Eco-tourism may save the rainforest

An article from “The Economist” about the success of a business venture between Rainforest Expeditions and a group of native families, in the region of Madre de Dios, could be the solution to save vast areas of the Amazon forest. This venture encourages the use of tourism to foster conservation Rainforest Expeditions is the biggest tourism operator in the region; they run the Posada Amazonas, a lodge by the Tambopata River within the 2,000 hectares owned by the 148-family community of Infierno. The 20 year joint venture began in 1996 and meant that the community share the decision-making through an elected “control committee,” and receive 60% of the profits –an average of US$130,000 a year. Rainforest Expeditions is training the members of the community so that they can take over the whole operation by 2016. The benefits from the agreement are already improving the life of the community in such areas as literacy, nutrition, and healthcare, while the surrounded rainforest remains unspoiled. This business approach has achieved what neither the government nor any NGO had, in terms of conservation and social development of the Amazon rainforest and its native population. http://video.economist.com/?fr_chl=9bb17d8453e2da796351845a6cb3d4a1dfdf0691