About the Animal Rescue & Ecological Restoration Project
This project is run by a national non-profit organisation for animal and environmental protection. Their mission is to protect and defend all animals and their habitats, by sharing information that stimulates compassion, respect, and understanding of human beings towards all species.
Since 2015, they have been running a veterinary clinic. Here they provide medical-veterinary assistance to animals, supporting hundreds of families with low economic resources. Additionally, they have sterilised hundreds of abandoned, stray or abused animals.
Recently, their project acquired 27 hectares of land in the municipality of Santarém with the aim to develop an animal and plant sanctuary that will provide shelter to various species, providing them with high standards of welfare, and a life with respect and dignity.
In addition to this, the project aims to reforest the space and restore the ecosystem with species of native trees and shrubs, in order to promote the biodiversity of local flora and fauna.
Animal Rescue Volunteer project
This project aims to provide a safe shelter for various species of animals. Here, dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, chinchillas, rabbits, turkeys, and turtledoves, among others, can live a life free from any exploitation.
Volunteer tasks are chosen according to the needs of the moment, the number of volunteers available, the time of year and the weather conditions.
Volunteers will be supervised by the team, but it is assumed that they have the ability to be independent in carrying out the tasks after some time, so they will be able to work alone.
Typical volunteer tasks include:
- Cleaning the resident animals’ territories
- Implementation of environmental enrichment adapted to resident species
- Socialisation of resident animals
- Cleaning and removal of invasive species from the water lines of the property
- Tree planting
- Treatment of flower beds
- Maintenance of the property’s infrastructure and buildings
- Drainage system cleaning
- Bush clearings
- Forest maintenance
Any other skills you can bring would be very welcome.
Biodiversity and Nature Restoration Volunteer Project
This project aims to reforest 27 hectares of land surrounding the sanctuary. This is to help create a thriving ecosystem that will be home to a range of indigenous plants and trees, as well as many different animal species, including horses, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, turtle doves, chinchillas, rabbits, and others.
As a Biodiversity and Nature Restoration volunteer, you will help in maintaining and monitoring the forest. You will think of ways to improve the land to attract more native species to exist and flourish there. You will also do wildlife and plant surveying to build knowledge of local biodiversity, and do research to feature in various communication channels.
As a volunteer, you will build skills and expertise in reforestation and conservation, learning about the fauna and flora native to the region. You will help create a thriving and diverse natural environment, and understand how to do data collection to aid research and content for communications.
The main tasks for volunteers will be:
- Help to look after the forested land within the sanctuary
- Help with invasive plant and pollution removal
- Do data collection through wildlife and plant surveys which will be used in future reports
- Help to plan and strategize ways to improve the forest’s biodiversity, keeping in mind the wildlife that live there and their needs
- Do research about the area to use in communications
- Help plant new areas of forest to increase native biodiversity (autumn/winter).
All volunteers will have the opportunity to assist with general work, and there will be an orientation with basic skills (taking care of animals, cleaning, etc.) at the start.
This project involves data collection and recording, so good attention to detail, flexibility, and an eagerness to learn new skills are important for an enjoyable and successful time.
