Rewilding the Central Apennines requires a huge amount of effort, and many human resources. Thankfully we can count on the precious work of volunteers who come from around the world to participate in nature conservation actions implemented by Rewilding Apennines and our partner Salviamo l’Orso.

In 2021 and 2022, between 60 and 75 international volunteers and students were active in the Central Apennines. Acting as “bear ambassadors“, they were responsible for a wide range of highly important tasks across five wildlife corridors. These included barbed wire removal, setting up warning reflectors and road signs to prevent bear-related traffic accidents, communications work, the installation of camera traps, and wildlife monitoring.

Rewilding Apennines is looking for committed volunteers, students and Erasmus Plus trainees to play a key role in rewilding.

Volunteering Programme Information

Keystone species conservation

Focus on the Marsican brown bear
You will be involved in actions linked to the creation of Bear Smart Communities (BSCs) in the home range of the Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus, Altobello 1921). This is an ambitious long-term initiative and we rely on your commitment, skills and abilities to achieve the complex goals of human-wildlife coexistence.

Important actions will also be performed in relation to Griffon vultures, Apennine wolf, and wildcat.

Timing

The general programme may vary according to the season, the weather conditions and locations. We may also need to arrange agreements with local institutions – especially nature reserves and national parks – regarding some specific activities, which could cause changes in the schedule.

You can consider joining us in the period 1^st February – 15^th December. We recommend volunteers/students to arrive around the first day of the month. If you have specific requirements do not hesitate to enquire.

Please contact us to make arrangements regarding the date of your arrival.

Requirements

🔹Be comfortable with walking/hiking in the mountains.

🔹Be comfortable with working and living with other volunteers.

🔹Have a valid tetanus vaccination.

Programme overview

Your time is a valuable resource and we will ensure you will have a varied and fulfilling range of activities.

Scientific research and monitoring activities:

• Camera trap management (systematic and random wildlife monitoring)
• Study of man-bear relationship
• Monitor wildlife species in the study areas (Marsican bear, Apennine wolf, wildcat, griffon vultures etc.), using the Earth Ranger app
• Wildlife observations

Infrastructure management:

• Construction and maintenance of electric fences
• Set-up wildlife warning reflectors, road signs and delineators for road ecology purposes
• Clear underpasses for road ecology purposes
• Remove waste from natural environments
• Remove barbed wire from the natural environment
• Check the efficiency of bear-proof waste bins
• Prune wild or unused fruit trees to increase food sources for bears and other species far from the villages

Communication actions:

• Write or review articles for the organisation’s communication
• Support for organisation of public events and fundraising initiatives
• Support in content writing on social media regarding traineeship activities
• Sharing stories from the field with your own photos and videos

Enterprise:

• Support in carrying out a Landscape Business Plan
• Offer assistance in any fundraising initiatives
• Help to find any potential sponsors or funding opportunities

Education / Learning By Doing:

• Advance wildlife monitoring techniques (camera trap setting and management; direct wildlife observation with binoculars or spotting scopes; identification of signs of presence of wildlife and collection for genetic analysis etc.)
• GPS elementary course
• Other basic courses depending on time and availability

Evaluation plan

• Weekly report: at the end of every week, the volunteer/student will report the actions performed and their effectiveness to the volunteer supervisor.
• Scientific research: the volunteer/student will produce a scientific-based final report about a specific issue related to the conservation of bears or other wildlife species or their habitat, if required by the sending institution.

Knowledge, skills and competences

At the end of your traineeship it is expected you will have acquired the following learning outcomes.

• Knowledge of the best practices for living in wildlife areas (especially in mitigating human-large carnivore conflicts)
• Skills and competences in wildlife monitoring
• Knowledge, skills and competences in the installation of electric fences and maintenance
• Skills and competences in the use of GPS
• Road ecology techniques for the mitigation of wildlife-vehicle collisions
• Skills and competences in data collection and processing
• Skills and competences in dissemination of bear smart communities’ best practices
• Skills in the organisation of events and activities to raise local people’s environmental awareness
• Skills and competences in the identification of botanical and faunal species
• Knowledge of (basic) Italian language, culture and traditions

Equipment from Rewilding Apennines

To ensure the quality and safety of your work we will provide you with equipment. Please treat it with care and return it (except for stickers and T-shirts) to us at the end of the traineeship in the original conditions.

🔹First aid equipment
🔹Binoculars
🔹Camera traps
🔹Walkie-talkies
🔹Working tools
🔹Working gloves and other personal protective equipment
🔹Reflective vests for road ecology interventions
🔹Rewilding Apennines stickers and T-shirt

Costs and accommodation availability

A 300 € a month fee per volunteer will cover costs including accommodation in guesthouses (heating, Wi-Fi, power and water consumption expenditures included), tutoring and Italian incident and public liability insurance. It would be desirable for you to also have an insurance from your country of residence.

You can deposit the 100 € place-holder* by using:

PayPal or a credit/debit card.

Bank Transfer

You can make a bank transfer to:
Rewilding Apennines ETS
Via San Giorgio, 5 – 67055 Gioia dei Marsi (AQ)
IBAN: IT 78M0306909606100000169066
BIC: BCITITMM
BANCA INTESA SAN PAOLO
When you make a payment please write in the description your name and
“advance”.

*Cancellation policy: this deposit will be returned to you in case you cancel your trip at least 20 days before the arrival date.