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Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park Volunteers carry out research and protection of flora and fauna in remote locations (e.g. in Pescasseroli and Villetta Barrea). Volunteers must cover their insurance and registration fees.
Contact: Centro Operativo Servizio Educazione, Via Roma, 67030 Villetta Barrea (AQ), Italy; 011-39-0864-89102; fax. 011-39-0864-89132; pna.international@flashnet.it (subject line: ‘Volunteer Program’), www.parcoabruzzo.it.
Adriatic Dolphin Project Students with a background in biology or geography may be accepted as interns. Paying volunteers join researchers in the ancient village of Veli Losinj over the summer. Participation cost is 680-780 euros.
Contact: Blue World Institute of Marine Research, Kastel 24, 51551 Veli Losinj, Croatia; 011-385-51-604666; adp@blue-world.org; www.blue-world.org.
ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece Enthusiastic and committed volunteers are required for demanding sea turtle conservation projects run by ARCHELON in Greece. Zakynthos, Peloponnesus and Crete are major nesting areas for the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtle in the Mediterranean and have been monitored by ARCHELON, a non-profit making organisation, for 20 years. In Athens, ARCHELON also runs the only Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Greece. Volunteers are invited to work on the island of Zakynthos where the first National Marine Park for sea turtles in the Mediterranean was established in 1999 and assist the Management Body of the Park in its task to protect the nesting beaches. In Peloponnesus, volunteers will protect nests from foxes and other mammals, experience the pilot project of sand dune restoration, help maintain nature trails and the running of the newly established Nature Information Centres. On the island of Crete, participants will work for the implementation of a Management Plan for the nesting areas. At the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, volunteers will have the opportunity to assist our staff in daily treatment of sea turtles that suffer from accidental and deliberate injuries.
Contact: www.archelon.gr
Conservation Volunteers in Greece Projects include work in protected landscapes, conservation of traditional buildings and work in archaeological sites.
Contact: www.cvgpeep.gr/eng/enindex.htm
Earth, Sea and Sky Volunteers carry out summer projects like cleaning up wildlife habitats on the Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos and rescuing sea turtles.
Contact: P.O. Box 1063, Saxilby, Lincs. LN1 2TN, U.K.; yannis@earthseasky.org, www.earthseasky.org.
EcoForest Small fruit farm in southern Spain (Costa del Sol) that offers a place to live at low cost while changing to a healthy, sustainable way of life. Working visitor program (e.g. see website) where work contributed subsidizes keep; vegan diet, all raw food.
Contact: Apdo Correos 29, 29100 Coin, Malaga, Spain; 011-34-661-079-950; ef@ecoforest.org, www.ecoforest.org.
Ecotouring Tuscany At Ecotouring Tuscany, we approach our adventure tours with great enthusiasm, within the frame of an environment-friendly approach. With us you will enjoy numerous easy-going activity options, selecting from a range of biking, walking and non-walking choices not offered by other tour operators; food while walking, wine and ecotourism. Tuscany and other regions in north-central Italy, display individual aspects of Italian culture and history, and these will be brought to life by our friendly, expert local guides.
Contact: info@ecotouringtuscany.com, www.ecotouringtuscany.com
Eko-Centre Caput Insulae-Beli Conservation volunteers to assist in the conservation of the Eurasian griffon vulture, repairing dry stone walls, saving small ponds, picking olives, and helping local shepherds.
Contact: Beli 4, 51559 Beli, Island of Cres, Croatia; Tel./fax. 011-385-51-840-525; caput.insulae@ri.htnet.hr; www.caput-insulae.com.
IAL/Internationella Arbetslag Peace and conservation camps organized through the Swedish branch of Service Civil International. Volunteers must apply in their own countries.
Contact: Tegelviksgatan 40, 116 41 Stockholm, Sweden; 011-46-8-643 08 89; fax 011-46-8-641 8188; ial@algonet.se, www.ial.nu
Katelios Group
Volunteer for Turtles in Kefalonia Volunteers help with all the Group's activities, primarily the conservation of Loggerhead turtle on Kefalonia's sandy beaches, but also environmental education, promotion of sustainable development, raising awareness and information about wildlife Kefalonia.Volunteers have to pay for their food and their trip.This covers administration and accommodation costs.The minimum stay is one month, because of the training that volunteers need in the beginning. Accommodation is provided to all volunteers in a basic private campsite.
Contact: volunteer@kateliosgroup.org, www.kateliosgroup.org
La Brande Woodland & Wildlife Holiday Courses in France
An Introduction to Permaculture, Organic & Forest Gardening Explore how Permaculture Principles can be applied to create beautiful, productive and wildlife-friendly gardens. Forest gardening offers a new approach to home landscaping in both urban and rural areas. Forest gardens are attractive, low-maintenance gardens that combine food production with ecological function. Courses also offered in Dry Stone Walling; Green Woodworking, Hazel Hurdles & Trellis Making; Basic Bushcraft, Nature & Wildlife Treking; and Woodland Management, Practical Coppicing & Hedgelaying.
Contact: Labrande16@aol.com, www.labrande.com
LIPU, (Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli) Long-established environmental and bird conservation association. Catalog of volunteer projects including short summary in English sent on request.
