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ISSN 1108-8931 |
INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM MONTHLY |
Year 4, Issue 47, Apr. 2003 |
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Three years ago Mother Nature, by means of a landslide, gifted us with a large pond. In September 2002 with the help of the Municipio (county public works), a new culvert was put through the road, higher up, and the pond is a permanent resource. We are now planning a dock, raft, willow trees, trout, water pumping windmill, and a water slide! The locals enjoy the pond, stopping to watch the geese, looking for fish, or just throwing stones. We’ve almost finished a new and improved bunkroom! This will ensure that the ‘bunkers’ have a fantastic view and more space similar to the original Black Sheep private rooms. We are building a 3 story A-frame out of homemade adobe bricks, covered by a straw roof, and lots of windows. The old bunkroom will be converted to a manager’s quarters. A thought to ponder... How can we integrate it so that a tourist, who is in Chugchilan for three nights or more can volunteer at the local school teaching English? We want to ensure continuity for the students; please send your ideas. Many thanks to Tom Clark of Pittsfield, Massachusetts for his generous donation to buy school books for the elementary school of Chugchilan. With Tom's help, all 303 kids in Escuela Juan Jose Flores have their own textbooks this year. Thank you to Jacqueline Hirsch, for donating the Rosetta Stone Language Library. Many students enjoy learning English while improving their computer skills. Our workers enjoy the program, as do many of our guests. Also much appreciated were the Comfrey roots! Tell Bob the comfrey lives!! The "biblioteca" library project is closer than ever to fruition. Thank you to Diane Pearlman of Oregon for her special connection with Chugchilan. And thanks to Scott Rauland and family for facilitating logistical challenges. Gracias. If you do want to help out, there is a continuous need for books in Spanish and high tech equipment such as used computers, fax machines, copy machines, printers, typewriters, microscopes, a centrifuge, etc. BUT, any item must be in good working order and shipping (at this point) must be paid by the donor.
In British Columbia, Canada, eco-education has entered directly into the Eco and Adventure Tourism operators place of operation. In 2001, Rod Burns, proprietor of Bold Point Farm,received his Certified Professional Heritage Interpreter designation from the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council (CTHRC). Starting in 2001, Rod, combined his business background and a definite passion for education, specifically Eco-Education, with his development and marketing of 3 EcoInterpreter Guide training modules. The modules run 15 hours over 2 days, All modules follow the occupational standards and skills laid out by the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council (CTHRC) for heritage interpreters and adventure guides. The knowledge components, address either the natural or cultural history of the province, with adjustments to account for regional variations. In his second year of conducting training sessions, Rod reports a phenomenal 700% increase in enquiries and bookings of the workshops. This coming April and May, he will be conducting workshops at his own Bold Point Centre for Interpretation Training, as well as travelling over 1,300 km. to conduct 3 workshops in other regions of British Columbia. Resorts, lodges and tourism associations are starting to call upon his background in Interpretation Program Planning, to produce walking tour manuals, booklets, media presentations and non-personal interpretation stations. Additional workshops are planned for October and November of 2003. In addition to the training and interpretation programs, through Bold Point Centre, Rod has begun to work with 2 Japanese companies to offer multi-day Eco Education Adventure Packages. Two key requirements to the packages, is that that each day will follow and eco / environmental education theme and every adventure activity will be guided by a trained natural or cultural history interpreter.
A new approach to save the rainforest, become an owner of 1.25 acres and co-owner of a 250 acres of tropical Rain-Forest. In Costa Rica, the major burden to preserve and protect the Tropical Rain Forest rests on the shoulders of the individual landowners, often small farmers and individuals for whom the piece of Rain Forest represents a major part of their capital and preserving it means great personal and economic sacrifice. The Governments often promise compensations to these individual owners of Rain Forests, but the compensation is usually very small ( about US$25.- per hectare (2.5acres) per year in the case of Costa Rica for a maximum of 300 hectares(750 acres)* Even if granted by Government Law, the Governments quite often do not have sufficient Funds to subsidize all the owners of a Rain Forest. As a matter of fact, the 100 Hectares of la Laguna del Lagarto Lodge enjoyed for the past 5 years the benefits of the Government subsidy, however, the contract was not renewed due to the lack of funds. Of the 16,000 hectares which requested the subsidy in the North Zone of Costa Rica, only 1,600 or 10% were approved. This token support of the Government to help the owners of Rain Forests is by far not sufficient to guarantee its survival. Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, has developed the following Pilot Project to make the ownership of Tropical Rain Forests available to anyone who is seriously concerned to preserve and protect this precious resource for mankind. Laguna del Lagarto Lodge has transferred 100 hectares(250 acres ) of its primary Tropical Rain Forest to a new Company duly registered under the laws of Costa Rica , called : BOSQUE LLUVIOSO DE SAN CARLOS D C A, S.A. This new company has issued 200 common shares, giving the owner all the rights the law confers to a normal shareholder and 200 preferred shares giving the shareholder the right to undivided ownership of the equivalent of half a hectare ( 1.25 acres ) of primary Rain Forest with no right to any individualized use of the undivided 100 hectares of the Rain Forest, owned by the company. The common and the preferred shares will be sold to the public jointly as a package which cannot be divided giving thus the owner the full rights of a common shareholder and ownership right equivalent to half a hectare (1.25 acres ) of primary tropical Rain Forest. The Hotel Laguna del Lagarto Lodge assumes the administration of the new company with out any costs and will guarantee the protection of the Rain Forest.. In addition it offers each shareholder and his direct family (spouse and children) a permanent 20% discount on the prevailing room rates. Since the Hotel is on the edge of the Rain Forest the shareholder will have an easy access to the property. The prime purpose of the company is the preservation , protection and maintenance of the Rain Forest. Nevertheless, the profit motive is not excluded and will be pursued within the framework of sound ecological principles. This pilot project is probably the first of its kind in the world and offers an effective way to make the ownership of Rain-Forest available to everybody interested in its preservation. As a matter of fact once the first 200 shares are sold the neighbouring 400 has. of Rain Forest will be incorporated in the company by increasing the capital and issuing an additional 800 common and preferred shares. Other owners of Rain Forest in the area have expressed interest to join the company. We hope thus to contribute to the preservation of a large portion of the Rain Forests in this Northern Zone of Costa Rica.
Casa Mojanda announces that together with other ecological lodges, retreats and community tourism projects, we have recently formed EcuadorVerde / GreenEcuador as a cooperative network to offer the engaged traveller the very best of Ecuador, our small country with its truly astounding variety of cultural and natural attractions and resources. In doing so, we seek to give meaning and substance to the concept of ecotourism. Each of our lodges and retreats has demonstrated a strong and ongoing commitment to ecologically sound principles and practices, social responsibility and cultural authenticity. Our guests are invited to learn about and visit our projects, and even lend a hand while they are here. We are also dedicated to excellence in the accommodations and services we offer each visitor.
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