Intern Opportunities

Should be a graduate student working under the direction of a faculty advisor. It is hoped the participating university will continue its interest in the project as it grows in size and complexity for many years beyond the span of the internship. Experience in geomorphology, surface water hydrology, soil conservation, grazing management, stream ecology, or other related disciplines. Proficiency in Spanish preferred. Excellent health. Housing provided.

The intern will be expected to help assess immediate and long-term needs for material, personnel, and technical information, identify funding agencies, and write proposals.

Starting Date: Negotiable.

CONTACT: info@rio-laja.org

Telephone/Fax: +52 (415) 152 0158

Opportunities

As the project is very new and rapidly expanding, note that future internship opportunities may include:

• An intern with a background in Environmental Law and Policy to investigate issues of agricultural trade and its impact on watershed, sand and gravel, water law…

• An intern to help set up the nature preserve/research facility near the Presa Allende

• An intern to focus on agricultural management, with specific emphasis on reducing water use in the area

• An intern to focus on forestry management and sustainable development

• Ethnobotanists

• An ornithologist to mentor a Mexican student

• A forestry intern to mentor a Mexican Student

The Intern Experience

One recent intern reported:

"The Rio Laja is a spectacular region containing a variety of ecosystems. I have had the opportunity to work in lush oak forests in the headwaters of the Rio Laja, the Santa Rosa Mountains, the high mountain desert of the Picachos, and the mesquite desert scrublands surrounding the main channel of the Rio Laja. The scenery is at once beautiful and disturbing, as the area has undergone intense deforestation and intensive agriculture, leading to high erosion and desertification...

I have been privileged to be involved in a wide variety of activities in the field and in the offices of Save the Laja. My projects have included assisting in writing grant proposals in Spanish and English, assisting with community organizing events and environmental education workshops, helping with river restoration workshops in local communities, designing river restoration work plans in the field, helping to strengthen and expand the network of organizations working on the Rio Laja, helping utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to locate future communities for restoration work, performing research about the region to expand the knowledge base of Save the Laja, and logging the location of restoration sites using hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) units...

In general my experiences with Save the Laja have been rewarding, challenging, adventurous, and have greatly expanded my knowledge of international conservation/restoration issues."

Salvemos al Río Laja A.C.
Aldama #3, Col. Centro, San Miguel de Allende - 37700 Guanajuato, México
415-152-0158, cel. 045-473-117-9786 info@rio-laja.org