Earth Sea & Sky is a conservation organisation network for Ionian Non-Governmental Organisations working to conserve the flora and fauna of the Greek Ionian.
Volenteer program--
Island-based Wildlife Research, Conservation and Tourist Awareness work
The aim of this volunteering programme is to show how conservation and sustainable tourism can work together to benefit tourists, the locals and wildlife alike.
Our principle objective is to protect the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead turtle and the natural habitats of all wildlife contained within the National Park of Zakynthos.
Our belief in 'conservation by education' means that we provide what is now the only Wildlife Information Centre in Zakynthos, at Gerakas Beach. We estimate that we have 40,000 visitors to the centre each summer, from all over the world.
Earth Sea & Sky organises volunteer placements in Greece, arranges volunteer activities in the Gerakas area over the summer months, does a great deal of Public Awareness work at the Information Centre, liaises with local Zakynthians, and visits schools in the UK to talk about sea turtles. In the past we have arranged the airlift of maimed sea turtles to Sea Life Centres in the UK, and organised the first ever 6-month long clean up of the coast line and forest along the entire length of Laganas Bay.
ESS works in co-operation with other NGOs, such as Medasset (Meditteranean Association to Save the Sea Turtle), the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Archipelagos Coastal and Marine management, and Cephallonia National Marine Park Authority.
Yannis Vardakastanis has been a conservationist since 1991, and he set up Earth Sea & Sky in 1993. He has been steadily working to protect Gerakas where he grew up from tourism development. He has directed his energy into bringing conservation and sustainable tourism together, culminating with Ionian Eco Villagers and Nature World Travel. In 2005 he won a First Choice Responsible Tourism Award for his work.
Help to save the endangered wildlife of the Greek Ionian islands
Program Country :-
» Greece
Living arrangements:
Participants apply to the program via:
Highlights
Having the opportunity to gain experience combining tourism and conservation issues, whilst working closely with other NGO?s
The thrill of seeing sea turtles and hatchlings in their natural environment
Bird watching to spot many of the rare migrating birds
Getting a glimpse of the very shy and extremely endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus),
Experiencing Greek culture first hand on a beautifully verdant, picturesque island, and picking up some of the language
Taking a great first step towards your career in practical conservation or simply making a lasting one-off contribution to the preservation of endangered species
There will also be the opportunity for volunteers to take part in excursions with tourists ? island tours, jeep safaris and catamaran trips; as well as side trips to other islands and/or to mainland Greece. Options are dependent on the duration of your stay, and the season.
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