I am going on an expedition to Puerto Rico 22 November - 2 December 2010 as a volunteer on an Earthwatch research assignment. The assignment is to study the impacts of industry on the local rainforest, and to access if it's sustainable. This research will be done in different ways but primarily by counting frogs (more of this later I promise!) and measuring trees. I have no background in biodiversity or rainforests, but already I have learnt a lot through my preparation and hope to learn even more when I am there.
How did I get to go you may wonder? Yes, good question especially since I am relatively an IT geek who loves my PC and works for an Oil Company. Well I have been involved with various volunteer programmes over the years, so getting involved is not something new to me, but all of them have been related to children and their well being. This definitely is my first environmental expedition, and a big step for me in a totally new direction.
Why did I want to do this then? I decided that only reading about sustainable development was not enough. I wanted to know more through experiencing it, but also get my hands dirty at making a difference. And it was about taking an opportunity - I am fortunate that my company sponsors a small amount of candidates for such projects, so I applied for this assignment through my company and was accepted as a volunteer on my first choice - Puerto Rico.
I am super excited about this adventure, and I hope through this blog to share some of the adventure with you! :-) I hope you will join me and provide some of your thoughts and feedback. If you have any comments or questions please drop me a note in the comments section below.
Topics I plan to cover in future blog entries:
* More about the Puerto Rico rain forest I'll be visiting
* Preparations and the practical details of what I'm doing
* Things I have learnt so far
* What can you do in your area to support sustainable development - if you have anything you would like to share please do let me know!!
You can read more about the details of the assignment on the Earthwatch website.
