Cloud Forest VolunteerAt — Santa Rosa Island Research Station, CSU Channel Islands
Opportunity to work with island partners in support of a large-scale restoration project. Students can work at the restoration site in small groups, can work as a larger group at the nursery to roll wattles, build fog hats or fog fences, or work in the shade houses. Other options to contribute include pulling weeds or collecting seed from targeted species on the island. Guidance, oversight, PPE and species ID will be provided for all work.
What is involved in a large-scale restoration project; what logistical challenges are involved in working on a remote island; what biosecurity risks are related to this project and island ecosystems in general; why was the cloud forest degraded and what are the overall implications of that damage; what it's like to be a restoration technician; novel career pathways they may not have been aware of; plant species identification.
Onsite PPE will be provided in the form of eye protection, gloves and knee pads if desired. 2-3 project coordinators (which may include an SRIRS Staff member) will discuss the overall project and task at hand, and how the end result/product is implemented at the restoration site. Students will shown how to roll a wattles and what the "formula" is for each component. Students will be shown how to tie a square knot to secure the material once rolled into 20-foot lengths. Students will be given scissors with which to cut materials to pre-designated sizes. If constructing fog fences or hats, students will be given gloves and eye protection and shown how to cut wire mesh panels and handle them without getting scratched. They will be shown how to cut shade cloth properly to the designated length, to ensure no materials are wasted. They will be provided tools and shown how to attach the shade cloth to the wire mesh panels - and told how these are installed at the restoration site and what their functions are. Seed collection will be facilitated by multiple "supervisors" to ensure QA/QC and correct species identification. A demo "collection bag" will be prepared as a template for additional collection bags in order to keep track of species collected, date collected, person/group who collected it, and the island. A "drop off" location will be agreed to and drop off will be facilitated by SRIRS staff or island partners. Working with seedlings in the shade houses will be closely supervised by island partners - typical ratio is 1 supervisor to 3-5 students.
Long sleeves and pants are recommended, close-toed shoes are required.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 4 | hours per placement |