Kapawi: Amazon ecolodge and reserve

JANUARY 1, 2008, TRANSFER BECOMES OFFICIAL; THE ACHUAR PEOPLE ASSUME FULL OPERATION OF KAPAWI

In anticipation of transfer, we have planned in accordance with the wishes of the Achuar nation and with regard to our years of experience working together. As President of NAE Jaime Tanchim says, “We need a new model; we need a gradual transference process. Otherwise it will be hard to assume the operation in 2011.” Several workshops have been developed in recent years to define the ideal conditions for the Achuar to independently operate the lodge and manage KAPAWI, the company that now owns it. The final agreement was signed on September 18th at Hostal El Rio in Puyo, in the presence of Canodros S.A. and NAE leadership.

“Kapawi will be transformed into the first Ecolodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest that is managed by indigenous people- actually there are only examples of small community management- but we need to work for the future. Because of this, Canodros S.A. will assist the Achuar with marketing the lodge,” explains Marco Pino, General Manager of Canodros. “We are confident that the Achuar will continue to operate Kapawi with regards to the standards established by Canodros over the past decade, and for that reason we are completing reconstruction of the lodge, so that the product will maintain optimum quality.”

We hope that you, our clients, will continue to offer your support to our programs here at Kapawi, to help us accomplish the mission of this tourist operation: improve the quality of life for Achuar families and conserve a region with one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the Amazon basin.

Final agreement was signed on September 18th at Hostal El Rio at Puyo, with the presence of NAE and Canodros S.A directors: