A Wonderful Opportunity for Professional Career Development, Personal Enrichment and Abundant Growth
My name is Ricky and I recently spent a month in Lobitos participating in EcoSwell’s Reforestation and Ecosystem Volunteer Intern Program! As a recently graduated, emerging ecologist pursuing a career in ecological restoration and field research, I felt EcoSwell was a wonderful opportunity to pick up some experience and hone my professional skills. In addition to paving the way towards my career goals, I found this opportunity to be compelling because it would allow me to immerse myself in an alluring, far away place I had not been before.
My Professional Background
I am a University of California, Berkeley graduate with a bachelor of science in Conservation and Resource Studies and a study emphasis in Ecological & Biological Sciences. I was a fi rst-generation, re-entry, and transfer student. I started my college career at the age of 20 and attended three different community colleges part-time while working simultaneously before successfully transferring to UC Berkeley with a major in Environmental Sciences, before eventually switching my major to Conservation and Resource Studies. This major offered a broader focus and more fl exible class choices. I found this collegiate path to be better tailored to my interdisciplinary area of interest which included humanities, social sciences, and philosophy in addition to ecological and biological sciences.
From an early age I’ve been fascinated and inspired by the natural world and determined to help preserve both its profound beauty and biodiversity of life. While growing up in South Florida, I completed an Environmental Science & Everglades Restoration magnet program in high school as well as a Marine Biology magnet program in middle school.
Prior to my time with EcoSwell I completed an AmeriCorps term of service as a Seasonal Wetland Restoration Technician with an organization called Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation located in Reno, Nevada. Within this role I gained valuable experience working alongside other motivated colleagues starting their careers in the fi eld of ecology and ecosystem restoration. Primarily, this role involved implementing and supporting the Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation Wetland Restoration Program; the aim of this program was to restore a decommissioned city golf course back to a functional wetland system. As an AmeriCorps member in this position I assisted in
restoration efforts through research design, invasive plant removal, native plant establishment, site monitoring, trail maintenance, and community education. This work experience complimented my previously acquired knowledge, skills, and training in ecological fi eld work and research during my time as a student.
Why I Volunteered with EcoSwell
I came to EcoSwell from the bay area of California primarily as a means of gaining more work experience to help get my career off the ground following my spring 2023 graduation from UC Berkeley and my fi rst job post-graduation as a Wetland Restoration Technician. EcoSwell’s work seemed to be right in line with my professional aims and interests, as I was seeking to continue working in ecosystem restoration and wanted to get involved in ecologically focused work that would make a tangible, positive impact on communities of people, plants, and wildlife. EcoSwell’s stated mission to restore disappearing and degraded tropical dry forest habitat while
also assisting in the sustainable development of vulnerable communities in Peru resonated with my passions and professional pursuits – as such I was immediately invested and eager to put my knowledge and skills to use to further EcoSwell’s progress towards their reforestation initiatives while also advancing my own career in conservation and ecology.
In addition to my career motives, I’m someone who craves adventure and has been fortunate enough to develop a love of international travel. As such I was excited by the prospect of travelling to and experiencing life in Lobitos, as I have a deep fondness of coastal places and thoroughly enjoyed my time exploring other parts of Peru eight years prior to my EcoSwell internship. Furthermore, I’ve also been yearning to pick up surfi ng again for quite some time since I hadn't surfed since my time as teenager growing up in South Florida.
After interviewing with director Diego Almendrades, who leads the Reforestation and Ecosystem Restoration Volunteer Internship Program, it was even more clear to me that EcoSwell was an organization that I wanted to work with not only because of their mission statement, but also due to Diego’s shared philosophy of holism that I had grown to embrace throughout my life, owing to the infl uence I’ve had from my education, mentors, and personal experiences.
My Work with EcoSwell
I participated in EcoSwell’s volunteer program from January - February 2026. During this time, I was engaged in a wide variety of work during my time with EcoSwell, however most of my time involved the planning, management, and implementation of two projects: the Reforestation Site Monitoring Field Study and the Household Reforestation Planting Project.
The Reforestation Site Monitoring Field Study is an ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and research project that involves employing various treatment approaches to the four species of native trees located on EcoSwell’s preexisting reforestation site in Lobitos: algarrobo (Prosopis pallida), palo negro (Grabowskia boerhaviifolia), faique (Acacia macracantha), and azote de cristo (Parkinsonia aculeata). This project aims to gain a better understanding of what type of watering and fertilization regimen (i.e. "treatment") is most effective and feasible in promoting tree recovery as well as continuity of growth and health. Each of these four native tree species are essential constituents in the community of fl ora that make up the tropical dry forests of coastal northern Peru, which have mostly been lost or destroyed due to deforestation and desertifi cation. By achieving a greater understanding of what type of treatment is most effi cient and effective in caring for these trees, EcoSwell (and other similarly aligned organizations) will be better equipped to achieve their tropical dry forest ecosystem restoration goals.
