A lot of times when you travel, you don't see the direct effect that the money you spend has on the local community. Sure, if you stay at a chain hotel, you're helping to employ maids, bellboys, receptionists, and maintenance workers. Some of them may live nearby but some might live in other communities. And the organizational heads that make most of the money probably do live elsewhere.
But in the Ecuadorian Amazon, there are some places where you can see the results firsthand.
But in the Ecuadorian Amazon, there are some places where you can see the results firsthand.
Tourism lodges have been built by the local communities who then supply all of the workers at the lodge and the income stays within the community so that educational and health care facilities can be improved and the people have useful employment.
When I had done a cruise on the Napo River, I had been told that the various tribes had been told by the government that they needed to have an income-producing plan for their land or the land would be leased to the oil companies. A few weeks ago when I visited the Napo Wildlife Center and the Napo Cultutal Center, I got to see first-hand the results of the communities' efforts.
Our guide had explained to us that as a kid, the lagoon in front of the wildlife center was his swimming pool. But what really had an impact was watching a video that explained the evolution of the lodge. It showed village leaders approaching a non-profit conservation organization for initial funding and our guide pointed out his mother and him (when he was a little kid) in the area during the discussions. Then it showed the villagers constructing the facilities at the lodge.
When I had done a cruise on the Napo River, I had been told that the various tribes had been told by the government that they needed to have an income-producing plan for their land or the land would be leased to the oil companies. A few weeks ago when I visited the Napo Wildlife Center and the Napo Cultutal Center, I got to see first-hand the results of the communities' efforts.
Our guide had explained to us that as a kid, the lagoon in front of the wildlife center was his swimming pool. But what really had an impact was watching a video that explained the evolution of the lodge. It showed village leaders approaching a non-profit conservation organization for initial funding and our guide pointed out his mother and him (when he was a little kid) in the area during the discussions. Then it showed the villagers constructing the facilities at the lodge.
Later, when at the cultural center, about 2 hours away from the wildlife center, we could see the school facilities that educate not only the kids from that community, but others from nearby communities. And several times our guide thanked us, saying that our visit was providing more funds for education. The people of the village live near the cultural center. The men who work at the wildlife center get to come home every few weeks while the women stay in the village to take care of the kids and to perform the activities at the cultural center so that they can earn an income too.
So all of the adults have an opportunity to work. Before the lodges were built, they either had to try to exist on hunting and fishing or by leaving the area to find work in cities. Now they are able to stay on their land.
So all of the adults have an opportunity to work. Before the lodges were built, they either had to try to exist on hunting and fishing or by leaving the area to find work in cities. Now they are able to stay on their land.
RSS Feed
