Savanna Ecosystem Volunteer - Conservation Jobs

Savanna Ecosystem Volunteer - Conservation Jobs

 

 Experts in ecology, rangeland management and education science, we offer various programmes in wildlife ecology, conservation and community work in the Kalahari Desert Namibia - one of the last wilderness regions in the world.

 

 

 



 

Volunteer in field ecology

Arid rangelands worldwide are adversely affected by high levels of human intervention and high climatic variability. In Southern Africa unsustainable and intensified lifestock management together with climatic variability during the last decades often led to desertification with subsequent losses in ecosystem function and services.
We are investigating representative components of functional change in vegetation and the alteration in faunal community composition as a result of grazing, fire and rain. In order to understand underlying mechanisms of observed differences, we use herbivore exclusion sites, manipulating plots with fire, rain and grazing and use insect species to study faunal species compostional changes.

Volunteer in community work

At our local research stations we endeavor to also contribute to the local community and children. Do you enjoy being around children, would like to learn about a new culture and feel the urge help in community work?
Be a volunteer with us and help us establish local kindergardens, learning and activity centres for local children between the ages from 1 – 7 years old. at our research stations in the Kalahari, within the African wilderness, among a rich wildlife setting.

Volunteer in wildlife conservation

Get active helping to protect endangered species of the Kalahari Desert Namibia. We regularily need to monitor animals and perform wildlife counts, inculding searching animals at night. We also need to analyse large datasets and raise public awareness via presentations and report writing.

 

Grazing impact on wildlife, Namibia

Current research at BRinK Namibia investigates the grazing impact of wildlife together with bushfire and rain on biodiversity using beetles as an indicator group.

Using an ecological experimental set-up with herbivore exclusion sites, we deliberately burn vegetation, wet and clip subplots, as well as remove litter, all factors considered important for beetle biodiversity patterns.

Here we have last weeks plots burned, hopefully mimicking real Kalahari bushfires!

Technology in Camp

Finally we have solar electricity installed in camp. No problems anymore charging computers and cellphones. With electricity, we also don´t need to climb up the trees or throw the phone in the air anymore in order to receive sms. We also used to hang up the phones in the trees during the day and those lucky ones who had messages from their loved ones in the evenings!
No hopes needed any longer as with electricity we even have the chance to get internet. Good old times, where we were cut off the world are over (not completely, as we still living in the wild). However, as a researcher, we are highly dependent on the battery power of a computer, as doing scientific analysis on a piece of paper is not taught in universities anymore. A scientist is as good as his computer, right?

BRinK LINK

From the lab to the field...

Fritz grew up in Africa among vast diversity of wildlife. As a kid, he enjoyed collecting beetles, looking into ardvark holes and following ant trails. Not suprisingly he studied biology, however, he did not become an ecologist. Instead, he drifted into microbiology, fascinated by the small stuff.

Now he did his PhD in microbiology, but his heart longs for Africa, his soul lies among African wildlife and the outdoors.

In his thesis, Fritz used the beetles found on the reserve in Namibia, in order to exemplify the beauty of diversity at all levels, including in bacteria (image below).
 

The wildlife reserve Kuzikus, where Fritz grew up, runs a breeding programme for the critically endangered black rhino. Recently a calf needed to be bottle-fed and raised near the farm house. A goat kept company and became the rhinos best friend.

Fritz wanted to raise awareness and attention at his university among laboratory-dwelling microbiologists: News on goats, rhinos and bacteria

 

 

Meanwhile, Fritz is heavily involved in helping to establish an ecological research station at Kuzikus, BRinK.

 

 

Field Biology in Namibia 2014

Heavy grazing by domestic lifestock leading to shrub encroachment is a major form of savanna rangeland degradation. The consequences often result in reduced structural and species diversity and displaced species interactions that cause cascading effects on trophic levels.

 Students help in surveys in this important project and cover various aspects of savanna ecology and methodology in the field, including dealing with an experimental set-up in field ecology as well as estimating abundances of wildlife (census).

To make the most of your time you will have the opportunity to be out in the field every day for data collection. During field trips, we will mainly be on the wildlife reserve, having wild animals roaming around us while we collect data on plants or animals. You will also get to see how cattle is managed on arid farmland and understand the differences between wildlife and cattle ranching in Southern Africa.

Kuzikus, the wildlife reserve, where we are based, is home to many native African ungulates and our research camp is situated within the Kalahari wilderness.

Join our team for the summer 2014 

New Projects 2012!

Get involved with BRinK research on various taxonomic groups in 2012. We are looking forward to your applications. 

January/February 2012 (23.01 - 17.02): Small mammal trapping

March/April 2012 (26.03 - 20.04): Bird predation and athropod abundance

May 2012 (30.04 - 25.05): Large mammal census using distance sampling 

July 2012 (02.07 - 27.07): Black rhino monitoring and behaviour

 Aardvark spotted in Kuzikus yesterday!

New Projects in 2011

Dear Students,

There are two new, exciting projects for you to join.

The bird ecology project in September studies bird abundance, species and distribution in the wild.
Apart from an amazing wildlife experience, you will learn

• to use wildlife sound recording methods, 
• to identifiy 140 species of bird by their call and sighting
• to understand the technique of distance sampling for a densitiy estimation. 

Application deadline for birds is 01 August 2011 - apply now!


The black rhino conservation project in November implements an innovative monitoring method using animal footprints with the help of a computer software and local bushmen trackers.
Apart  from the unique opportunity to spot on one the most endangered megaherbivore in the world, you will learn

• how to track black rhinos (Diceros bicornis bicornis) in the wild
• to use a new monitoring method for endangerd species (WildTrack)
• about real-time wildlife conservation in Africa

Appication deadine for black rhinos is 01 September 2011 - apply now!