#Maybe we can use this to make southerners passionate about forest conservation

[female-malice]

Enviva is the largest maker of wood pellets burned for energy in the world. The company has, from its inception, touted its green credentials.

It says it doesn’t use big, whole trees, but only uses wood waste, “tops, limbs, thinnings, and/or low-value smaller trees” in the production of woody biomass burned in former coal power plants in the U.K., EU and Asia. It says it only sources wood from areas where trees will be regrown, and that it doesn’t contribute to deforestation.

However, in first-ever interviews with a whistleblower who worked within Enviva plant management, Mongabay contributor Justin Catanoso has been told that all of these Enviva claims are false. In addition, a major recent scientific study finds that Enviva is contributing to deforestation in the U.S. Southeast.

Statements by the whistleblower have been confirmed by Mongabay’s own observations at a November 2022 forest clear-cut in North Carolina, and by NGO photo documentation. These findings are especially important now, as the EU considers the future of forest biomass burning as a “sustainable” form of renewable energy.

[esmiblood90irisglimmer]

The Puppetmaster (Hamilton Version) Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Woodenbox

As next morning arrives the suspicious within Hercules' guts about John’s father has suddenly vanished. The Irishman assume that he much been too tired which cause him to be even more protective of the others, which has happened before. Not that Lafayette and the others mind though, but it does tend to get a bit of annoying sometimes. Mulligan and the others were at a supermarket where they were buying some ingredients that Henry needed for a special occasion or so he called it. Luckily Henry and Alexander have seemingly gotten along since last night which led them to have an endless conversation. John was glad that his father has approved of his relationship with Alexander since Henry never seen his son so happy in his life before.

The older southern man and the Caribbean immigrant continue to have their never-ending conversation as for Lafayette tends to eavesdrop on some conversations. The French don’t approve of himself eavesdropping on anyone conversation but this is an exception. Lafayette and the others needed to find some clues about the missing people. This particular conservation has suddenly caught the French attention, careful using his earthbending skills to overheard the conservations.

“It’s so frightened that so many people have been disappearing lately,” said one woman

“I don’t blame you, this town never had missing people for almost fifty years” The second woman responded

“At least the governor has planned out a curfew at nine. Luckily our children will be safe and sound”

“I almost forgot, the entire weekend is a  full moon”

“Exactly, I  can’t afford to have my other son going missing as well in the woods”

Lafayette felt unease by this conservation because he wasn’t too hearing this sort of information before. Not wanting to disturb Alexander and Henry at the moment, he turns his attention to John and Herc about the info he got from the two women’s conversation.

“This is unusual for Charleston to have so many people being missing all in one month” John commented

“Perhaps maybe we can tour around the environment may we’ll figure it out why the people are disappearing” Mulligan suggested

“The sooner we find out the mystery of the  people disappearance, the sooner we find the Avatar”

At the beginning of their journey, their general George Washington has assigned the Caribbean immigrant and the other to scout for the Avatar. Apparently, their resources were that the Avatar lived in Virginia which it isn’t too far from where they are now. Living the city from the state of Washington was bad enough to travel on foot since British soldiers are very strict with flight services. It would make it difficult for the four soldiers to book a flight to Virginia since the British would make sure to scout any rebellion soldier, and they won’t hesitate to murder them in front of innocent people. That isn’t the first time it has happened, the fear has been scared within the people for almost two hundred years.

This was something that needed to stop but the search for the Avatar is put on hold for now. When their little shopping trip has suddenly ended Henry tossed the keys to Alexander, who caught gracefully.

“Why don’t you, young men go home early for now? I still need to do a few more errands” Henry suggested

“Are you sure Sir Laurens?...People have been disappearing in the forest” Alexander spoke warily

“Don’t worry about me, all of your safety is more important. You must hurry before the British do inspection within the community in an hour”

Hercules suspicious has suddenly grown again since why does Henry need to do a few more errands at night. Especially concerning the cases that numerous of people have been disappearing at night which lead them in the woods. Even though the full moon is three days away, Mulligan couldn’t ease the suspicious for Laurens Senior, not this time. Though Herc didn’t say anything on their way back to Laurens mansion. After setting the grocery down, the Irish male couldn’t stay silent anymore.

“John, forgive me for sounding like a prick but I have a feeling that your father is behind the people disappearance,” Hercules said bluntly

“Don’t worry Hercules, I’ve been suspecting my father as well. I have a feeling that maybe he knows something that we don’t know or perhaps hiding something more sinister” John responded in agreement   

“That nonsense, your father seems to be a kind gentleman who letting us stay here in the mansion,” Alexander said defensively before continuing “Besides, Henry kind of reminds of my uncle from the South Pole”  

“Then what he did mean by “mysterious place for mysterious children” from last night,” Hercules ask aggressively

“Oh I don’t know maybe because he found four strange men’s camping late at night” Alex responds sarcastically

The Irish adult ignored the Caribbean sarcastic respond before deciding to have a little adventure around the mansion. Lafayette and Alexander attempt to stop Hercules from snooping around the house but with John guiding the Irish around the mansion. John did notice some changes in his father behavior because he knew that Henry wouldn’t around the forest at night nor put himself in harm's way when the city is threatened. Sometimes about his father just doesn’t seem right for the South Carolinian boy. So joining with Hercules as they looked around the mansion since this is his home. Lafayette fails to attempt to stop his lover and John from snooping around the building and decided to join them. Alexander was a different story.

