It feels like an age ago that we launched the search for the first ever Rainforest Reporter as part of Together For Trees – our partnership with Tesco that aims to protect rainforests around the world. We were looking for someone with a passion for conservation, a flair for communications and good all round practical skills to send out to Gola Rainforest National Park to report back on the amazing work that’s being done there.
After the application process back in March, 25 talented contenders were put through their paces on a number of RSPB reserves to see whether they had what we were looking for. Five finalists were chosen to go through to the final - an interview with the Rainforest Reporter panel, made up of our very own Dieter Hoffmann (Head of International Country Programmes), Tesco's Ruth Girardet (Corporate Responsibility & Community Director), Adam Vaughan (Editor, guardianenvironment.co.uk) and Together For Trees ambassador, Ed Stafford. I have to admit I was glad it was the finalists facing that panel and not me - they're a rather intimidating (but lovely) bunch!
The finalists gave it their all, but there could be only one winner and Gareth Jones, 28 from Alderley Edge, was named the Tgoether For Trees Rainforest Reporter back in June.
Gareth (left) and Ed Stafford get in some rainforest training over the summer. Photo by Howard Grigg, Inspire Photography
Since then the excitement's been building as Gareth prepared for this once in a lifetime trip and finally, he headed out to Sierra Leone on Sunday. Over the next two weeks Gareth will be reporting back on the conservation work the RSPB and its partners are carrying out to help protect the rainforest. Teamed with Gola Rainforest staff, he’ll be helping on local development projects including digging boreholes to provide clean water for families who live in the community, as well as carrying out wildlife surveys, building visitor trails, and visiting local school projects.
You can keep up to date with everything that Gareth is doing, seeing and experiencing over in the Gola Rainforest by following his blog. His first post from the rainforest has just gone live so head over to check out what Gareth's first impressions are and what his gaffe of the day was - trust me, it's a beauty!