Nature Conservation Work

Project At A Glance

Location: Chitwan Start/End point: Kathmandu Duration: 1 -12 weeks Hours: 30-40 hours per week Food: 3 local food daily Room: Host family or homebase Date: Mondays of each month

Project Summary

Deforestation, land fragmentation and desertification are major environmental issues facing Nepal. IFRE’s local partner in Chitwan maintains an established community nursery program, which aims to distribute indigenous tree seedlings at no charge to local farmers, schools, communities and NGOs. Conservation volunteers in Nepal support the activities of this community nursery. The nursery role includes: digging, filling plastic bags, weeding, irrigating and related efforts. Volunteers working in a conservation project also support the nearby vegetable gardens that produce vegetables for local orphanages. This project is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and eco-minded individuals.

Skills/Qualifications Needed

There are no specific qualifications for joining the conservation project in Nepal. However, many of the projects are quite physical, so environmental and conservation volunteers need to be in good physical shape. An outgoing and entrepreneurial spirit is helpful, as is an ability to follow directions well.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers working in a conservation project in Nepal will support nursery efforts and indigenous seedling care. Volunteers support seedling distribution to villagers in throughout Nepal. Duties may include: digging, preparing nursery beds, sowing seeds, weeding, trimming, pruning, filling plastic bags, applying water and any work related to nursery. Other tasks may include planting, collecting seeds, replanting, eliminating diseased trees and taking flora and fauna inventory, depending on the season

IFRE also supports a small orphanage and school in Chitwan. So, conservation volunteers can teach English or work in the orphanage in their free time. This can be arranged upon arrival in Nepal.

Room/Food/Supervision

IFRE manages living accommodations, meals and supervision for volunteers throughout their stay in Nepal. Volunteers in the conservation project will mostly stay with well screened host families. Our host families are socially respected and are experienced with hosting international volunteers. They have strong interest in our volunteers’ safety and well-being and demonstrate this with caution and care. In most host family situations, volunteers will share a room with another volunteer of the same gender. Another viable option is an at-orphanage stay. Many orphanages in Kathmandu have special rooms set aside to house international volunteers. Volunteers who have stayed with a host family or at an orphanage describe an enriched experience because of having done so. Once you have applied for program placement, you will find the specific details of your accommodations in your personal placement documents for your project.

Volunteers receive three prepared meals per day. Our cooks prepare breakfasts, lunches and dinners of Nepali foods (similar to Indian food, including wheat bread, rice, curry, dahl, chapatti and pickles) for volunteers. If volunteers will be out of the house during lunch hour, they can request a lunch "to go”. If traditional Nepali fare does not appeal to volunteers, they are welcome to buy personal food and prepare it. 

IFRE maintains two offices in Kathmandu and Chitwan to supervise and assist volunteers.