Alexander didn’t want to get on his future father in law bad side since he cares for his beloved John deeply. Just the thought of him of seeing the disgusted look on if he finds out that his own son suspected him for people disappearance, would shatter the middle age man heart. The Caribbean once or twice to stop his friends from going through any more stuff around the house. Soon they came across a cabinet filled with porcelain dolls. Which creep the fuck out of everybody including Lafayette in which he hates porcelain with a passion. They looked so real as if they’re about to jump on you before murdering you without any mercy.

John forgot that his father often makes his own porcelain dolls as a hobby during his spare times. During the holidays his father would often make dolls that resemble the young girls before giving to them as gifts. John must admit his father is a talented craftsman but the way he makes the dolls so lifelike is kind of frightening. They all backed away from the cabinet as Hercules pointed the gun at one of the dolls claiming it was a person at the moment. Alexander quickly closes the cabinet before Hercules could shoot one of the dolls in the face.

“Hercules, I believe you done enough! Henry is nothing but a loving gentleman” Alexander growled as John lead the Irish male into the family basement. John attempt to open the basement door but suddenly it was locked, that grew John suspicious even more about his family. Apparently, the basement is never locked since it uses to be Henry place where he would craft the dolls.

“Oh, really! Then why he keeps this basement locked?” Hercules question

“Probably to keep idiots like you from destroying his stuff” Alex bluntly respond

Hercules took a peek of the keyhole in which the basement seems to be empty except for a small ball. Without furthering hesitation the Irish adult picks the keyhole with his tiny pocket knife. The Caribbean began scolding he Irish male for breaking into a private room, in which Hercules completely ignore his friend ranting as he manages to get the door open. The small wooden box may the answer for the people disappearing into the works.

“We shouldn’t be doing this” Lafayette calls out as he stutters

Hercules picked up the small box attempting to opening before notice it was locked. Desperately searching for a key in the basement but so far nothing. Lafayette took over as he bends his meteorite bracelet into a key which perfectly fit the keyhole of the box. The impatience within Hercules and John grew intensely as the French male intended to open the small wooden box.

“Hurry up, Laffy” Hercules urged impatiently

“This isn’t as its look mon amour” Laf snaps

“This is ridiculous!! You should be ashamed of yourself. Whatever you find in the box it’s not my problem” Alexander scolded

“Suit yourself” Hercules cooly reply

Lafayette continually attempted to open the box for what seemed like hours on end. Hercules couldn’t contain what the secret of what inside the box. John felt a scent of regret for suspecting his father but nevertheless, it has to be done. Alexander was about to leave his friends behind until suddenly.

Click!

I did my best on this chapter, hope you enjoy it

[ezatluba]

With an Internet of Animals, Scientists Aim to Track and Save Wildlife

Using tiny sensors and equipment aboard the space station, a project called ICARUS seeks to revolutionize animal tracking.

By Jim Robbins

June 9, 2020

The International Space Station, orbiting some 240 miles above the planet, is about to join the effort to monitor the world’s wildlife — and to revolutionize the science of animal tracking.

A large antenna and other equipment aboard the orbiting outpost, installed by spacewalking Russian astronauts in 2018, are being tested and will become fully operational this summer. The system will relay a much wider range of data than previous tracking technologies, logging not just an animal’s location but also its physiology and environment. This will assist scientists, conservationists and others whose work requires close monitoring of wildlife on the move, and provide much more detailed information on the health of the world’s ecosystems.

The new approach, known as ICARUS — short for International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space — will also be able to track animals across far larger areas than other technologies. At the same time, ICARUS has shrunk the size of the transmitters that the animals wear and made them far cheaper to boot.

These changes will allow researchers to track flocks of birds as they migrate over long distances, for instance, instead of monitoring only one or two birds at a time, as well as far smaller creatures, including insects. And, as climate change and habitat destruction roil the planet, ICARUS will allow biologists and wildlife managers to quickly respond to changes in where and when species migrate.

“It’s a new era of discovery,” said Walter Jetz, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale, whose center is working with the project. “We will discover new migration paths, habitat requirements, things about species behavior that we didn’t even think about. That discovery will bring about all sorts of new questions.”

As an added bonus, people all over the world will one day be able to log on with a smartphone app to what’s known as the internet of animals to follow their favorite bird or tortoise or fish as it migrates and is tracked by the space station practically in real time.

The science of wildlife tracking, known as bio-logging, has come a long way in recent years. In the 1990s, researchers were still tracking large mammals using devices the size of lantern batteries. The technology has grown smaller since then, but many collars and tags are still too big for some three-quarters of the world’s wild creatures.

This space-based approach to uncovering the hidden lives of animals is led by Martin Wikelski, the director of migration research at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany, who pursued it with a passion for years to overcome gaps and drawbacks in current technologies. It has been funded primarily by DLR, the German space agency.

ICARUS combines off-the-shelf technology, which includes solar and GPS units, and new communication technology that was developed for this mission, and specifically designed for tracking small animals.

