Removing Non-Native Invasive Plants
Breakdown:
- Accommodation and food: 0.00 Euro
- Transportation: 0.00 Euro
- Activities: 0.00 Euro
- Hosting organisation support: 80 Euro
Description: Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF) is NGO dedicated to nature conservation. Its mission is to preserve endangered species and their habitats, natural landscapes and natural associations typical of Estonia. ELF has organized yearly nature conservation holidays where volunteers, participants and group managers work together in order to improve the living conditions of a certain species (i.e. natterjack toad, black stork) or maintain semi-natural communities. You can read on http://elfond.ee/en and see photos from volunteering camps of 2019: http://www.talgud.ee/galerii/2019 The aim of this camp is removing non-native invasive plant species of the Himalayan balsam. Karula National Park in South-Estonia is famous for its vast forests and a hilly landscape. This region is also an important habitat for the black stork which is a rare bird species in Estonia. The Estonian traditions and the old way of life are still alive in Karula. Historical farmhouses, old wagon trails, local dialect and smoke saunas are still here.Otepaa Nature Park, the largest protected landscape in Estonia, is located on hilly uplands. One of the country s most picturesque lakes i Puhajarv, or Sacred Lake in translation i is situated in the heart of the nature park. The small town of Otepaa next to the lake has given its name to the protected area and is a popular skiing destination. The diverse landscapes in the nature park are shaped by both human activity and natural processes.The Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant species that has spread to Estonian nature from the gardens. It spreads quickly and competes with the local flora for habitats, forcing the latter to disappear. Luckily, the Himalayan balsam can be easily removed by plucking and this method has been proved effective over the last two years. The worksite is next to a lake: bring your swimwearELF s volunteers have plucked up the Himalayan balsam in Karula since 2017 and in Otepaa since 2021. The results have been promising so far and we will continue the work in these locations for several years. See pictures of previous camps herehttps://www.talgud.ee/talgud/tehtavad-tood/verev-lemmmalts
Type of Work: Work The Himalayan balsam is plucked up manually. A typical workday will last for 6 hours. Work equipment and gloves will be provided by ELF. Participants need to bring suitable clothes for work, rubber boots, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.Itineraries-1.07 Around noon: arrival to Tallinn Airport. Public transport (bus) from the airport to Tartu (ca 2,5h, 12 euro). Pick-up from Tartu coach station to Karula with ELF s minivan. Free time to explore the region of Karula.-2.07 Work in Karula: manually plucking up the Himalayan balsam. Sauna in the evening.-3.07 Free days to explore the region of Karula. Transport to Otepaa Nature Park.-4-5.07 Work in Otepaa: removing the Himalayan balsam. Sauna in the evening of 5th July.-6.07 Free time to explore the region of Otepaa. Afternoon: drop-off to Tartu coach or rail station. Public transport from Tartu to Tallinn.NB We recommend you to extend your stay coming couple of days earlier and leaving a couple of days later to do some sightseeing on your own. Inexpensive hostels and Airbnb can be found all over Estonia, especially in Tallinn and Tartu. Feel free to ask EstYES for support.
Accommodation: In beds at Karula or mattresses at Otepaa in the local village centers. Please bring your sleeping bag. Showers and kitchen are available. Two evenings will be reserved for the traditional Estonian smoke sauna. We will be cooking our own food throughout the camp. The Estonian group leader will compile the menu and buy the groceries.
Language: eng,eng
Requirements: Special requirementsYou have to bring working clothes, warm clothes as nights can be rather chilly, wet weather clothing, summer clothes as days may be hot, wellingtons, sleeping bag and pillow, swimwear, towel, insect spray. Necessary tools and cloves provided by ELF.Participation fee You are kindly asked to contribute 80 Euro towards cost of board, lodging, programme, administration and for nature This fee has to be paid by volunteers either by bank transfer before the beginning of the camp or to the host upon arrival to the camp.
Approximate Location: Karula National Park in South-Estonia is famous for its vast forests and a hilly landscape. This region is also an important habitat for the black stork which is a rare bird species in Estonia. The Estonian traditions and the old way of life are still alive in Karula. Historical farmhouses, old wagon trails, local dialect and smoke saunas are still here.Otepaa Nature Park, the largest protected landscape in Estonia, is located on hilly uplands. One of the country s most picturesque lakes i Puhajarv, or Sacred Lake in translation i is situated in the heart of the nature park. The small town of Otepaa next to the lake has given its name to the protected area and is a popular skiing destination. The diverse landscapes in the nature park are shaped by both human activity and natural processes.Leisure timeBoard games, sauna, swimming, hiking and exploring the local surroundings, etc.