• Do you have a written environmental or social sustainability policy?     YES/NO

If yes, please attach. It is conveyed through our corporate culture and our actions.

• Do you have a written environmental management system?                  YES/NO

If yes, please attach. Same as #1. We have been in business so long with the same group of people that everyone knows where we come down on every issue through verbal communication and daily practice.

• Describe the property – aim, size, facilities, amount of land owned and leased  (150 words max) Located in the Amazon Basin of Ecuador, 60 miles from the nearest road, La Selva nestles on Lake Garzacocha surrounded by primary forest, we own 200 acres and lease 15,000 more from a local Quichua Indian group and have been doing so for nearly 25 years. We aim to practice Ecotourism as a form of vacationing for international clientele that is mostly about having as much fun as they would on any trip but one in which at every turn they will have an “a-ha” moment about conservation, sustainability, and indigenous peoples without the feeling that they are having an education shoved down their throats. We do offer some Powerpoint presentations at night or in inclement weather and they are well received and of course when we have student groups we can and do go full tilt with our education side.

• Describe the location, including distance to nearest town and size of town (100 words max) You fly in from the capital Quito to the nearest Jungle Outpost, Coca, a flight of less than a half an hour but a trip that would take you a minimum of 8 hours over the Andes by car or bus, then you are transported from the airport ten minutes by bus to the Napo river where you travel 60 miles downstream about 2 hours and ten minutes in one of La Selva’s launches. A walk on an elevated walkway through a palm forest of close to a mile (employees carry your bags) takes you to the stream which leads to the lake upon which the lodge is built, a glorious ride with employees and sometimes guests paddling huge canoes brings you to the dock of the lodge.
•  
• Describe WHY you made the decision to develop an eco resort (100 word max)

25 Years ago when I decided to build La Selva there was no such thing as an eco resort. I'm not even sure if the word ecotourism existed. I went to the rainforest with a scientific mission and was struck by the glory of the forest and intuited everything that I did based on my profound love of nature and an innate business sense

Introduction to the Butterfly Club’s Eco Rating

The Butterfly Club Eco Rating has five equally-weighted categories:

• Energy;
• Water;
• Recycling and waste;
• Land and nature conservation; and
• Community.

Each category has five levels, designated by one to five butterflies.  Through self assessment, resort operators completing this rating will determine their own levels within each category based on their responses to items listed below. 

Two categories – energy and water – have similar rating systems with Levels 1 and 2 addressing conservation of existing resources, and Levels 3, 4 and 5 addressing creation of renewable energy or capturing water. 

Level five in every category also requires written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record consumption; (2) test and apply additional conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific targets.   We require a copy of your policies if you achieve level 5 in any category.

Energy

Levels 1 and 2 - conservation: Check all that apply:

__x_  use natural air circulation and fans, not air conditioners
___x  use natural light during the day
___x  minimize use of fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines and equipment
__x_  use “on demand” or solar heating for hot water
___  air dry clothes/linens
___x  wash dishes by hand
___x  use energy efficient appliances and electronics
___x  use low wattage fluorescent light bulbs
___  change linens, tablecloths, napkins upon request
___x  switch off lights when not used
Other energy conservation activities? Please list:
 
Level 1 = four or fewer energy conservation activities

Level 2 = five or more energy conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 - renewable energy: Indicate proportion (%) of energy from each source:

__10%_  solar
___  wind
___  hydro
__60%_  generator
___  public utility
Other energy sources? Please list: 30% propane

100% TOTAL
How were these proportions developed?
Our biggest problem is that Ecuador puts importation duties of often 200% or more on goods from outside the country not to mention shipping costs. Therefore we were not ever available to resources like industrial kitchen equipment such as freezers and refrigerators and the amount of solar technology they need to operate.  So, where some eco-outfits have access to roads and easy resupply more primitive solar equipment could serve them well but how much more do they spend in fossil fuels in the resupply of their solar-powered amateur apparti? In our defence, besides diesel generators which shut off promptly at ten pm, we use propane for all cooking and some hot water. All outside lighting is solar including the security lights.  Our newest constructions, luxury bungalows, will attempt to be all solar units- off the generator grid- but the guests will bear the cost of this HIDDEN luxury.

Level 3 = renewable energy is employed and is less than 1/3 of all energy

Level 4 = renewable energy constitutes 1/3 – 2/3 of all energy

Level 5 = renewable energy constitutes 2/3 or more of all energy.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record energy consumption; (2) test and apply additional energy conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific energy targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Energy Level 5 (required).

Your Energy Level (select 1 – 5) =   3

Water

Levels 1 and 2 - conservation: Check all that apply:

_x_  low flow faucets and showerheads
__x  low water use toilets
__  change linens, towels, tablecloths, and napkins upon request
__x_use table mats that can be wiped and not laundered
__x  use biodegradable laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap
__  treat swimming pool with chlorine-free processes
Other water conservation activities?  Please list.

Level 1 = three or fewer water conservation activities

Level 2 = four or more water conservation activities

Levels 3, 4 and 5 – capture and treat fresh water and manage waste water. Capture water: Indicate proportion (%) of water from each source:

We have an entirely different approach to drinking water which is worth mentioning. Because water quality is so contaminated generally in Ecuador we import our water by the week at great expense in 30 gallon jugs. To tell the guests that the water comes from a sanitized facility in the capital completely puts them at ease and results with us never having had an illness from water quality. However we teach the guests the value of this drinking water and drinking water in general in the following manner. Before the guests board one of  our boats for the trip down river to the lodge they are given a biodegradable souvenir (sport/camping style flask with our logo on it and a drinking spout) container and told that they are responsible for their own fresh water for the rest of the trip. That fresh water is at a premium. That they may have as much as they want but that it will only be available at several designated filling stations around the lodge. In this way we do not waster water and we make them understand very quickly the value of quality drinking water.
__70%_  spring
___  river
___  rain
___  reuse gray
___  public utility
Other water sources? Please list.

