Only 360€ per week!
Environmental Conservation
Aborlan (Palawan) - Philippines
Dedicate your time to rehabilitating the mangrove areas of Tigman Village, which have been in severe decline for almost 10 years.
Spend your time on conserving Palawan’s mangrove plantations, a vital habitat for its marine life. This unique ecosystem area serves as a coastal barrier, slowing storm surge, and reducing beach erosion. Other eco-efforts include planting mahogany and moringa tree seeds for the local village.
Program
Living
Aborlan (Palawan)
Philippines
Program Description
The province of Palawan is located in the Mimaropa region and is the largest province in the country, abundant with wildlife sanctuaries, marine reserves and world heritage sites. Being the location of Palawan Island, one of the most biodiverse islands in the Philippines, the area has one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world receiving much local interest for conservation.
Our hope through this project is to conserve mangrove plantations and reverse the trend of deteriorating mangrove sites, which has seen a rapid decrease during recent years.
This can realistically only be achieved through the education of younger generations, combined with the continual physical work of planting new mangroves.
That’s why we’ll be asking you to serve as a fortifier of our natural coastal barrier, which is slowing storm surges,reducing beach erosion, cleaning the beaches. We also need your help with encouraging environmental conservation through training sessions with children.
For our Tree planting portion of our programme, we have chosen the Moringa and Mahogany seeds for their multitude of benefits, availability in the local area, and because they will grow easily here.
Mahogany, it is one of the most popular trees around the world. Its wood is known for its beauty, strength and durability. But few are aware that its seeds can be used medicinally, because they contain saponins and flavonoids. Benefits may include treatment for fever, lowering bad cholesterol and even improving blood circulation.
Moringa is a “superfood” that has a lot of health benefits as well. It is also known as "miracle tree" or horseradish tree. The pods, leaves, seeds and roots are all edible. It is a favorite of local villagers as their home remedies may include seeds or leaves for prevention and treatment of various diseases. The pods or leaves may also be used in local cuisine, as it pairs well with dishes of fish or meat.
This programme is perfect for you if you have a good level of physical fitness, enthusiasm and a passion for making a change that benefits the environment, as well as the local community!
Please be advised that the changes in the tide affect water levels and thus, your ability to complete certain tasks in the mangroves. In that event, you will be guided to other activities during that time. Your coordinator will inform you if your schedule will be affected.
Aims & Objectives
- To reverse the deforestation of mangroves by planting new ones
- To plant mahogany and moringa trees for the benefit and use of the local community
- To educate younger generations on the importance of environmental conservation
Schedule
Monday
- Breakfast
- Mangrove Planting
- Back to Centre for Lunch
- Coastal Clean up
- Back to Centre for Dinner
Tuesday
- Breakfast
- Mangrove Planting
- Back to Centre for Lunch
- Lunch
- Preparing Seeds (Mahogany and Moringa) at the Camp Nursery
- Back to Centre for Dinner
Wednesday
- Breakfast
- Mangrove Planting
- Back to Centre for Lunch
- Preparing Lesson about Environmental Conservation
- Back to Centre for Dinner
Thursday
- Breakfast
- Mangrove Planting
- Back to Centre for Lunch
- Lecture about the Environmental Conservation
- Back to Centre for Dinner
Friday
- Breakfast
- Mangrove Planting
- Back to Centre for Lunch
- Planting Trees (Mahogany and Moringa)
- Back to Centre for Dinner
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: No
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
- Optional: Background in environmental-science or tourism recommended
Additional Equipment
No specific equipment required for this program.
Location
Palawan is a special island dotted with fishing villages and surrounded by beautiful blue sea. The scenes contrasts perfectly with the emerald green jungled mountains which form its landscape. Our accommodation is located in Tigman Village in Aborlan District, a small and laid back area just outside of Puerto Princesa City.
About the Accommodation
This center houses all participants in their programs around Palawan. It is built with many natural elements and have a tropical beach look to them! You’ll be sleeping on bunk beds and we have limited laundry facilities, so expect to wash your clothes by hand, unless you’d like to use the laundry service here for a small fee. Due to our tropical setting, WiFi service may not be what you are used to at home. It is limited and sometimes inaccessible due to weather, so having your own local SIM card and purchasing data through the GLOBE network may be your best option for staying connected consistently while you are in our local village. Please be advised that due to jellyfish in the water, it is unlikely that you will be able to swim at the beach close by the accommodation. There is an area near the river or on the other side of the village, which is about a 15 minute walk away, where you will be able to enjoy some time in the water.
