OFFERING TO LOCALS JOB IN TOURISM  WE PREVENT DEFORESTATION!

We have dedicated ourselves to the idea of environmental conservation and this ideal has been the primary inspiration during the creation of this project.  As we have developed, the scope for the positive influence we could have throughout the Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve has grown. We have been able to improve many aspects of life within the communities of Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve. We are currently teaching the residents how to collect the highly demanded honey of the Amazonian bees without destroying the hives.

This has created a sustainable model of business for the communities providing an alternative to the destructive methods used previously. We are also educating the communities on new methods of sustainable agriculture that may be practiced without causing lasting damage to the forest.
This marks a change from previous systems which caused irreversible damage through forest clearing and the planting of flora alien to the delicate ecosystem of the jungle. Future plans involve the dredging of the waterways of the forest to improve travel and create easier pathways between the communities. Our model utilizes various methods designed to ensure that improvements made will benefit the community while also increasing the touristic opportunities within the reserve. It is our hope that this model will continue to grow and evolve synergistically in the years ahead.

OUR LODGE IS COMPLETELY RECYCLED!

The construction of the bungalows followed our philosophy of conservation.
We refused to cause any unnecessary damage to the forest and instead only used the wood of naturally fallen trees for construction. These trees had fallen due to wind, a weakened root base or because of mould. These trees provided us with all the wood required to make structures of lasting quality.

We use ecological toilets to ensure there is no water or soil pollution. This ensures that our impression on the jungle is negligible.

The construction of the bungalow and malocas was coordinated through an honest relationship with the community members of Allpahuayo Mishana and their families (formed over the years). We have a personal involvement within the community of Nueva Esperanza as Carmen, one of the partners in the group grew up there with her family. We have remained respectful of the community rules and have taken part in community life.

We have taken an active role in meetings and become a part of life there. Our goal is to involve the local people as much as possible within our project which ensures that much needed work is circulated within the reserve providing an alternative to destructive practices such as poaching and charcoal burning. Local people have built the bungalows and provide the food required for meals during your stay there. We aim to serve the meals in the local style, using organic leaves for plates, providing an authentic experience while also limiting the use of plastic which is something of a problem locally. One short-term plan is to create a garden which will provide all the fruit and vegetables required for the lodge. This will increase our use of locally sourced products from the reserve and further our goal to be a fully sustainable lodge. Our long term goal is to gradually enrich the area around Nueva Esperanza.

This would involve targeted general reforestation, specialised reforestation where we recreate the natural habitat for endangered species such as Perlita de Iquitos bird and we also plan to create sustainable agricultural areas which would benefit the community of Nueva Esperanza. The community is often malnourished due to a poor diet consisting mainly of rice and meat and we aim to provide education into the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables in a balanced diet which will be combined with educating them in vegetable farming methods.

The education of the local community is one of our primary goals. We are involving them in every part of the project, using them for all the construction work required while also training them to be our active guides.  This creates an awareness of the environment that we hope will spread throughout all the communities in the reserve. Our education plan also targets the children of the reserve too. We are currently teaching them about recycling, hygiene and nutrition. Our hope is that these ideas will stay with the children throughout their adult years continuing into future generations.

If you wish to share any knowledge you might have about crafts, customs or languages with the local communities during your stay there, we will be happy to provide the setting for you to do so. Thus a day spent on the reserve can become an opportunity for mutual enrichment, both for the locals and you.