On the ground, researchers will attach solar-powered bio-loggers that are far smaller than other technology — the size of two fingernails. They weigh less than three grams, about one-tenth of an ounce, and technicians say they will soon have one gram trackers.

Once secured — an easy process that seldom harms the animal — the sensors will hitch a ride on an array of animals and insects, like locusts, songbirds and baby tortoises. Most current wildlife tracking technologies can’t be attached to creatures that weigh less than 100 grams, or about three and a half ounces. And while the new sensors are smaller and lighter, their advanced design will allow them to collect far more data by monitoring an animal’s physiology, including skin temperature and body position, and external conditions like weather metrics.

The technology can also be used to accomplish a range of goals beyond wildlife studies.

Dr. Wikelski has studied the ability of cows, domestic goats and sheep in Italy to sense earthquakes and volcanic eruptions hours before they happen. Behavioral changes can be picked up by the sensors, he said, so herd behavior may provide an early warning.

“We think something smells wrong to them and there is static in the air,” he said. “So they move into wooded areas where they have shelter.”

Why the animals react is not yet known.

Icarus could also help track elephants vulnerable to poaching in Africa, or keep tabs on species of bats, pangolins and other animals that have played a role in viral epidemics.

“With skin temperature we can see in the ducks in China whether the next avian influenza is starting,” Dr. Wikelski said.

The power of this new approach is partially based on the fact that the space station can pick up the signals of these animals almost anywhere on the planet (the station does not pass over Earth’s polar regions, however). And while other conservation projects have tracked sharks, birds and other migratory species with satellites, this one aims to be useful for a wide range of species that researchers can ask to have added.

The sensors it relies on, at about $500 each, are a fraction of the price of other widely used tags.

They can last an animal’s lifetime and even be reused. They are able to store up to 500 megabytes, an entire lifetime of data on an animal. A researcher need not retrieve the tag; its data can be downloaded with a computer or a smartphone.

ICARUS “will truly change the study of animal migration,” said Nathan Senner, a biologist at the University of South Carolina. He plans to use it for a study tracking the Hudsonian godwit, a shorebird that makes one of the world’s longest migrations, from southern Chile to Alaska.

“We could get location estimates that are much more precise and help us develop targeted on the ground conservation measures,” Dr. Senner said.

In Europe, studies show some 30 percent of migratory songbirds, or about 420 million, have disappeared. ICARUS may give a much more detailed answer to where and why the animals are dying and guide conservation measures.

Dr. Wikelski said he was asked by a farmer in the German village where he grew up why there were no swallows this year.

“It’s hard to say,” Dr. Wikelski said. “Did they die on the way south? Were they eaten in the Mediterranean? Were they hunted in North Africa? Were they poisoned in the Sahel? Was the weather really bad? Those are the kinds of things we will find out.”

ICARUS will provide data on an individual bird, as well as a collective. In a study by Dr. Wikelski and others at Max Planck Institute, researchers are tagging 1,200 blackbirds in the hopes of better understanding the timing and route of their travels and where and why their numbers are declining.

In the Galápagos Islands, sensors will be used on baby tortoises to track their migration, a project of the Galápagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme.

“No one knows how the hatchlings survive,” said Dr. Wikelski, who works with the program. “Those are the lost years of the sea turtles. Knowing where they go will allow us to protect them better.”

Because ICARUS has the capability of tagging many more animals than other technologies do, Dr. Wikelski likened it to a smartphone traffic app that can track many cars on a highway at once. One phone can provide a lot of information about one car, but many phones sending information to one app can offer information about traffic patterns.

One of the goals of the project, Dr. Wikelski said, is to help conservation managers respond to a changing world. Protected areas like wildlife parks and forest preserves are defined by fixed boundaries. But many species are on the move as climate and other changes cause shifts, and protecting them will require an understanding of where they are going and where new protected areas and corridors may need to be created.

The system will be open to researchers around the world to use for research. And the data, with some exceptions, will be accessible to everyone. Dr. Wikelski said readings from ICARUS could be combined with other kinds of information, such as the eBird database, to make the data even more robust.

Another ambition of ICARUS is to allow anyone with a smartphone to follow tagged migrating animals. One app, called Animal Tracker, already exists as a way to tap into ground-based wildlife tracking systems.

Dr. Wikelski hopes that connecting people to a single charismatic animal whose movements they can follow will build support for conservation. “If people hear Cecil the lion died it’s very real to them,” he said, referring to a lion in Zimbabwe that was killed by an American hunter in 2015. “But if you say 3,000 lions died nobody cares.”

Mark Hebblewhite, a wildlife biologist at the University of Montana who has used wildlife tracking technology for decades, said ICARUS would have the capacity to fill in many gaps in our knowledge of the natural world.

“We’ll get a lot of things from ICARUS we can’t get any other way,” he said. “It’s exciting.”

But technology has downsides as well, he said. Birds may suddenly and unpredictably change their migration, for example, after years of traveling the same way, and Dr. Hebblewhite said there was a danger that conservation decisions could be made by people “who don’t know anything about birds except dots on a map.”

Some might say nature should maintain a degree of mystery from an all-seeing eye in the sky, but Dr. Wikelski, not surprisingly, doesn’t agree.