Food Arrangements
The food will consist mainly of local Philippine cuisine (lots of vegetables, meat, egg and rice) and will be served on site at this accommodation.
Facilities
There are many forms of local transportation such as jeepneys, buses and vans which depart every hour to the town of Aborlan or to the next town Narra.
There are ATM’s & Western Union transfers available in the town of Nara which is about 30 minutes away by car. Here, you can also find all necessary amenities.
Activities & Events
Tuesday Night
Join us for a Bonfire activity where we can get to know each other and enjoy the great outdoors under the stars. Who doesn’t love a bonfire?
Thursday Night
Come on and join in with us as we sing your favorite tunes and have a musical trip down memory lane. It’s not about having the best voice, it is however, about having the most fun!
Sights & Surroundings
Coron Bay
Found at the northwest of Palawan (between Busuanga and Culion islands) is known for being one of the best wreck diving locations in the world.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Located 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa and has recently been voted one of the new 7 wonders of nature.
Transportation
From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):
- El Nido (Palawan)
Quick Facts
Name: Republic of the Philippines
Population: 100 milion
Capital: Manila
Language: Filipino
Currency: Peso (PHP)
Time zone: PST (UTC +8)
Country Information
The Philippines is made up of a total of 7,107 islands, only 2000 of which are inhabited. The islands are broadly categorized under 3 main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It is the 7th most populated country in Asia and the 12th most in the world.
As a newly industrialized country, the Philippine economy which was once founded upon its agriculture is now moving towards an economy based on services and manufacturing.
It is unsurprising that the Philippines attracts tourists due to its incredibly rich biodiversity found across its islands. The mountains, rainforests and diving spots as well as its impressive cultural heritage all add to the reasons why the Philippines is such an incredible place to experience.
Climate
The Philippines experiences a tropical maritime climate meaning that it is normally hot and humid and there are 3 distinct seasons:
- Hot, dry season from March to May
- Rainy season from June to November
- Cool, dry season from December to February
The southwest monsoon lasts from May to October and the dry monsoon in the northeast from November to April.
Temperatures in the Philippines normally range from 21°C to 32°C with the coolest month being January and the hottest, May. The yearly average is 26.6°C..
The Philippines sits on the typhoon belt and so most islands experience torrential rains and storms from July to October.
Culture
The Philippines is a secular state and stemming from its Spanish cultural influence and it is one of only two Roman Catholic countries in Asia. Its Christian population is at about 90%. The country displays a mixture of Eastern and Western culture. Whilst it undeniably preserves cultural aspects found elsewhere in Asia, its hispanic influence is perhaps most noticeable especially in the architecture and names of streets, towns and provinces.
Gastronomy
True to its mixed culture, Philippine cuisine also reflects numerous different influences especially Hispanic, Chinese and American. Dishes vary from the simple to the elaborate and tend to be defined by strong flavours although they are generally less spicy compared to other Asian countries.
Moreover, unlike most Asian countries, Filipinos don’t eat with chopsticks and instead use western cutlery. The most common pairing, maybe due to the common consumption of rice is a fork and a spoon.
Transportation
Pedicabs
These are a sort of push tricycle and are particularly useful for short journeys.
Habal-Habal
These are motorbike taxis and normally slightly cheaper than the pedicabs.
Jeepney
These are essentially modified army jeeps that were left by the Americans after the second world war. They are frequently painted with images of the Virgin Mary and/or scenes from comic books.They are the main form of urban transport in most cities and are an alternative to bus transport between regions for the longer journeys. They are a popular mode of transport but not ideal for sightseeing along the way due to the narrow window space.
Bus
These come in all different shapes and sizes and bus stops are frequent throughout towns and more rural areas, although bus services in more remote areas may only run during the morning.
Minivans
These often shadow bus routes and despite being quicker than buses, you often have to wait until the van is full before it will set off and they can be fairly cramped as well as more expensive than the bus.
