WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?
The aim of the Frontier-Cambodia Private Island Conservation Project is to understand better the conservation status of this perfect island's natural resources, both marine and terrestrial, and to provide teaching and training to local island communities to enable them to make informed decisions regarding the use and management of their ecosystems.
To achieve this mission, you will conduct snorkel surveys of reef areas, including mapping the health of the reefs. We also identify patterns of resource use, and we work with local communities and the island's owners to support environmentally responsible and sustainable development.
Some of Cambodia’s corals were recently affected by a bleaching event caused by high sea temperatures. Global warming is believed to be to blame. Our project aims to look for signs of this damage and to monitor how the reefs are recovering. We hope that this information will help to support management of damaged coral reefs around the world.
The island itself is little studied and the local people are keen to be involved in protecting their biodiversity, making this a perfect location for both research and practical conservation activities. You could have the opportunity to work on all sorts of tangible conservation and research, both land-based and marine. As well as marine work, you could be doing bird counts or vegetation surveys, or you might have the chance to join the local community rangers as they patrol the island and protect its resources.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
The project incorporates a number of different elements, all of which combine to not only give you an insight into the workings of the local community and economy, but also lend a hand in protecting threatened species.
The project’s work aims to provide local stakeholders, research organisations and government bodies with the information they need to design and implement management plans for the future protection of key marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
To gather the data needed you will be snorkelling the reefs to locate and map them and to study their various wildlife communities. You will also explore and record the organisms that inhabit the inter-tidal zones and the island's inland areas, including nesting turtles and beautiful tropical birdlife. To do this you will deploy a wide range of newly learned research skills and scientific techniques which may include: underwater census of reef and commercial fish such as triggerfish and parrotfish, and assessment of coral cover to determine the extent of coral damage in shallow water areas. You might record observations of the feeding habits and behaviour patterns of a range of marine and terrestrial life. You may even get to study the impact of artisanal fishing on the coral reefs or report the effects of global warming on marine communities.
In addition to the conservation activities you will be working with the local communities, delivering workshops, and outreach programmes designed to raise community awareness of environmental issues and help local people improve the use and conservation of important natural resources. You may also be helping with village teaching projects.
Whilst snorkelling you're likely to see an extraordinary array of animals from turtles to manta rays, sea cucumbers to feathery starfish, spiny urchins to octopus and seahorses. When you head out each day on the boats you may even encounter gigantic manta rays, reef sharks or flying fish. By the end of your project, depending on how long you stay, you should be expert at identifying loads of colourful and patterned reef fish, birds and other widlife. Although the work is intense and challenging you'll get immense satisfaction from having enjoyed your beach camping experience and from having made a valuable contribution to the conservation of this precious island wilderness. You will return home with the new friends you've made and a wealth of fascinating stories and memories.
In between times you'll have the chance to relax on the island's stunning white powdery sand beaches, swaying in a hammock, listening to the ocean and soaking up the sun.
You'll find your island team to be a fun, dynamic mix of ages and experiences, with members who all share a passion for travelling in developing countries and saving endangered wildlife. Your staff will be young, friendly individuals who are highly experienced in their field and may have volunteered on a Frontier project earlier in their career.
What Next? Apply Now!
