Protecting the choco rainforest
The goal of the Kumanii Community Ecotourism Project is to preserve
the native primary rainforest in Ecuador´s Choco rainforest, by providing the local community with economic
incentives to do so. The rural community was once reliant on unsustainable practices of
logging, farming and hunting. Alternative sources of income are now provided by the
ecotourism project as local men and women work as guides, cooks, craft makers and maintain the ecolodge. A visitor to Kumanii Lodge leaves behind positive
benefits to both the host community and the host environment.
The project is run by Kumanii foundation with full participation of the local Chachi and Afro Ecuadorian communities. Emphasis is upon fairness and
democracy. The management panel is elected by the local community, and everyone is welcome
to participate and benefit from local tourism. Guides are fully qualified and operate
on a rotational basis to fairly distribute the meaningful economic benefits of tourism. The same is
true of other service providers. Much of the money spent by visitors is destined for a
community fund, which is managed by the local communtity. This fund is partly used
to directly pay owners of the native forest, giving them an incentive to conserve it.
Extra funds are used as the community sees fit, whether it is to improve educational
facilities or to develop local infrastructure, the community decides.
Kumanii lodge is located in the buffer zone of the Cotacachi Cayapas wildlife reserve, it lies west of the Andes, in the tropical Ecuadorian coast in the northern province of Esmeraldas.
There is little other tourism developed in the zone, yet already neighbouring communities
are looking at Kumanii with hope, and wanting to develop similar sustainable
projects. Kumanii foundation wants their project can be used as an example for other
neighbouring communities to copy.
This part of Ecuador is off the beaten track - the project caters to the adventurous
traveller seeking an insight into Ecuadorean culture that is not received at more popular
tourism hotspots in the country, yet Kumanii lodge offers high end comforts, including private bathrooms in each cabin, hot water showers and fine dining ( a unique combination of international dishes and local delicacies ). There are a variety of interesting and beautiful trekking
opportunities, some of the best birdwatching in the world, cultural presentations by local communities. Another major draw is canoeing - it's not the typical form of canoeing but
involves paddling along river streams in local handmade dugouts. The canoe design has been used by
the local indigenous communities since pre-Incan times. Now, these cultural traditions are being
kept alive through ecotourism.
Email: info@kumanii-lodge.com
Website: www.kumanii-lodge.com
About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Travel Resources ©2004 South America Tours & Central America Tours
Other interesting travel guides:
Travel to Ecuador directory | Galapagos Tour directory |
Travel to Peru directory | Travel to Chile directory | Galapagos travel and tours | Galapagos Travel Advisor