The Household Reforestation Planting Project is a plan that aims to successfully plant and establish trees from EcoSwell’s native plant nursery in several strategically placed sites (which we termed “niches”) around the outside of the EcoSwell house. Most of our selected individuals were planted in preexisting kitchen compost holes that were in close proximity to the sandbag lined trench outside of the house, which acts as a barrier to divert extreme water fl ows and runoff resulting from heavy rains. The Household Reforestation Planting Project aims to provide additional measures of flood
mitigation and erosion control. Furthermore, by planting more native trees, this plan helps to expand the dry forest habitat around the EcoSwell house. With the execution of this planting project we seek to safeguard the house from flooding and create a more resilient landscape that can better sustain dry forest species of fl ora and fauna.
Apart from these two projects I was responsible for upkeep of the native plant nursery, watering the plants around the house, collecting and storing seeds, setting up and tending to germination trays, transplanting maturing seedlings from the germination trays into the native plant nursery, and updating and maintaining the inventory for the native plant nursery. Furthermore, I helped update the various manuals and reference materials that would be used in guiding future reforestation and ecosystem restoration interns in carrying on the tasks and projects myself and others were engaged in throughout our time as volunteers with EcoSwell.
I also participated in a few "planting days" during which we took plants from our native plant nursery to plant at the homes of local residents in Lobitos. This was a wholesome and rewarding way to engage with the community and get locals involved in tending to native plants and local reforestation efforts. Furthermore, I attended a town meeting alongside EcoSwell staff (Diego, Quenni, and Carlos) and an ecosystem restoration government offi cial in order to further inform local residents on the goings ons of local reforestation work and why it's important. Everyone who attended was provided with a bag of soil, some seeds, and information sheets about the species of seeds they received.
Lastly, I worked with a team of interns to maintain the ecotourism trails in Piedritas by clearing obstacles and thinning areas of overgrowth on the trails to make them more passable and aesthetically pleasing. These trails were impressively lush and beautiful and I very much enjoyed lending aid in these maintenance efforts. I was so enamored with these trails that I returned with my partner following the completion of my internship to spend the day hiking and exploring – I found the wetlands there to be particularly gorgeous.
I found all of the work I did as a part of EcoSwell to be deeply gratifying. Not only was I able to engage in the type of fi eld work that I strive to build a career in, but I felt that my efforts were part of a larger vision that was geared towards benefi tting the local community of Lobitos that I had grown so fond of, and I was able to see the results of my efforts in real time. Furthermore, I was very happy to be part of a team comprised of the inspired and enthusiastic individuals that make up EcoSwell's staff and internship programs.
My Personal Time in Lobitos
Some highlights I had from the program outside of work included the great surfi ng conditions and community, the prolifi c paintings and artwork around town, all of the amazing food I enjoyed at various restaurants and prepared by our very talented chef at the EcoSwell house, and the many brilliant sunsets I watched from various locations in Lobitos including La Punta and Mirador La Bola. Carlos, our wonderful volunteer intern coordinator, also organized several exciting group outings for us. Most notably, we took a trip to the stunning caves and beaches of Las Capullanas and went out on a handline fi shing trip with several local fi shermen where we prepared ceviche while on board the fi shing boat using the fresh fi sh we caught (we also saw many birds, dolphins, and a sea lion). I also enjoyed frequent swimming and body surfi ng, playing beach volleyball, and simply walking up and down the beach to take in the sights and sounds of the beautiful ocean scenery and lively people – I even got to watch the majestic horses gallop down the beach on multiple occasions. I was also happy to find that Lobitos also offers plenty of fun social opportunities to go out with other EcoSwell interns and engage with the locals, including various events such as dancing, karaoke, live music, and art workshops. I'm elated to say that I had a wealth of memorable and enriching experiences during my time in Lobitos including but certainly not limited to the highlights I've mentioned here.
What I’ll Miss Most
What I will miss the most about Lobitos and EcoSwell is living so close to the beautiful beach and within the vibrant and welcoming community that made me feel seen and like part of a family. I loved spending as much time as I could on the beach and in the ocean, as well as getting to know both the locals and travelers passing through. While I felt ready to head back home knowing that I had made the most of my time immersing myself in the place and culture, it's the friends I made along the way that I will miss most dearly, though I know that the connections I made will last a lifetime and Lobitos will always be a home away from home for me. I would very much love to return to Lobitos someday to catch up with and spend more time with the great people there I've come to know as both cherished friends and respected colleagues.
Considering Volunteering with Ecoswell?
I would wholeheartedly recommend EcoSwell's internship programs to other volunteers at any stage in their career track, as EcoSwell offers a great opportunity to get involved in fulfi lling and impactful work with a dedicated team that makes a real difference in a community of genuine and caring people, while also offering an unforgettable and enriching experience in a beautiful place that will stick with you and positively shape both your inner perspective and worldviews for many years to come.
