We offer year-round ecovolunteering missions on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, around the fabulous Konawe karsts.

If you support the values and causes we stand for, if you wish to contribute to the preservation of this magnificent region and to the well-being of isolated populationsor experience a moment out of time, make unforgettable encounters, observe marvellous animals and expend your energy exploring one of the most beautiful places on the planet. ecovolunteer missions are made for you!

Why choose to travel with us?

• To help protect one of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots, an island considered to be the last refuge of unique flora and fauna, and in particular to help restore a magnificent coastal environment endangered by plastic waste pollution,
• To share extraordinary adventures and forge strong bonds of friendship… in short, to live an intense and unforgettable experience,
• A rare and beneficial opportunity to disconnect and recharge your batteries to the rhythm of nature, the sea, the songs of the birds in the forest…
• For the chance to delve into ecosystems – those of the Wallacea – that are among the richest in biodiversity, but also the most inaccessible and threatened.
• If you are a student, you may be eligible for an internship.

Or because you’re tired of living illegally! Indeed, the French Constitution’s Environmental Charter states that the environment is the common heritage of all human beings, and that “everyone has a duty to participate in preserving and improving the environment”.

“We had a wonderful and so rich experience discovering Matarape Bay. The mission allowed us to meet a warm-hearted population and to understand the fragility of this ecosystem and the many issues involved in waste management. I highly recommend it! – Ecovolunteer testimonial, February 2020.

Where do we act?

Since 2012, Naturevolution has been exploring the isolated Konawe karsts on the southeast branch of the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, one of the planet’s last “Lost Worlds”. a biogeographical zone as inaccessible as it is exceptionalThe region is made up of a mountainous area (the Matarombeo massif) and a wild archipelago of heavenly islets (Matarape Bay). Faced with the many environmental crimes in this region, we have chosen to focus our conservation efforts initially on the coastal part of the territory.

The island of Sulawesi, with its mosaic of habitats, boasts extraordinary levels of endemism – almost 80% of amphibians, a third of birds and 98% of terrestrial mammals are endemic to the island. Its karst massifs, for example, are home to the world’s largest concentration of butterflies and oldest rock paintings, while its coral reefs are among the richest on the planet.

Why are we going down this road?

The answer is simple: because the island of Sulawesi is home to one of the world’s richest natural and archaeological heritages and that this fabulous region is systematically and massively undergoing irreversible and unacceptable damage particularly as a result of the rapid development of nickel mines, palm oil plantations and plastic waste pollution…

• Commercial plantations of oil palm and sugar cane are steadily expanding and rapidly reducing forest cover. These days, you can hardly go anywhere without hearing the sound of a chainsaw, or seeing entire slopes of forest on fire.
• Nickel mines are developing at a breathtaking pace, particularly along the coast. In addition to systematically razing forests, they also have a terrifying impact on coral reefs. Exposed land causes uncontrolled discharge of lateritic sludge during the heavy rains that are so frequent in this region – sludge that suffocates the corals.
• As for plastics, they are widely used, even though there is no waste recovery, treatment or recycling system in place. Astronomical quantities of plastic are thus thrown directly into rivers or the sea. These drifting plastics end up in the stomachs of marine animals or on beaches.

Needless to say, action is urgently required!

What are we doing in the field?

During our missions, we work on waste management through several concrete activities:

• Awareness-raising in the form of meetings with villagers or school talks,
• Waste collection (in villages, on beaches and fringing reefs) with local residents.
• Collection, sorting and recycling of plastic waste in our workshop in Kendari.

We are also involved in mangrove reforestation and coral transplantation.

We also observe marine species (fish, invertebrates and corals) via regular snorkeling dives, to improve our knowledge of the area.

During your assignment, you will take part in some or all of these actions. Around two-thirds of your time will be devoted to these activities.

Note that :

• Our missions are not tourism, so they don’t have a fixed program specifically designed for you. As an ecovolunteer, you will support the day-to-day activities of our teams.
• The list of actions carried out during these missions can therefore only be communicated to you a few weeks before departure, as we adapt to the schedule of our teams, to the most urgent needs and priorities of the moment, and finally, to the number of registered ecovolunteers and the season.
• Naturevolution reserves the right to modify at any time the order and list of actions to be carried out during missions in order to adapt to unforeseen needs and events.

Because a few pictures are worth a thousand words…

Who do we work with?

Our missions are carried out in the field by our local branch, the Naturevolution Indonesia association, and also draw on the experience of a few members of the Toli Toli Giant Clam Conservation association, which has been involved in protecting the marine environment of Matarape Bay for some ten years. Most Naturevolution Indonesia members speak English, which facilitates communication and activities.