“These animals are providing really important information, maybe for survival of humankind,” he said. “We should have this information.”

[topfygad]

Discovering Astro-tourism and Dim Sky Reserves

We have usually been passionate about vacation, exploration and journey, and we’ll pretty much try out anything at all as soon as – within just cause. Possibly we’re not quite completely ready to be despatched on a rocket ship to Mars, but with the prospect of place vacation obtainable to the general public starting to be increasingly feasible, inquisitive sorts are the moment all over again turning their heads skywards. “Astro-tourism” is getting more and far more preferred, with “Dark-Sky” web pages showing all above the globe and fostering a growing curiosity.

Latest functions like the photo voltaic eclipse have additional ignited people’s curiosity of the heavens, and there has been a rise in vacationers reserving trips well in advance to see astronomical activities. You might assume we have enough to examine on earth – and we’re surely hoping to see as much of that as we can at eTramping – but we had been intrigued to hear about Astro-tourism on our new visit to Killarney, Eire, the nearest town to the Kerry Dark-Sky Reserve. So, let’s initially check out what this is really all about!  

What is Astro-tourism?

When astronomy and stargazing are nothing at all new, with men and women staring at the heavens in awe for centuries, the phenomenon of Astro-tourism is nevertheless in its fledgeling days – though rising in popularity at an astounding rate. It mainly requires reserving distinct holidays and/or excursions in get to check out celestial gatherings, constellations, planets or other Astro-attractions, such as an eclipse, a meteor shower, the passing of a comet, the northern lights, or however another large storm on Jupiter. The astronomical calendar is packed with thrilling, yearly happenings, and vacationer companies seem to be benefiting, as viewing incredibly hot-spots are bought out perfectly in progress for a thing specifically particular.

So, what of individuals incredibly hot-spots? Simply cannot we all just walk outdoors our front doorway and seem up? That would help save a little bit of dollars, wouldn’t it? But alas, light-weight and air air pollution more than cities and cities about the planet can severely hamper your chances to witness some of nature’s most impressive skills, so people are flocking to “Dark Sky” places across the globe. And nevertheless you could be stunned to master that there aren’t really that several this sort of spots, mainly many thanks to urbanization.  This is steadily modifying, as both equally conservationists and tourist boards see the strengths of obtaining these types of recognition, and lodging in Dim Sky regions can market out calendar year round.

What is a Dark Sky Reserve?

Simply set, a Dim Sky Reserve is wherever you can see the sky at night time in all its brilliance, with significant visibility and negligible air and light-weight air pollution. Feel of it as a clean beach front program for the stratosphere. Monitored by the Worldwide Dim-Sky Association (IDA), locations of land all around the earth have been awarded Dim Sky standing considering that 2001, should really they go arduous checks and cross-examinations. Acquiring the prestigious recognition from the IDA is not just about no matter whether or not it appears dark when you stand in your area field at evening, but far more to do with establishing fully commited environmentalists who strive to reclaim the sky from air pollution, as effectively as preserving the reserves that previously exist.

Large expanses of open place with not a dwelling in sight make the greatest feasible areas for a Dim Sky Reserve. Canada and the Usa direct the way with a range of internet sites, but nationwide parks all more than the earth are steadily making use of for the accolade, and we just happened to obtain ourselves near to one even though we have been discovering Eire – the very first of its sort in the region, and one particular of only 3 “gold tier” reserves in the earth. That appears quite fancy – but what is it?

The Kerry Worldwide Darkish Sky Reserve

Awarded the title in 2014, The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is a “gold tier” reserve – the only just one in the Northern Hemisphere. You can see far more stars here with the naked eye at night time than virtually any where else on earth, in an space of astounding all-natural elegance – even though you ought to maybe go to that for the duration of the working day.

There’s around 700 sq km of stunning scenery to explore, with forest, beach front, river, lake and stream habitats the place you can delight in exploring the area flora and fauna. But the reserve genuinely displays off its aesthetic charms when the sunshine has long gone down, with a just breathtaking vista of the cosmos in all its glory. It is minor ponder that stargazers and budding astronomers are flocking to this booming Astro-tourist site.

Where by?

The reserve is found in a corner of south-west Ireland, in close proximity to the city of Killarney, about 4 hour’s travel from Dublin. The value of astronomy has been recognized listed here for hundreds of a long time, as indigenous peoples utilized rock formations to keep track of celestial action. Right now the region is paving the way for Astro-visitors in Ireland, a country in which the pastime is getting to be increasingly common, with visits to delight in what the emerald isle has to present by day practically currently being eclipsed (sorry/not sorry) by what it features by evening. 

There is an urban legend of a Beijing male in floods of tears soon after seeing the Milky Way for the initial time – it is strong things indeed.

Where by else?

Thankfully, Kerry isn’t on your own in advertising and marketing Dim Sky conservation about the environment, as there are a range of substantial profile sites you can visit – perhaps closer to your have dwelling – and a uncomplicated research can expose all the latest IDA recognised places. But it doesn’t always will need to maintain the IDA badge of honour as there are numerous exceptional stargazing places that merely do not involve the certification. Consider a seem at some of these alternate Astro-tourism web sites that may possibly very well encourage your foreseeable future vacation options.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Arguably the most well-liked astrology web-site on earth, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile boasts cloudless, unpolluted skies that are the clearest you are ever probably to discover. There are dozens of observatories in the region – with a considerable selection prepared – Astro-travellers arrive in their hundreds to admire the breathtaking spectacle taking position every night.

