Transylvania Biodiversity Research

I am a first year student at Durham University and am fundraising  to be an Operation Wallacea research assistant for an expedition to Transylvania in July and August 2014. As a volunteer, I am looking to raise funds to cover the costs of this expedition, which includes field support staff, local accommodation, food and internal transport costs, field equipment and flights. The total expedition cost is £2150 and I am hoping to raise money to cover the final installment of this, which is due on 4th June and is £1290. You can visit www.opwall.com to learn more about their research and what these expeditions involve.

It is only with the continued participation of students such as myself that Operation Wallacea will be able to develop and advance wildlife and habitat protection work around the world. This is a unique opportunity for me to take part in this experience of a lifetime whilst undertaking vital conservation work for Operation Wallacea and the local community and I can only ask once again that you would consider supporting such an important project. Every little helps so please get involved and help me out!

What is Operation Wallacea?

Operation Wallacea is a biodiversity and conservation management research organisation running projects all around the world. In Transylvania, we will be working alongside a conservation NGO called Fundatia ADEPT in the picturesque Tarnava Mare nature reserve in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. This landscape has remained virtually unchanged since the middle ages, with traditional Saxon farming techniques co-existing with varied wildlife, including one of the largest populations of European Brown Bears. My role as a volunteer research assistant will be to assist in biodiversity surveys of flora and fauna and to work with local farmers in maintaining traditional methods and preserving this remarkable area. The research is carried out in conjunction with academics from many European and North American Universities with over 150 academic staff in the field each survey season. Whilst Operation Wallacea provides the research data, the Operation Wallacea Trust charity then uses this data to implement conservation management programmes.

Rewards

I have 50 raffle tickets to give away to my kind donors for just a £1 donation. This raffle is organised by the charity and has some incredible prizes:

• First prize is a brand new car!
• Second prize is a fully-funded six week Operation Wallacea expedition of your own, from Cuba to South Africa
• Third prize is £2000 of travel vouchers for your own round the world trip