We strive to conserve Belize’s natural and cultural heritage through education, conservation, and research, and hosting internships is one important way in which we meet this mandate. By training international and local students in environmental and wildlife management field research techniques and data collection protocols, we will gain a greater knowledge on the biodiversity of Belizean fauna and flora. With the help of international scientific collaborators, this knowledge is compiled into peer-reviewed publications, Belizean government reports and regulations, field guides, and other publications that will increase the global visibility of Belizean fauna and flora and aid in their management and ultimately their conservation.
All of the internships that we host are offered through our partner company, Ecorana Environmental Ltd., who provides the technical expertise needed to plan these incredible experiences. Through this partnership students will gain invaluable skills in their field which will aid them in finding their career paths, and give them experiences that will help them find future employment. The hands-on experiences gained will increase the student’s opportunities for employment in government agencies, Environmental NGOs, and in consultant firms. Through working on long-term monitoring projects that will be designed to be published in peer-reviewed journals and stressing the importance of good note taking, standardized data collection, and scientific writing, students will also be prepared for a future career in academia.
The suggested length of an internship is 4 weeks. A breakdown of internship fees can be found in our Internship FAQ. All fees go directly to supporting the development of conservation projects in Belize through paying T.R.E.E.S incurred expenses of hosting the student, for materials and tools for the intern’s project, and for paying for locals’ time in sharing their knowledge. A portion of the fees are set aside and used for scholarships and bursaries so local Belizean students that cannot afford to pay for an internship can still have the same training opportunities as international students. If you are an international student in financial need, your academic institution may be able to offer a scholarship or bursary for this opportunity. Potential interns should also look into the possibility of getting accredited through their school for the internship. You should identify an academic advisor willing to support you in this internship, and we will discuss this opportunity directly with him/her as well as provide a letter of support to your academic institution. Mature students or non-students with extensive experience in tropical wildlife ecology techniques that can act as volunteer internship coordinators may apply for a fee reduction. Mature students or non-students with extensive experience in tropical wildlife ecology techniques that can act as volunteer internship coordinators may apply for a fee reduction.
Current Internships:
To apply for an internship: Apply here
For internship opportunities – Please visit www.ecorana.ca