The town of San Pedro is a great foundation for the practical experience and delivers website visitors typical Astro-excursions and stargazing offers calendar year-round.  

Svalbard, Norway

If you want to see the Northern Lights, it does not get significantly additional north than this. Scandinavia has extensive been a region synonymous with viewing the Aurora Borealis, with Sweden and Finland also well-known destinations.

But for purists, Svalbard’s island remoteness is difficult to conquer. Astro-tourism to the location is booming, so make guaranteed you guide ahead of you go – and really do not ignore to analysis the best periods – the lights aren’t generally up for dazzling guests. If you go in summertime, assume sunlight for 24 hours a day.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Individuals with a head of heights can try out browsing Mauna Kea, a (thankfully) dormant volcano on Hawaii’s significant island. Here you’ll uncover the world’s major optical telescope, and frequent stargazing expeditions get place at close to 9,200 ft. (2804m). Since of the lessen levels of oxygen in the air, large altitudes make for outstanding astronomy locations but make positive you consider the time to acclimatise and pack suitable clothes for the knowledge.

Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand

Curiously enough, the Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve in New Zealand twined with its fellow gold tier reserve, Kerry, in 2014.  here way too. The basin is the world’s biggest example of a Dim Sky Reserve, which has been practising the command of outdoor lights interference considering the fact that the 1980’s. Positioned on the southern island, the reserve attained IDA recognition in 2012 and proceeds to encourage this sort of conservation, as to comprehend the night sky was important to their Maori ancestors.

Mount John Observatory, New Zealand’s number 1 astronomical centre is also situated listed here.

Jasper Countrywide Park, Canada

As point out earlier, Canada has some thing of a monopoly on Astro-tourist web sites, mainly because it is crazy enormous with comparatively minor urbanisation. The Jasper Nationwide Park is one particular of many planet-course astrology locations in the nation, established deep in the Canadian Rockies. This certainly is the terrific wilderness, out in the middle of nowhere, with camping and stargazing heading hand in hand. For something certainly magical, really don’t miss out on the Jasper Dim Sky Competition which can take spot every Oct.

Admittedly we realized small about Astro-tourism or Darkish Sky Reserves right up until our amazing encounter in Kerry, but it absolutely encouraged us to obtain out far more. Probably we’ll be blessed enough to take a look at some of these astronomy internet sites in the long run, or at the very least encourage you to go yourselves. There is a ton to see on this earth, but there is, even more, to see out there – and this way you can take pleasure in it with a flask of very hot tea when retaining your toes firmly on the ground.

Are you an Astro-tourist? Let us know your experiences!

source http://cheaprtravels.com/discovering-astro-tourism-and-dim-sky-reserves/

[andrea-cristina-travel-blog]

