Counts Forum

White-winged Nightjar Project

Rolex Awards Interview Video

Laguna Blanca Herpetology Field Guides