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ESC: Promoting and protecting biodiversity in the Vallée des Baux

Code: 36822 Copied

France European Voluntary Service Environment European Voluntary Service Environment Fixed dates

About the project

ESC: Promoting and protecting biodiversity in the Vallée des Baux

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

A Rocha France est la branche française de l'organisation non-gouvernementale A Rocha, membre de l'Alliance mondiale pour la nature (IUCN). Elle a été créée en 2000 et possède un centre d'étude près d'Arles depuis 2001. Depuis 2008, A Rocha France gère le Domaine des Courmettes près de Nice, une zone naturelle de 600 hectares ouverte au public. A Rocha France a pour objectif d'agir concrètement pour protéger la nature et l'environnement sur les territoires où elle est implantée. Elle travaille également à la sensibilisation de tous les publics locaux à ces questions, et au niveau national en France elle possède une audience particulière auprès du public Chrétien, pour lequel elle développe des supports et des actions de sensibilisation à la protection de l'environnement. Dans ses locaux d'Arles, A Rocha France emploie 2 personnes (dont le directeur scientifique) et accueille 2 à 6 bénévoles et volontaires à temps plein. Une quarantaine de bénévoles et stagiaires se joignent à l'équipe à des moments différents chaque année et prennent une part active aux projets. Dans la région d'Arles, A Rocha travaille principalement dans la Vallée des Baux et effectue des études scientifiques et des actions de gestion des zones humides des marais des Baux, dont le marais de l'Ilon (Réserve Naturelle Régionale). Localement, A Rocha collabore étroitement avec le Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles mais aussi de nombreuses autres organisations comme la Tour du Valat, le Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue ou le Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. A Rocha collabore également étroitement avec les propriétaires privés et les agriculteurs sur ce territoire. A Rocha a par exemple mené une action de concertation sur les anciens marais des Baux de 2006 à 2008. De 2013 à 2018, A Rocha France a été partenaire du programme européen Life des Alpilles, qui visait à protéger 13 espèces d'oiseaux menacées du Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles. Au niveau international, A Rocha France a développé une expertise reconnue sur l'écologie et la conservation du Rollier d'Europe, un oiseau migrateur emblématique. Les publics cibles d'A Rocha France sont tout d'abord les communautés locales sur les sites où elle intervient, ainsi que les écoles et établissements d'enseignement secondaires. Elle forme également de nombreux étudiants chaque année à travers des stages, ainsi que de nombreux jeunes à travers le Service civique et le Corps européen de solidarité. A Rocha France a également une action ciblée envers les communautés chrétiennes : églises, paroisses et autres communautés religieuses, pour les sensibiliser aux questions de protection de la nature.

💼 What the programme involves

The project offers young people the opportunity to acquire competences in scientific studies of flora, fauna and ecosystems and to put this into practice by implementing projects for managing and protecting the sensitive and threatened wetlands of the Vallée des Baux near Arles. Volunteers will take part in observation, monitoring or censing of species, taking samples and analyzing them, protecting biodiversity of the sites managed by A Rocha by direct actions (tree planting, vegetation cutting, setting up nesting boxes or perches, etc). Specific time (up to 10%) will be devoted to learning French language, 10% of the time will be devoted to communicating about the ESC through different medium (video, stands, articles). 30% of the time will be spent on tasks related to the proper functioning of the Centre A Rocha France: - Welcoming visitors - Maintenance of the domain and its park, various tasks related to Community life.

🏠 Accommodation on site

The volunteers are housed at the study centre, which is also the logistic base for the projects, the head office and the hub for running the life of the team. They share rooms (1 to 2 people of the same gender per room). Lunch and supper are eaten together during the week with the team and any other participants at fixed times. Breakfasts are self-service. The team members take turns at preparing the meals for the group. Special diets are catered for. The centre is no-smoking. Bikes are available for getting around. Rules of life might be adapted due to the COVID situation.

🎒 Leisure activities

Training will be provided at arrival concerning the rules of life at the center, community life, week planning and project and activity description. Field work training is provided all along the project to the volunteer such as: species identification skills, protocols, use of observation tools and other field equipment. Training in database management, data analysis and report drafting is also provided depending on the volunteer skills at arrival.

⚠️ Requirements

The Participant profile: We are looking for volunteers who have a real interest in protecting the environment. They will need to enjoy life in the country and the contact with the flora and fauna, which means sometimes putting up with difficult conditions, getting around by bike, the wind, dry heat, etc. The volunteers will have to show that they can take initiatives in the tasks they undertake and take them through to completion. They should not hesitate to ask for clarification or direction if necessary for their projects. A basic knowledge of French and a full driving licence are an advantage for the volunteers.
Deadline: Application deadline: 31/12/2023

ℹ️ Additional information

The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
  • Training before and after the project
  • Health insurance during your project
  • round-trip travel reimbursement
  • accommodation and food
  • pocket money
  • language course
  • Return Week-end
  • Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport

Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.

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📅 Available sessions

FR36822

01/02/2024 → 31/03/2025

Closed
Volunteers registered 0 / 2
♂ 0/1 ♀ 0/1
Deadline: 31/12/2023

ℹ️ Key information

Age required

18–30 years old

Solidarity donation

0.00 EUR

French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).

📍 Location

3000 Chem. de Barbegal À l'Ilon, 13280 Arles, France

France

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)

Timezone

Central European Standard Time

Local time: 21:37 (12/11/2026)

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English French