The Elephants are returning: Visiting Cambodia’s Chi Phat Eco-tourism project

Read our wonderful and slightly scary journey to Chi-Phat community based eco-tourism project in Cambodia’s Cardamon Mountains. “The elephants are returning” our guide Leeheng smiles proudly, waving an outstretched arm across the open plain before us. “You know, a few years ago there were none here. They got scared by the hunting and the guns and moved away, into Thailand. Now, they’re starting to come back again”. His smile is one of those enthusiastic ones that sweep you along with it, helping to dissipate the memory of the steaming hot jungle-clad incline we’ve been scrambling up for the last hour. It’s hard to imagine that merely a decade ago, our presence on this peaceful grassy hilltop plain in Cambodia’s Southern Cardamom mountain region would have been impossible at best, deadly at worst. After the collapse of Pol Pot’s murderous communist regime in 1979, his loyal guerrilla fighters quite literally fled for the hills – choosing the thick jungle cover of the Cardamoms as their last stronghold. What followed was nearly 15 years of violent war and chaos for the region; mines were laid, villages attacked, locals murdered in grisly clashes. When the last of the Khmer Rouge fighters were finally driven from the area, the locals who remained were left impoverished. With few options available for survival, many had no choice but to enter the lucrative poaching and logging trades to support their families. Surprisingly, despite the ensuing destruction, the 1443 sq km mountain area has remained home to many a rare and endangered species. Big cats, elephants, gibbons, deer, wild pigs, snakes, and the extremely threatened Pangolin have survived amongst some of the most unchartered flora in the world. A chance at lasting positive change came in the form of an approach to village elders by American-based conservation NGO Wildlife Alliance. Together, they developed big plans for a community-based ecotourism (CBET) project in the Cardamoms and Leeheng’s village, Chi Phat, that set the wheels in motion for Cambodia’s most successful conservation project, transforming the lives of its residents completely. OUR VISIT TO CAMBODIA’S ECO-TOURISM SUCCESS STORY, CHI PHAT  COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN CAMBODIA Today, Chi Phat welcomes fighters of a very different kind with open arms; those workers, volunteers, and travellers interested in the battle for environmental conservation. It’s this goal and a promise of world-class hiking that has brought us to our current grassy plain and the first of our three-day hike into the mountains surrounding the village of Chi Phat. Getting to Chi Phat is half the adventure. It’s a 4-hour bus ride from Phnom Penh to the small highway town of Andoung Tuek, and (having missed the 2-hour boat ride alternative) a white-knuckled 45-minute ride through fields of sugarcane and patches of sand on the back of a local motorbike to this pretty community of 500 families. Colourful bamboo houses on stilts line the two dusty red streets, giggling children wave sous-dey (hello) enthusiastically, and all around us are the genuinely welcoming, happy smiles of locals. Villagers, like Leeheng, who once roamed the forests in search of a quick payday are now wildlife warriors, now lead educational cycling, kayaking and trekking tours, training as cooks, opening guesthouses, learning English and computer skills, and working together to protect their futures.    Under his knowledgeable eye over the next few days we explore the stunning and diverse ecosystems on offer; thick jungle, mountain ranges, grasslands, lush river systems; eagerly observing animal tracks. We camp in hammocks under the stars and swim in refreshing waterfalls.  While we have the time of our lives, we’ll also be supporting a community working tirelessly to protect their environment, helping to provide them with a livelihood far removed from those of their pasts. Read more | Our guide to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh     Leeheng opens up about the huge shift he’s seen take place over the last few years.  A former hunter (mostly deer, wild pig, and Pangolin) and logger himself, he knows first-hand what it signifies for him and his young family.   “It was hard at first, some people had no choice but hunting or logging – we had to make money. “Everyone thought they’d lose their income, so only 20% of the community supported it at first. But now almost 100% support it because the tourists come. We have jobs and opportunities again,” he shares. Not only do they have opportunities again (over 5,000 people have benefited from the creation of sustainable jobs in Chi Phat), they are passionate about sharing their expert knowledge of the area with visitors. That passion has been helped along by intensive conservation and guide training programs established by the CBET and Wildlife Alliance. We pause regularly to inspect the day-old tracks of a herd of elephants, taste a Tamarind pod, discover a new plant species. We eat a meal made from root vegetables found in the forest and drink water from vines one afternoon. “City people don’t know how to do this,” Leeheng winks, “this is something you grow up learning around here”.     As we eat lunch, sitting cross-legged in the middle of a dry river bed one day, we ask him whether there’s a downside to this huge change. To him it’s extremely simple; “In the past, if I killed a deer I might make $100USD. But now if I bring people here and they don’t see any animals, I feel pretty sad. If someone visits and sees lots of animals, they might tell their friends and encourage other people to come here. Our community could earn $10,000, maybe $20,000 USD instead”, he tells us. The community is now starting to show signs of prosperity, and it’s obvious that they realise they have a stake in the protection and health of their home. Last year, the Chi Phat community celebrated 10 years of zero elephant poaching in the Southern Cardamom Forest region; a monumental achievement. We get an incredibly authentic taste of the returning elephants on our second day, when Leeheng stops abruptly in front of us, holding up a hand for quiet. He’s spotted fresh tracks and believes a wild elephant could be in the area – confirmed by the faint sounds of the ground being trampled and low grunts about 300 metres away. Our excitement at the find turns to something a little more serious when he warns us quietly that we have to walk quickly, a sober expression on his normally cheerful face. As we move forward, he swings the back of an axe hard against a tree, a gunshot-like sound ringing out through the thick forest.   Cambodia’s Islands | Why you need to visit them now  The elephants here haven’t forgotten the hunting days when bullets fired by humans would land amongst their herd. It makes them a dangerous animal for a human to encounter in these forests today, but Leeheng hopes their fear of the sound of guns will keep them well away from us. Pausing frequently to take stock, he inspects tracks, listens to the low grunts in the distance. When we come across a strong earthy smell – a mound of very fresh droppings – and damage to ferns, tree trunks and plants reminiscent of a rogue ride-on mower, he gathers us around urgently. He thinks it’s a mother and child, meaning protective aggression is a real risk. “They’re extremely close now, maybe 100 metres. If you see the elephant on the path, drop your bag immediately and run through the jungle. They can’t turn easily, so find the biggest tree you can and run behind it. Then move to the next and do the same. If you get lost, get to the river and head downstream. We’ll find you”. Senses sharpened, we move stealthily along the paths to the nearby soundtrack of grunting and Bush-bashing(while hoping the fact we haven’t showered in a few days won’t give us completely away). With Leehengs help, we escape any face-to-face meetings with a territorial mother – but if our close encounter is the price to pay for CBET and the Wildlife Alliance achieving their goals of protecting the area’s remaining elephant population, we’ll happily take it.   Since its inception, the program has resulted in the reforesting of 733 hectares of degraded areas, cancelled 36 land concessions, and protected 720,000 hectares of tropical forests from illegal loggers and industrial encroachment. It’s a success story that leads the way in eco-tourism initiatives around the world. But sadly, not everyone values their incredible successes; during our time in the mountains, there were whispers of devastating Chinese development threatening to destroy the region with mining and dams. There is a chance that the long-term future of CBET is again at the very real risk of crushing environmental destruction and financial uncertainty.  They’re fighting hard though, with many protests and legal cases underway. In the meantime, the elephants are returning, and the community of Chi Phat is on the rise.   Thinking of visiting Cambodia? Don’t miss Chi Phat for an incredible, unique experience in the Cardamom Mountains. Have you been before? Share your stories in the comments below!  Visiting Cambodia? You might like these posts: Why you need to visit the Cambodian Islands now 16 incredible useful things to know before visiting Cambodia 30 photos that will make you want to visit Cambodia Need to book accommodation in Cambodia? Check out Hotel’s Combined for the best hotel deals Cambodia has some of the best hostels in Asia – check them out via Hostel World FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES ON FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST LIKE THIS POST? PIN AND SHARE IT! JOIN OUR TRIBE & WANDER WITH US Join 30,000+ people and receive travel stories, tips + hacks, and stunning photography to inspire your wanderlust. Straight to your inbox We hate spammers. We'll never be those people.   The post The Elephants are returning: Visiting Cambodia’s Chi Phat Eco-tourism project appeared first on The Common Wanderer.

