Conservation
Reforestation: Planting Endemic Species
Forests are among the worlds most productive land-based ecosystems and are essential to life on earth. Every year, 7 million hectares of natural forests worldwide are converted to other land uses, such as large-scale commercial agricultural and other economic activities. “One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people,” according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
It is well known that the speed of global deforestation is faster than the current rate of planting, creating additional strain on our climate and increased concern for the future. Whilst tourism will never be able to solve this problem on it’s own, we seek out, and work with partners, who are proactively taking steps to combat deforestation in their area.
Below are some of our fantastic partners who are moving mountains to implement innovative ways to nurture, protect and increase their even their trees. Truly inspirational.
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Seedballs Kenya: Bringing Forests Back to Life
Seedballs Kenya has pioneered a method of mass producing seedballs for low cost and efficient reintroduction of trees and grass species into degraded areas in Africa. This is a genius gem of germination, simply a seed inside a ball of charcoal dust. A biochar coating of the ball protects it from predators such as birds, rodents and insects and extreme temperatures to maximize germination. A number of our partners throughout Kenya have partnered with Seedballs Kenya and, when you are on safari with them, you can help spread the seedballs when on a walking safari by hand (or catapult!) or from your 4×4 whilst on a game drive. This supports indigenous trees grow in throughout the conservancies and adds in another level of fun, whilst supporting the reforestation effort!
Our partners, Cottars, give their guests a packet of around 225 indigenous tree seeds on arrival to disperse during their stay which we, and our clients, love.
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Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge, Uganda: Buffer Zones & Nurseries
Volcanoes Safaris bought a 3km long buffer zone along the Kyambura Gorge in Uganda – one of the most significant areas in Africa for avian, primate and wildlife biodiversity – to protect the ecosystem from encroaching development. Since the project launched in February, local volunteers and Volcanoes Safaris staff and guests have planted more than 3,000 indigenous trees.
With their eyes on the future, in partnership with the Mvule Trust, Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust have constructed a tree nursery and conservation outreach program in the Kyambura area. The tree nursery aims to establish a large nursery of 400,000 indigenous trees on VSPT land adjacent to the national park. The young trees will be handed out to community members living in the National Park and also planted in the VSPT 100 acre restoration area along the Kyambura Gorge.
Guests are encouraged to participate in the reforestation project whilst walking through the Kyambura Gorge Buffer area and Kyambura Wetland.
Kyambura Gorge Lodge is owned by Volcanoes Safaris Lodge and offers the perfect spot to stay with the team behind the reforestation of the Buffer Zone and Nurseries.
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Odzala-Kokoua National Park – Protecting the Congo Basin
Odzala-Kokoua National Park is an an expansive 13,500km2 within the heart of the Congo Basin, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. Here, there is an urgent need to protect it’s natural resources and, in collaboration with African Parks in 2010, the Congo Conservation Company (CCC)was created to provide a viable, low impact tourism venture. The first international tourism venture in the Republic of Congo, the Ministry of Forest Economy, Sustainable Development and Environment have come together to support this new tourism venture which provides much needed revenue to the park and local communities.
Home to critically endangered species, the presence of CCC helps protect the area from other, potentially damaging, commercial enterprises. This means that, even at the most basic level, by travelling to and spending time in the remote heart of the Congo Basin, your tourism presence is supporting the protection of this vast area, it’s resident wildlife and local communities. At the same time, you find yourself in a unique position to track Western Lowland gorilla, explore the many baies on foot, paddle the river by kayak and meander through the towering rainforest in search of bongo, sitatunga, forest elephants and much, much more. The freshest air outside of the Amazon, water purer than pure and no, other, people. A truly remarkable experience underpinned by the need to protect the Congo Basin.
Where Communities & Gorilla Research Meet…
Congo Conservation Company, Republic of the Congo In Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), close to the geographical “Heart of Africa“, lies a near-mythical place of astounding biodiversity. The Congo Basin is a place where, even today, very few people...
Caiman Ecological Refuge, Brazil
SUSTAINABLE CYCLE: LIVESTOCK | ECOTOURISM | ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Arguably one of the most progressive ecolodges in the world, Caiman Ecological Refuge is part of a renowned private research, conservation and ecotourism initiative with the aim of conserving the fauna, flora...
The Sarara Foundation, Kenya
"Investing in Indigenous People. Protecting Biodiversity. Fighting climate change. " Sarara is one of our most loved camps in Kenya with many of our clients spending 3 - 4 nights here as part of their trip. Located in the Matthews...
Protecting the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
LIZARD ISLAND - AUSTRALIA Lizard Island is a unique destination in itself, but we love this resort because conservation and education underpins all they do. The most northerly island resort of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, 240km north of Cairns and...