I love South America, it’s vibracy, colour and people are simply like nothing elsewhere I’ve travelled to. The soon to be opened Mashpi Lodge is only a couple of hours drive from Quito in the heart of the rainforest. The following extract shows the real depth of the project, it’s sustainability for local communities and demonstrates full circle tourism benefits. We can’t wait till November when they open their doors!
For more information on how to get to Mashpi and for a halal friendly stay – visit www.serendipity.travel/ecuador.html
Mashpi Lodge Ecuador
Mashpi Lodge is located a two-and-a-half hour drive from Quito. Reflecting the Andes incredible diversity of landscapes, it’s a world away from the bustle of the capital. The huge reserve – harbouring 1,200 hectares (nearly 3,000 acres) of mainly primary forest – envelops the visitor in a magical world of tumbling mountains and roiling rivers, amid a profusion of trees, plants and animals. At the heart of this reserve lies the lodge, a contemporary cocoon in the clouds.
In view of a recent declaration by the Municipality of Quito, we wanted to bring you an update on the conservation and community efforts that are on-going at the Lodge and which are, and will be, an integral part of the overall project.
The project has sought to work hand-in-hand with the Reserve’s surrounding community fromthe start, ensuring people are made aware of and become involved with the lodge and the decisions surrounding the establishment and management of the Reserve. This initiative has been very successful in convincing the communities of the value of conservation and tourism as a long-term industry in the area.
Mashpi has not only made local people stakeholders in the project. It will have played a pivotal role in conserving the highly-biodiverse – and very endangered – forests to the northwest of Quito. Through Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, the Mashpi project has implemented a programme in which the surrounding population as well as Lodge employees can become shareholders in the Lodge. Before acquiring shares, the community must formalize itself by establishing legal associations. The second phase involves the Lodge providing the financing for these associations to become shareholders for the future.
The lodge will be an important job-provider in the area, drawing local people away from destructive, extractive industries. The plan is for 80% of its employees to come from surrounding communities, including a full training programme.
The project will also build and finance a local school focused on biodiversity and ecology, for pupils aged 5 to 11 years; old (initially). Close to the nearby village of Mashpi, and within the Reserve’s land, the project will build a farm dedicated to supplying the lodge with fresh ingredients, growing fruit, vegetables, spices and legumes.
Municipal Mega-Reserve
We believe the project’s impact on the area played an important role in the decision taken by Municipality of Quito in May to declare 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) adjacent to the Reserve as a “natural protected area”. This Municipal Reserve, officially called “Mashpi, Guaycuyacu y Sahuangal”, is the largest of its kind in Ecuador and a strong signal of Quito’s desire to protect its highly-diverse surrounding ecosystems, as well as fulfilling its objective of reducing carbon emissions and improving environmental management.
The Mashpi project’s management and science team will be working closely the Municipality’s Environment Secretariat over the coming months on all aspects of the new reserve’s management plan.
Commitment
Mashpi’;s commitment to its community, to conservation and to science grows with each week as the Lodge’s opening date approaches. We look forward to bringing you news of further developments soon.
For a halal friendly stay at the Mashpi Lodge, visit http://www.serendipity.travel/ecuador.html
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