We also work closely with the local authorities, notably through the tourism offices of the districts concerned (North Konawe and Morowali) and the province of Southeast Sulawesi.

How do we live in the field?

• We travel from beach to beach aboard a local boat, ensuring total logistical autonomy,
• Our different base camps (in personal tents) are each set up on a beach. We sleep under the stars, lulled by the gentle sound of the waves,
• We spend most of our days in the great outdoors, by or even in the water. We also visit a number of coastal villages,
• We eat food bought in Kendari, enhanced by locally caught fish and local fruit and vegetables,
• Everyone helps with the dishes,
• We collect fresh water from wells and rivers, filter it or boil it,
• Some meals are taken in the villages.

“This life in the wilderness has turned out to be rather comfortable, and above all a source of friendships and good laughs!

Who are the ecovolunteers?

We welcome applications from people of all ages (from 18 upwards, or younger if parents agree), as long as you’re agile on land and underwater, and of all skills and nationalities, without discrimination.

“Only desire, enthusiasm and motivation count”.

No special scientific background is required, and no diploma is a prerequisite.

The only requirements are that you are :

• checked by a doctor before departure to ensure you’re in top physical condition
• able to speak French, English or Spanish
• smiling, pleasant to be around and with energy to spare!

How long do missions last?

Nous proposons des missions de 2 et 3 semaines en moyenne
Et pour plus de plaisir, il est possible de cumuler plusieurs missions et de rester aussi longtemps que vous le souhaitez dans la limite de la durée maximal du visa touristique !

How is your reception organized?

Nous vous donnons rendez-vous le dimanche soir à l’aéroport de Kendari (code KDI) ou à l’hôtel qui vous sera précisé (au centre ville de Kendari) et que vous pouvez rejoindre facilement en taxi (7€ / 100.000rp maximum) si vous arrivez plus tôt. Nous partageons un premier repas de bienvenue dans la ville de Kendari. La nuitée du dimanche est prise en charge. Nous partons sur le terrain dès le lendemain matin.

En fin de mission, nous vous ramenons à Kendari le vendredi soir où la nuit d’hôtel est également prise en charge, afin que vous puissiez prendre votre vol retour dès le samedi matin.

Dates et tarifs

Vous pouvez utiliser les filtres à disposition pour affiner votre recherche (chercher par exemple ‘août’).

Note that :

• DÉFISCALISATION :
  • L’intégralité des coûts de votre mission, billet d’avion compris, est défiscalisable à hauteur de 66% pour un particulier, de 75% si vous êtes assujetti à l’IFI, et de 60% pour les entreprises.

• RÉDUCTIONS :
  • Vous bénéficiez par ailleurs de 15% de réduction si vous vous inscrivez sur une de nos missions de 2024 avant le 31 octobre 2023.
  • Si vous vous inscrivez à 2 personnes, les tarifs sont réduits de 10%.
  • Si vous vous inscrivez à 3 personnes ou plus, les tarifs sont réduits de 20%.
  • Si vous avez déjà participé à une mission avec nous (à Madagascar ou en Indonésie), vous bénéficiez d’une réduction de 10%. A partir de 2 missions déjà effectuées, cette réduction monte à 20%.
  • Ces réductions ne sont pas cumulables, la réduction appliquée sera la plus avantageuse pour vous.
• PROMOTIONS :
  • Il arrive également parfois que nous proposions des promotions de dernière minute dans le but d’augmenter le nombre d’inscrits et ainsi de garantir le départ des missions. Il convient de préciser que ces promotions ne sont pas pas rétroactives, c’est à dire qu’elles ne sont pas applicables aux personnes préalablement inscrites avant le mise en place de ladite promotion. Les personnes qui décideraient d’annuler leur inscription pour se ré-inscrire à nouveau en espérant bénéficier de la promotion se verraient refuser cette possibilité.

Are you in? Then contact us!

Breakdown of trip price

Crowdfunding

Are you dreaming about it but short on cash? Think crowdfunding!
We can help you raise the necessary funds from your friends and family, your networks, or organize fundraising events (craft sales, screenings, etc.).
To find out more, click here: Crowdfunding

Other business

Interested in volunteering with us?

If you would like to take part in one of our ecovolunteer missions, or if you have any questions before deciding, please fill in the pre-registration form below. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to explain how our missions normally run, give you the steps to take before you leave, present details of our actions in the field, and answer any questions you may have.

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English translation made possible thanks to the PerMondo project: Free translation of website and documents for non-profit organisations. A project managed by Mondo Agit. Translator: Cressida McDermott[/tp]