Conservation and Community Benefits

Sustainability Initiatives

The Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve is home to 450 species of plants, 300 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, and a remarkable 5 types of mangroves. The exceptional biodiversity found in the park makes it a desirable location for ecotourism. The Manglares Churute Community Tourism Enterprise, which organizes adventure tours of the mangroves, is committed to protecting the Reserve’s fragile ecosystems by promoting sustainability and responsibility in the growing tourism industry.

The Community Tourism Enterprise’s innovative approach to sustainability includes:

Empowering local communities:

• The project is locally owned and operated. Employment with the project provides the livelihood of roughly 100 local residents, 20% of the region’s population.
• As tourism becomes an increasingly significant part of the local economy, the sustainability of the region as a destination becomes increasingly important to residents. The Community Tourism Enterprise offers residents a voice in how tourism develops in the Reserve and helps ensure that sustainability remains a priority.
• The project encourages the community to take the initiative in preserving sustainability standards. Tour guides and others report illegal fishing and crabbing thus increasing monitoring of the mangroves exponentially.
• Staff make an effort to change unsustainable behaviors of some local residents, for example ending the practice of disposing of garbage, especially plastics, in the mangroves.

An emphasis on conservation:

• The Community Tourism Enterprise incorporates conservation education into its tours to help visitors understand the threats that face Manglares Churute.
• The Community Tourism Enterprise donates a portion of tour revenues to fund an environmental education program in the Reserve focusing on schools and youth groups.
• The organization offers incentives to its staff for volunteering for local conservation awareness organizations.
• The organization trains guides and other in basic bio-data collection to assist in park and university research efforts in the Reserve. This information is valuable in the long-term preservation of the mangrove’s fragile ecosystem.