Giving Financial Support to a Critical Industry
Ecotourism in the Amazon has the potential to be a catalytic industry for conserving and preserving biodiversity. Yet, local small-scale operators face challenges in accessing funding and investment opportunities to sustain and grow their operations. The situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic and had a negative cascading effect: the lack of ecotourism revenue makes it harder to maintain the local culture, alleviate poverty, and provide and promote education and awareness – all of which empower local communities.
The Innovative Company: Rainforest Expeditions
Rainforest Expeditions is an ecotourism company currently operating three ecolodges in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon. These ecolodges are strategically situated within the Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone, which are biodiversity hotspots renowned for being rich in biodiversity. This region is home to a small Amazonian native population and hosts over 1,000 butterfly species, 600 bird species, and 100 mammal species.
Rainforest Expeditions distinguishes itself as a leader in the industry in Peru and Latin America based on its innovative approaches to develop ecotourism operations. One notable example is their joint venture with the local community Infierno. The community manages the land and is the direct recipient of 75% of all the ecolodge net profits under an arrangement that reflects Rainforest Expeditions’ commitment to fair and sustainable practices.
CI Ventures Investment
CI Ventures provided a loan of US$ 500,000 to Rainforest Expeditions to support its pandemic-related recovery. The funding will be used to maintain the three ecolodges, complete upgrades and add working capital for operations. The goal: to enable continued conservation efforts, promote sustainable practices, and further engage local communities.
Targeted Investment Impacts
CI Ventures’ investment can help achieve these key environmental and social impacts over a five-year period:
- Conserve 17,458 hectares of the Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone.
- Influence the preservation of an additional 1,282,535 hectares in the Tambopata National Reserve and the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park.
- Generate 180 jobs with fair wages and benefits.
- Provide joint venture dividends for 250 families in the Infierno community.
- Support scientific research on species biodiversity, sustainable economic activities, and visitor education.
