Yasuni Jaguars

January 28, 2009--A jaguar triggers a camera trap in an picture released January 27 as part of the first comprehensive survey of jaguar populations in the Ecuadorian Amazon rain forest. The same camera captured an extremely rare short-eared dog and pig-like wild white-lipped peccaries, among other animals.

See the full article at National Geographic

No Buyers for "Leaving Oil in the Ground" at Yasuni

Mining and Oil Minister Derlis Palacios said Friday that the government is preparing a tender for Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini oil field.

The government has not obtained any concrete proposal to keep the oil in the ground. Palacios didn't specify when the tender will call.

In 2007 Ecuador asked the international community to respond to a call for compensation if Ecuador chooses not to drill on the site, which is part of the Yasuni National Park, the country's largest natural reserve. Ecuador's 9,000 square kilometer Yasuni national park is considered one of the world's most biodiverse regions.

Originally an auction was scheduled for October, but the government decided to postpone the auction until January awaiting a response from the international community to make a concrete contribution.

The government of President Rafael Correa said in 2007 that it would seek $350 million a year in donations or debt pardons in exchange for keeping the nature preserve untouched. This amount would roughly equal the foregone profits from oil drilling in the area.

Various oil companies, according the government, had expressed interest in the ITT oil project, including firms from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Peru, as well as French oil company Total SA (TOT).

The ITT has estimated reserves of 1.0 billion barrels of heavy crude oil and needs around $3 billion in initial investment for its developing.

Stuff You Will Need

Here is a checklist of some of the stuff you will need.

Good binoculars, preferably lightweight (8 x 42 or 6 x 35 recommended). This is one of the most important items you will need to see primates, birds, etc. I would recommend Bushnell H2O 8 x 42.. These waterproof binoculars run about $90, but you might be able to find a pair for less. We will talk more about binoculars and binocular selection during the fall, but the bottom line is this: you want to have binoculars that are both good and appropriate. With this 8 x 42 and 6x 35 stuff--if you take divide the large number by the small number and get a result less than 5.0, they are not appropriate. During my first trip to the tropics, I had a cheap pair of 8 x 42 binoculars and I regretted it. I should have spent an extra $70 and gotten a great pair.

Field notebook (we recommend waterproof notebooks, available from Forestry Suppliers

Lecture notebook and pens/pencils

Compass

Raincoat or poncho (you WILL get rained on!)

Hat or cap

Water treatment pills (potable aqua)

Shoes suitable for trail hiking

Rubber boots (mid-calf to knee high) for hiking in rainforest

Small, personal first-aid kit (Band-Aids, antacid/anti-diarrhea, antibiotic ointment,
rehydration formula, insect bite relief)

Water bottles (1 liter)

Insect repellent (25% DEET is sufficient, Ultrathon is recommended). Purchase the cream, not the aerosol. Mosquitoes are usually not bad, but they do carry life-threatening diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

2 flashlights (one headlamp and one hand-held flashlight)

Spare batteries

Signal whistle

Daypack or fanny pack (big enough for carrying water, field notebook, camera, raingear)

2 large trash bags for keeping luggage dry in the dugout canoe

2-3 lightweight, long pants for field work and wearing at night (cotton is best)

2 lightweight long-sleeved shirts to prevent insect bites

Warm clothing for Quito (temperatures can reach freezing at night)

A set of nice clothes to wear in Quito (appropriate attire is expected in city restaurants/shops)

T-shirts and shorts

Extra socks

Swimming suit (men should bring briefs or trunks with close-fitting liner)

Towel

Sunscreen (SPF 30 or stronger)

Sunglasses

Camera and memory cards (or film, if you are old-school)

Pocket knife

Wristwatch

Calculator

Alarm clock

Ziplock bags (for protecting binoculars, cameras, snacks, etc.)

Spare prescription glasses or contacts, if you wear them

Motion sickness medication (e.g., “Less Drowsy Dramamine,” for bus and plane travel)

Biodegradable, multipurpose soap


This list probably does not include every last item you will need, but it is a good start.

Where in the World...?

Where exactly is the Tiputini Biodiversity Station?

For those of you who use Google Earth, you can find it at the following coordinates:

Latitude 0°38'15.84"S
Longitude 76° 9'0.88"W

The satellite image has recently been updated so it appears in high resolution. You can actually see some of the buildings in the forest, and two canoes along the shoreline.

It is On!

From our colleagues at Tiputini:

Si tengo espacio para la fecha que solicitas, este momento hago la reserva de Diciembre 1 a Diciembre 12/2008 para 14 personas. Lo único que necesitare es me envíen máximo hasta el 5 de Noviembre las copias de pasaporte y fiebre amarilla de cada persona que ingresara a TBS.

Translation: our reservations are set at Tiputini from December 1-12. Moreover, we will need to send copies of our passports and yellow fever vaccination certificates to the Tiputini staff by November 5. If you do not have a passport and have not yet applied, you will want to drop everything you are doing and get it now!

What to expect at the research station

Amazon Expedition: Frequently Asked Questions

When will we go to the Amazon?

Tentatively, we leave Dayton Saturday November 29, 2008, and return Saturday December 13, 2008. We will actually be in the Amazon itself December 1 - December 12.

Is this a fall course or an intersession course?

Both. There is a 1-credit pre-requisite course taught in the fall. The intersession course is 4 credits.

How much will the trip cost?

In addition to tuition, the cost of your passport, and medically-necessary expenses (like a yellow fever vaccination, anti-malarial pills, and emergency antibiotics), the trip will cost somewhere between $1900 and $2000. We cannot be more specific at this time because we do not know what the price of oil will be in November. The price of oil will affect the cost of our flights and transportation in Ecuador.

Is the course just open to biology majors?

No. We are reserving some slots for non-majors, and some slots for graduate students in biology.