https://www.thecommonwanderer.com/chi-phat-eco-tourism-project-cambodia/

[topfygad]

Discovering Astro-tourism and Dim Sky Reserves

We have usually been passionate about vacation, exploration and journey, and we’ll pretty much try out anything at all as soon as – within just cause. Possibly we’re not quite completely ready to be despatched on a rocket ship to Mars, but with the prospect of place vacation obtainable to the general public starting to be increasingly feasible, inquisitive sorts are the moment all over again turning their heads skywards. “Astro-tourism” is getting more and far more preferred, with “Dark-Sky” web pages showing all above the globe and fostering a growing curiosity.

Latest functions like the photo voltaic eclipse have additional ignited people’s curiosity of the heavens, and there has been a rise in vacationers reserving trips well in advance to see astronomical activities. You might assume we have enough to examine on earth – and we’re surely hoping to see as much of that as we can at eTramping – but we had been intrigued to hear about Astro-tourism on our new visit to Killarney, Eire, the nearest town to the Kerry Dark-Sky Reserve. So, let’s initially check out what this is really all about!  

What is Astro-tourism?

When astronomy and stargazing are nothing at all new, with men and women staring at the heavens in awe for centuries, the phenomenon of Astro-tourism is nevertheless in its fledgeling days – though rising in popularity at an astounding rate. It mainly requires reserving distinct holidays and/or excursions in get to check out celestial gatherings, constellations, planets or other Astro-attractions, such as an eclipse, a meteor shower, the passing of a comet, the northern lights, or however another large storm on Jupiter. The astronomical calendar is packed with thrilling, yearly happenings, and vacationer companies seem to be benefiting, as viewing incredibly hot-spots are bought out perfectly in progress for a thing specifically particular.

So, what of individuals incredibly hot-spots? Simply cannot we all just walk outdoors our front doorway and seem up? That would help save a little bit of dollars, wouldn’t it? But alas, light-weight and air air pollution more than cities and cities about the planet can severely hamper your chances to witness some of nature’s most impressive skills, so people are flocking to “Dark Sky” places across the globe. And nevertheless you could be stunned to master that there aren’t really that several this sort of spots, mainly many thanks to urbanization.  This is steadily modifying, as both equally conservationists and tourist boards see the strengths of obtaining these types of recognition, and lodging in Dim Sky regions can market out calendar year round.

What is a Dark Sky Reserve?

Simply set, a Dim Sky Reserve is wherever you can see the sky at night time in all its brilliance, with significant visibility and negligible air and light-weight air pollution. Feel of it as a clean beach front program for the stratosphere. Monitored by the Worldwide Dim-Sky Association (IDA), locations of land all around the earth have been awarded Dim Sky standing considering that 2001, should really they go arduous checks and cross-examinations. Acquiring the prestigious recognition from the IDA is not just about no matter whether or not it appears dark when you stand in your area field at evening, but far more to do with establishing fully commited environmentalists who strive to reclaim the sky from air pollution, as effectively as preserving the reserves that previously exist.

Large expanses of open place with not a dwelling in sight make the greatest feasible areas for a Dim Sky Reserve. Canada and the Usa direct the way with a range of internet sites, but nationwide parks all more than the earth are steadily making use of for the accolade, and we just happened to obtain ourselves near to one even though we have been discovering Eire – the very first of its sort in the region, and one particular of only 3 “gold tier” reserves in the earth. That appears quite fancy – but what is it?

The Kerry Worldwide Darkish Sky Reserve

Awarded the title in 2014, The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is a “gold tier” reserve – the only just one in the Northern Hemisphere. You can see far more stars here with the naked eye at night time than virtually any where else on earth, in an space of astounding all-natural elegance – even though you ought to maybe go to that for the duration of the working day.

There’s around 700 sq km of stunning scenery to explore, with forest, beach front, river, lake and stream habitats the place you can delight in exploring the area flora and fauna. But the reserve genuinely displays off its aesthetic charms when the sunshine has long gone down, with a just breathtaking vista of the cosmos in all its glory. It is minor ponder that stargazers and budding astronomers are flocking to this booming Astro-tourist site.

Where by?

