Volunteer Abroad Around the World

ECOTERRA Intl. is the Global Society for ECOlogy and sound ECOnomy, an independent, international civil society organisation (CSO), registered as non-governmental organisation (NGO), working as humanitarian agency (NGHA) as well as in development, if it is respecting traditional values of tribal peoples, their right to self-determination and works for better sustainability. We are committed to work for our common future, a better today and tomorrow on earth (TERRA).



ECOTERRA's mandate is to care for the natural environment and to safeguard and improve environmental, nature's, human and civil rights. We act in the spirit of the consequent realisation of the World Charter for Nature, the Rio Declaration on Environment, the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as other international conventions caring for all life on earth.



ECOTERRA's work is performed by an international network of activists, professional volunteers and the qualified staff. Funding and assistance to the various programmes and projects is provided by individual supporters and sponsors as well as qualifying governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental donors, thus assuring independence from the dominance of a single donor, which is essential to maintain the optimal freedom for our unbiased work.



ECOTERRA as charity is politically and religiously independent,

non-sectarian, non-partisan and non-profit oriented, an equal opportunity employer without any ethnic restrictions.



ECOTERRA assists and engages without preference of race, creed, nationality, religion or gender and tries to employ underprivileged people, wherever possible.



Host communities and the respective governments therefore recognise and respect our independent, humanitarian and impartial activities, respond positively to our security requirements and facilitate unhindered, rapid and equal access to people, lives and areas in need..



OUR GOAL



The protection of life, of the bio- and ecospheres by means of environmental disaster prevention and response as well as crisis management is the overall goal of our work and rapid, direct and equal access to endangered areas and victims is mandatory.



Members as well as volunteers, associates, staff, donors and supporters of ECO²TERRA with their professional work, their personal involvement or by means of their contributions, commit themselves towards the preservation, active protection and sound development of the natural foundations of life forming the base for all people.



OUR TASKS



The basic tasks of the Association are the elaboration of solutions up front to safeguard nature and those people, who live with it in harmony, the promotion of research concerning environmental questions or concerning adapted technologies, and the transfer of existing or newly developed knowledge into practical work, in order to:



--prevent environmental degradation

--safeguard the intact environment

--preserve the diversity of fauna and flora

--protect first peoples and their natural habitat

--achieve a change in trend within damaged ecological systems



and therefore to:

--maintain the optimum freedom for a decent life and a sound economy of people.



ECO²TERRA ACTIVITIES

ECO²TERRA's activities can range from operations in direct environmental disaster prevention and relief to long term integrated programmes and from research-projects and awareness creation campaigns to rehabilitation and development programmes. The realisation process is flexible and varies in its form of implementation according to the local conditions. However, independent from the grade of volunteer or professional work provided by ECO²TERRA, the local contribution specifically in community based projects is essential and is an important indicator showing the local acceptance and feasibility of the respective projects.