100% TOTAL

Fresh water treatment: how is captured fresh water treated?
___  naturally.  Indicate method: charcoal, ultraviolet light, other? List:                                  
___  chemically.  List chemicals used:

Waste water management:
__x_  septic tanks
__x_  cesspools
___  other? List methods:

Level 3: Water is captured (from springs, rivers, rain or prior use) and constitutes less than 1/3 of water from all sources.  Water is treated chemically.  Water disposal does not minimize damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 4:  Captured water constitutes 1/3 to 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests

Level 5:  Captured water constitutes more than 2/3 of all water.  Water is treated naturally. Water disposal minimizes damage to coral reefs and rain forests.   In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record water consumption; (2) test and apply additional water conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific water targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Water Level 5 (required).

Your Water Level (select 1 – 5): 4

Recycling and waste

Check all that apply:

__x_   use durable service items, e.g. cups, glasses, dishes, tableware, storage items
___   buy fresh and local to reduce packaging and emissions from transportation
__x_   purchase in bulk to reduce packaging
__x_   recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminum
___   minimize emissions from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, machines & equipment      
__x_   zero waste in the kitchen
___   serve local water, not bottled water
__x_   cleaning products are biodegradable
___   compost organic matter
Other methods to recycle waste? Please list. Our water usage I have already explained so I am giving myself an extra point for that and rather than compost we feed everything that comes out of the kitchen including the waste from the guests food to the pigs in our pig farm who produce fertlizer for plants in our butterfly farm.

Level 1 = four or fewer recycling activities

Level 2 = five recycling activities

Level 3 = six recycling activities

Level 4 = seven recycling activities

Level 5 = eight or more recycling activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record recycling and waste; (2) test and apply additional recycling and waste conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific recycling and waste targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Recycling and Waste Level 5 (required).

Your Recycling and Waste Level (select 1 – 5): 4 

Land and nature conservation

Check all that apply:

__X_   minimize tree removal when building
___ X  use only botanical (plant-based) herbicides & pesticides in garden & grounds
___x   maintain organic gardens as food source for resort
___  x use biodegradable cleaning products
___ x  minimize external illumination
___ x  take additional specific actions to preserve the local habitat.  Please list actions and projects: Change trail system every few years, no cutting of local woods for maintenance materials, plans for reforestation on Indigenous lands, plans proceeding quickly for animal rescue center,  allow mostly free ride for qualified scientists in exchange for surveys of quality of habitat, participate in longest running specie indentifying study of all time (15 years).

 
Level 1: one or two land and nature conservation activities

Level 2: three land and nature conservation activities

Level 3: four land and nature conservation activities

Level 4: five land and nature conservation activities

Level 5: six or more land and nature conservation activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record land and nature conservation activities; (2) test and apply additional land and nature conservation methods; and (3) work towards specific land and nature conservation targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Land and Nature Conservation Level 5 (required).

Your Land and Nature Conservation Level (select 1 – 5): 4

Community

This category addresses policies and activities regarding staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the community. 

Check all activities that apply:

__x_  hire staff residing near the resort          _80__% local nationals
___x  use local suppliers                                _1__% purchased goods produced locally
Does not apply If purchased locally, I would have no primary forest left
___x  re-invest resort income locally            _20__% income re-invested locally
___x  pay above local prevailing wage
___x  pay into local social security
___x  provide health insurance or coverage
___x  use regular staff meetings to educate staff about sustainable processes throughout the resort, in the garden, with waste disposal, etc
___x  provide educational awareness programs for staff, guests, suppliers and other members of the local community
___x  provide sustainable transport to work for staff
___x  take additional specific actions to support the local community. Please list actions and projects. We have 4-6 doctor missions a year and have gathered health histories with photographs of all the locals. We have established a government registered foundation through which schools are built and many work projects and gifts are donated as the result of gifts to the foundation. We provide free transport with our tourists and at other times when there is room in the boat for the locals to ride up and back with their crops to the nearest city or just to visit.  We provide a school bus canoe.

Level 1: one or two community activities

Level 2: three to five community activities

Level 3: six to seven community activities

Level 4: eight to nine community activities

Level 5: ten or more community activities.  In addition, there are written sustainability policies or environmental management systems to: (1) monitor and record community activities; (2) test and apply additional methods to support the community; and (3) work towards specific community targets.  

Attach a copy of your policies if you achieve Community Level 5 (required).

Your Community Level (select 1 – 5): 5
See info about our Foundation and all our activities on our website.

YOUR OVERALL ECO SCORE (add your level for each category and divide by 5and enter the result with the decimal point, e.g. 3.6): 4

We have three final questions which are not part of the eco rating: 

• Please describe your single most important eco achievement:

Perhaps, in all modesty, the very intuition of ecotourism.

• Indicate additional sustainable practices that you plan to institute within the next 6 months.  Indigenous spa, Animal Rescue Center for animals released from the illegal animal trade, new bungalows that are energy self-sufficient.

• Is there anything else you would like to add to this eco rating?

Does not easily overlay on my business. For instance the question about local produce makes no sense to a lodge that is trying to teach the locals not to cut down trees with slash and burn techniques or any techniques at all for that matter.