Contact: Via Trento 49, 43100 Parma, Italy; 011-39-0521-273043; www.lipu.it
Manga del Mar Menor Restoration and Research Project Volunteers stay 15 days to 3 months at this coastal wetlands center collecting data and working with the public. Two-month working stay costs about $675.
Contact: Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Ambientales and Amigos de la UNESCO, Plaza Cetina n°6, Entlo 1°, 30001 Murcia, Spain; Tel./fax 011-34-968-22-05-96; unesco@ctv.es, www.ctv.es/USERS/murban/volunt.htm
National Trust Working Holidays Britain’s National Trust cares for more wildlife, including 1,250 vulnerable species, than any other European charity. It owns more than 240,000 hectares of land and 575 miles of coastline, making it the largest private landowner in Britain. A virtual army of staff and volunteers assist in managing these habitats with 450 well-organized holidays a year in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The catalog is online. Bookings from overseas volunteers between 18 and 70 are welcome and very inexpensive, including food and hostel accommodations. Most older adults choose projects classified as Oak, Oak Plus, and Archaeological Holidays because they are less physically rigorous. (review by Alison Gardner).
Contact: P.O. Box 84, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1ZP, U.K.; 011-0870 429 2429; www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Quinta das Abelhas: Volunteering on Organic Smallholding. Organic smallholding in Central Portugal. We welcome volunteers on working holidays and provide free camping and meals in return for your work. This is a great way to travel cheaply around Europe, ideal for back packers, gap year students, or anyone who'd like to sample an alternative way of life and/or learn more about organic farming and low-impact living.
Contact: abelhas@pureportugal.co.uk, www.pureportugal.co.uk/abelhas
Planorganic.com, www.planorganic.com, based in West Cork, posts a few vacancies on Irish organic and ordinary farms. The WWOOF branch in Ireland lists 100 independent hosts offering a work-for-keep arrangement.
Sejours in Flora N Fauna
France Study Abroad Program in Cultural and Natural History Come to France! SFF offers hiking, walking and biking tours, seminars, internships, and study abroad programs. Learn about the cultural and natural history in France during 1 and 2 week tours, short seminars, intensive two-week courses, quarter sessions, semester sessions or during year-long sessions. Participate in tours and courses in French, French culture and history, Belgium Beers, France Economic Biology/Botany, General Ecology of the French Pyrenees, France Medical and Edible Wild Plants, French Parks and Gardens, Nature Preserves of France, and more. This travel abroad program offers tons to nature and culture lovers.
Contact: sffinfo-a@sejours-ff.com, www.sejours-ff.com
Sunseed Desert Technology aims to develop, demonstrate and communicate accessible, low-tech methods of living sustainably in a semi-arid environment. They are based in the province of Almeria in the eastern part of Andalucia, Southern Spain.
Every year up to three hundred international volunteers come to work at Sunseed Desert Technology staying for between a week and several months. Volunteers can work in all of our departments which include: Appropriate Technology, Organic Gardening, Dryland Management and Construction and Maintenance. All volunteers and staff also share the communal cooking and cleaning duties. Volunteers pay a weekly donation towards food and accommodation, this money almost entirely funds the work of the project.
Contact: Sunseed Desert Technology, Apdo 9, 04270 Sorbas, Almeria, Spain, sunseedspain@arrakis.es, tel. + 34 950 525 770, www.sunseed.org.uk
UNAREC (Etudes et Chantiers) Hundreds of international volunteers for short-term conservation projects and longer-term professional training. Fee of 115 Euros includes accommodations and insurance for 2-3 week workcamps.
Contact: Délégué International, 3 rue des Petits Gras, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; 011-33-4-73-31-98-04; workcamps.unarec@wanadoo.fr; www.unarec.org
WWF Italia, Servizio Campi, Via Po 25/C, 00198 Rome (011 39-06-844971; post@wwf.it; www.wwf.it). A few environmental conservation camps, though the emphasis is on holidays.
WWOOF-Austria (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) Membership fee plus 2 IRCs per year and comes with list of 160 Austrian organic farms looking for work-for-keep volunteer helpers.
Contact: c/o Hildegard Gottlieb, 48 Einoedhofweg, 8042 Graz, Austria; Tel./ fax 011-43-316-464951; wwoof.welcome@telering.at; www.wwoof.welcome.at.tf
WWOOF-Germany Volunteer openings on organic farms. Membership fee of 18 Euros plus 2 IRCs gives access to 150 farms in Germany.
Contact: Postfach 210 259, D-01263, Dresden, Germany; info@wwoof.de, www.wwoof.de
WWOOF Italia Membership fee to obtain list of more than 50 organic farmers in Italy looking for volunteers.
Contact: info@wwoof.it, www.wwoof.it
WWOOF-Slovenia National branch of Willing Workers on Organic Farms set up in 2002. Joining fee..
Contact: c/o Polona Gostan, Pajerjeva 10, 4208 Sencur, Slovenia; polona.gostan@s5.net, www.svetduhovnosti.org/wwoofing/all.htm.
WWOOF-Switzerland For details on working for your keep on an organic farm, send 20 Swiss francs. Includes 45 addresses in Switzerland plus a handful elsewhere.
Contact: Postfach 59, 8124 Maur, Switzerland; switzerland@wwoof.org, www.welcome.to/wwoof
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Travel Abroad 
Responsible Travel and Ecotourism 
