Hello everyone!
I am Murielle and I just completed a master’s degree in ecology. I want to work in the field of conservation for an unknow (for most of the people) endangered species and that is how I discovered the binturong and ABConservation.
In February, I will fly for the Palawan island for 5 months as part of the Bearcar Study Program.
I will collect and analyse photos from the camera traps set up at 15 meters in the trees. In order to get the photos back, I need to know how to climb in the trees to reach the camera traps!
That is why, during the first week of December, I participated in a tree climbing training with the organisation Libertree (Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com
I learned several things:
- how to use the climbing equipment (helmet, harness, rope)
- how to do the nodes (fortunately, I practiced rock climbing when I was in high school. It helps to know some of the nodes!)
-the climbing techniques (SRT – Single Rope Technique – DRT – Double Rope Technique), with nodes or mecanisms
- the rules to protect the tree when we are climbing: using a spray under our shoes to avoid the spread of diseases between the trees or using a cambium protection to avoid hurting the tree when the rope slides
When I was climbing, it was winter, the temperature was about 3 degree and trees almost lost all of their leaves. I was able to see the ground and it is a bit perturbating the first time that you are climbing this high! I was happy when I was climbing and when I was near the trunk in order to cling on it!
Fortunately, phillipine’s trees have more leaves and the temperature will be higher! But, at least, I was able to admire the magnificient landscape as far I could! Climbing in the trees is also about surpassing yourself. Will I be able to climb this high? Will I be able to stand up on this branch? Yes, of course! You will never cease to have reasons to be proud of yourself!
Yo conclude: it was a training really rewarding from personal and professional perspectives!
