This summer I am one of five Trott Field interns with Conservation International (CI), a large scale environmental NGO that works to provide nature based solutions to global environmental problems. The Trott Field internship is an amazing opportunity to work in one of CI’s field offices across the globe and contribute to different projects that vary with geographic priorities. My internship will be sending me down to Quito, Ecuador, where I will work with the Ecosystems Services Manager on a project focused on mangrove conservation. To kick the internship off, we spent the last week in Arlington, VA at headquarters getting a taste for CI and what they do across the globe.
We learned a lot about the history of the organization (they’re one year out from their 30 year anniversary!), their work priorities, and their approach to conservation work. Besides headquarters, CI has offices in over 30 countries worldwide, and the scale of their work is incredible. Each day of the week we had presentations from staff members on topics that ranged from REDD+ and conservation financing to CI’s human rights based approach. It was an honest glimpse inside an organization that has spread its tendrils far and wide to tackle large scale conservation issues. Staff members openly answered our questions, even tough ones on CI’s decision to partner with international corporations, like Walmart.
Along with the interns, there were staff members from different field offices so we got the chance to meet folks from Brazil, Cambodia, Panama, Ecuador, and Japan, to name a few. While we all came from such different backgrounds, it was nice to be surrounded by people who shared the same passion to improve the natural world around us. Environmental degradation is ubiquitous across the globe, but seeing that folks are fighting the good fight all over the world was reassuring.
A highlight of the week was cruising on a boat along the Potomac, pointing out landmarks to our new foreign friends. We also saw a nest with two baby American eagles, which particularly excited the birders in the group. We took the boat to the National Harbor in Maryland where we had a lovely dinner. Currently, I am sitting in the Reagan National Airport, waiting to catch a flight to Miami and then onward to Quito. I am excited to meet all of the folks in the office down there and get started on what I am sure will be a fascinating and fulfilling summer project! Hasta pronto 🙂
Fiji intern, Brazil field staff, Cambodia field staff, Peru intern, Ecuador intern, Cambodia intern
View from the National Harbor
Checking out the White House
Lincoln Memorial
Liz Guinessey: A Gringa Living the Pura Vida 