Program Dates: August 28 - Sept 18 2008

Day 1: Cusco: Introduction, policies and expectations Arrive from Seattle (via Lima), first meeting, preparation and logistics for first exploration trip, stay in Cusco at local hotel.

Day 2-3: Urubamba (Sacred Valley) Observation of western Andean Ecology and agricultural systems 1 hour AM drive from Cusco, stay in Urubamba at local hotel. Introduction to the ecology and biology of the site. Introduction to Andean agricultural systems and traditional activities (such as textiles, use of natural dyes). Learn field identification techniques for flora and fauna. Interaction and interviews with local communities. On evening of day 3 travel to MachuPicchu. Stay in a local hotel.

Day 4: Visit to Machu Picchu Whole day visit to famous Inca's lost city. Return to local hotel and spend the night there.

Day 5: Return to Cusco, Logistics and visit to the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad (UNSAAC) AM: trip back to Cusco. PM: Attending Andes-Amazon Ecology and conservation mini-symposium given by faculty from UNSAAC. Preparation for following exploration trip. Stay in Cusco at local hotel.

Day 6-11: Andean highlands and Cloud forest: Wayquechas Field Station 7 hr drive over the Andes to the Wayquechas field station (cloud forest on the eastern slope of the Andes). Trip will be over the Acjanaco pass (3,800m) entering the Manu Biosphere Reserve and we will make stops to observe different characteristics of the habitats along the road. Wayquechas field station will be used as a base during this field trip. Introduction to the ecology of the site, night seminars, and/or paper discussions. Introduction to biological diversity survey techniques (with support of local researchers/experts). Introduction to neighboring community of Sunchubamba (with the help of local social scientist) where Quechua people live in relative isolation from western society.

Seminar topics during this part of the trip will also include:

- Hypotheses for patterns and origins of biodiversity along the altitudinal/latitudinal gradient - Function of biodiversity - Generating questions and hypotheses - Hypothesis testing, experimental design and statistical analysis - Discussions of independent research topics (with peers and instructors) and first presentation of research plans to instructors. - How to collect data, biases, and maintaining proper field notes -

Day 12: Back to Cusco 5-7 hr drive back to Cusco with stops along the road, stay in local hotel.

Days 13-22: Exploring in the lowland Amazon rainforest 1 hr-flight to Puerto Maldonado, and half-hour road trip to CECCOT where we will be based the rest of the time. Introducction to the ecology of the site and introductory visits to the forest, Sandoval Lake, conservation projects and local communities.

Days will be split between time in the field collecting and analyzing data, visits to neighboring communities and conservation programs in the surrounding of the Tambopata Reserve, and time in seminars and discussions covering the following:

-Tropical biodiversity in the Amazon - Evolutionary perspective on human behavior, cultural diversity, and Amazonian societies - comparing agroecological systems in the tropical Andes and Amazon -Threats to biodiversity and major challenges for conservation in the tropics -Writing a research paper -Preparing a research presentation-

On day 21students will present their work in a day long student symposium which will be open to students and faculty from local universities and general public of Puerto Maldonado.

On day 22 students divided in 2-3 groups, and based on the past weeks experiences will conduct a planned community service activity. On the evening of day 22 we will have a final celebration.

Day 23: Leave Puerto Maldonado Morning for final gathering, group pictures. Take transportation back to town and then to airport. Students will fly out from Puerto Maldonado in the afternoon either to Cusco or to Lima on their way to the US (flights back to the US can be scheduled by midnight or early morning the following day).

Accessibility and available facilities each locality:

All the proposed sites are accessible either by road, train or plane from the city of Cusco (3300 m) where the program will start and which will serve as a hub for other trips. Cusco can be reached either by road (20 hrs) or plane (1 hr) from Lima, the capital of Peru. The Urubamba Valley, locally known as the Sacred Valley (2600-2900 m), is about 1 hour drive from the city of Cusco and has plenty of facilities for food and lodging, and places to buy supplies if needed. MachuPicchu (1500m) is accessible by train service that leaves from Cusco. The fully equipped Wayquechas field station (2900 m) is a 7-hour drive from Cusco and close to the native community of Sunchubamba. The Tambopata Center for Conservation, Science and Education (CECCOT in Spanish) is 9km on dirt road from the Amazonian city of Puerto Maldonado (300 m which can be reached by 1-hr flight from Cusco). Research, education, and sustainability projects are conducted at this center, which is itself a functioning example of sustainability. It is also near Amazonian indigenous communities and conservation projects which can be easily accessed by short road or river trips. Student activities during the program will be a combination of field work, visits to cultural and biological sites, discussions, attending seminars, giving presentations, and independent work on group projects.

For more information on some of the sites we will visit, check out the following websites: