ECOTOURISM PROGRAM

 

ECOTOURISM....thats a big word and has so much meanings...where does it start and where end.

Well, an official definition can be found here: https://www.ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism.

 

But for us it means to practice sustainable and ecofriendly tourism which takes responsibility for nature, animals and the community!

 

Since november 2015, when there were huge forest fires in order to build new palmoil plantations;

( which was listed as one of the biggest natural and human disasters of the last years: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/nov/11/indonesia-forest-fires-explained-haze-palm-oil-timber-burning), we decided to focus more on conservation and environmental topics and create our Ecotourism Program & Policy. 

 

Despite being listed by the World Heritage Committee, protected under Indonesian National Law, the local importance for ecological integrity, corporations and palm oil companies are placing the Gunung Leuser Ecosystem under constant threat. Conflict palm oil is destroying this ecological wonder pushing Sumatran Orangutans, rhinos, tigers and elephants towards extinction, and the public around the world is mostly unaware if they are participating by buying it.

 

WHAT WE DO FOR AN SUSTAINABLE AND ECOFRIENDLY TOURISM:

 

We want to save and protect the wonderful rainforest of the Gunung Leuser National Park and its habitants such as the endangered sumatran orangutan as well as its biodiversity which is one of the biggest in the world.

 

We are working together with local people and experienced english speaking guides which are all certified by the Indonesian Tourist Guide Association ITGA.

 

We have started several rubbish reducing and plastic recycling projects about which you can read more here: 

https://www.bukitlawang-jungletrekking.com/eco-tourism-program/care-now-project/

 

 

We arrange jungle trekking tours which respect and protect the nature and the environment of the  Gunung Leuser National Park and its animals, especially the habitat of the last sumatran orangutans.

 

We have some rules for our guides and visitors such as not feeding or touching the wildlife, behaving quietly in the rainforest as loud voices cause stress to the animals, keeping distance to the animals to protect both you and the animals, do not use flash lights for your cameras, do not smoke in the jungle, never come between an orangutan and her baby.

 

We believe education is the best way out of poverty and through education young people are empowered to take control of their own future by getting better jobs, building better businesses and better contributing to the community – making them better equipped for life. Thats why we support local school projects with donations, learning and teaching materials.

 

We try to work as much as possible with local people in order to ensure them a fair livelihood – also enabling them to share their income with other areas.

 

We therefore have created different activities for you like Local Village Tours, local arts&handicraft workshops to make sure we all can support the local community and to show you more of the life and culture in a rual indonesian village.

 

We want to empower the local community not to feed and touch the wildlife anymore,not to kill orangutans moms in order to take their babies as pets,not to hunt wildlife anymore for sale to black markets,not to burn or cut down the rainforest anymore to grow more palmoil plantations,to keep their environment clean and green and not to throw rubbish and plastic in the rivers anymore.

 

We directly support other local projects such as conservation, education, community projects and offer new and sustainable livelihoods for local communities through our ecotourism activities.

 

 

We are also very focused on Conservation and wishes to empower and enable the local community to protect and look after the Gunung Leuseur National Park as it is right on their doorstep and the rare endangered Sumatran orangutans are under serious threat from the plans for further deforestation, new roads and more palm oil plantations. We hope through education the locals will find alternative sources of income to palm oil and work together to protect the Gunung Leuser National Park.

 

We have created special and unique tours and activities besides orangutan observation,such as  our Eco-Walking Village Tour  to bring you more close to the amazing indonesian village life and culture and to support other areas than Bukit Lawang as well.

 

We use guides that dont feed or touch wild orangutans and other wildlife as this may cause diseases for the animals. Our guides keep the jungle clean and green and bring back all garbage.

 

LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS.TAKE NOTHING BUT MEMORIES.

 

Please find below a list of projects that we support included our own CARE NOW project and our tours and activities that are part of our Ecotourism Program:

 

Furthermore we are developing ecofriendly jungle trekking tours in Batu Kapal and Landak River

 

 

Please check also our normal Jungle Trekking options.

 

By choosing us as your tour operator, you will take part in saving and protecting the Sumatran rainforest by supporting ecofriendly and sustainable tourism and the local community - which is one of our most important aims!

 

 

We give 5% of our profits from the jungle trekking tours to our project CARE NOW!

If you want to help,feel free to contact us.Thank you!

 

Another 5% will be donated to our local partner, the Bukit Lawang Trust Education centre. A grassroots Conservation & Education charity dedicated to facilitating environmental conservation and sustainable Human Development.

 

SHARING IS CARING

We are committed to a sustainable tourism and we feel responsible for humans,animals and nature!