The reserve is found in a corner of south-west Ireland, in close proximity to the city of Killarney, about 4 hour’s travel from Dublin. The value of astronomy has been recognized listed here for hundreds of a long time, as indigenous peoples utilized rock formations to keep track of celestial action. Right now the region is paving the way for Astro-visitors in Ireland, a country in which the pastime is getting to be increasingly common, with visits to delight in what the emerald isle has to present by day practically currently being eclipsed (sorry/not sorry) by what it features by evening. 

There is an urban legend of a Beijing male in floods of tears soon after seeing the Milky Way for the initial time – it is strong things indeed.

Where by else?

Thankfully, Kerry isn’t on your own in advertising and marketing Dim Sky conservation about the environment, as there are a range of substantial profile sites you can visit – perhaps closer to your have dwelling – and a uncomplicated research can expose all the latest IDA recognised places. But it doesn’t always will need to maintain the IDA badge of honour as there are numerous exceptional stargazing places that merely do not involve the certification. Consider a seem at some of these alternate Astro-tourism web sites that may possibly very well encourage your foreseeable future vacation options.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Arguably the most well-liked astrology web-site on earth, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile boasts cloudless, unpolluted skies that are the clearest you are ever probably to discover. There are dozens of observatories in the region – with a considerable selection prepared – Astro-travellers arrive in their hundreds to admire the breathtaking spectacle taking position every night.

The town of San Pedro is a great foundation for the practical experience and delivers website visitors typical Astro-excursions and stargazing offers calendar year-round.  

Svalbard, Norway

If you want to see the Northern Lights, it does not get significantly additional north than this. Scandinavia has extensive been a region synonymous with viewing the Aurora Borealis, with Sweden and Finland also well-known destinations.

But for purists, Svalbard’s island remoteness is difficult to conquer. Astro-tourism to the location is booming, so make guaranteed you guide ahead of you go – and really do not ignore to analysis the best periods – the lights aren’t generally up for dazzling guests. If you go in summertime, assume sunlight for 24 hours a day.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Individuals with a head of heights can try out browsing Mauna Kea, a (thankfully) dormant volcano on Hawaii’s significant island. Here you’ll uncover the world’s major optical telescope, and frequent stargazing expeditions get place at close to 9,200 ft. (2804m). Since of the lessen levels of oxygen in the air, large altitudes make for outstanding astronomy locations but make positive you consider the time to acclimatise and pack suitable clothes for the knowledge.

Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand

Curiously enough, the Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve in New Zealand twined with its fellow gold tier reserve, Kerry, in 2014.  here way too. The basin is the world’s biggest example of a Dim Sky Reserve, which has been practising the command of outdoor lights interference considering the fact that the 1980’s. Positioned on the southern island, the reserve attained IDA recognition in 2012 and proceeds to encourage this sort of conservation, as to comprehend the night sky was important to their Maori ancestors.

Mount John Observatory, New Zealand’s number 1 astronomical centre is also situated listed here.

Jasper Countrywide Park, Canada

As point out earlier, Canada has some thing of a monopoly on Astro-tourist web sites, mainly because it is crazy enormous with comparatively minor urbanisation. The Jasper Nationwide Park is one particular of many planet-course astrology locations in the nation, established deep in the Canadian Rockies. This certainly is the terrific wilderness, out in the middle of nowhere, with camping and stargazing heading hand in hand. For something certainly magical, really don’t miss out on the Jasper Dim Sky Competition which can take spot every Oct.

Admittedly we realized small about Astro-tourism or Darkish Sky Reserves right up until our amazing encounter in Kerry, but it absolutely encouraged us to obtain out far more. Probably we’ll be blessed enough to take a look at some of these astronomy internet sites in the long run, or at the very least encourage you to go yourselves. There is a ton to see on this earth, but there is, even more, to see out there – and this way you can take pleasure in it with a flask of very hot tea when retaining your toes firmly on the ground.

Are you an Astro-tourist? Let us know your experiences!

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2PZN6CW via IFTTT

[topfygad]

Discovering Astro-tourism and Dim Sky Reserves

We have usually been passionate about vacation, exploration and journey, and we’ll pretty much try out anything at all as soon as – within just cause. Possibly we’re not quite completely ready to be despatched on a rocket ship to Mars, but with the prospect of place vacation obtainable to the general public starting to be increasingly feasible, inquisitive sorts are the moment all over again turning their heads skywards. “Astro-tourism” is getting more and far more preferred, with “Dark-Sky” web pages showing all above the globe and fostering a growing curiosity.

Latest functions like the photo voltaic eclipse have additional ignited people’s curiosity of the heavens, and there has been a rise in vacationers reserving trips well in advance to see astronomical activities. You might assume we have enough to examine on earth – and we’re surely hoping to see as much of that as we can at eTramping – but we had been intrigued to hear about Astro-tourism on our new visit to Killarney, Eire, the nearest town to the Kerry Dark-Sky Reserve. So, let’s initially check out what this is really all about!  

What is Astro-tourism?

When astronomy and stargazing are nothing at all new, with men and women staring at the heavens in awe for centuries, the phenomenon of Astro-tourism is nevertheless in its fledgeling days – though rising in popularity at an astounding rate. It mainly requires reserving distinct holidays and/or excursions in get to check out celestial gatherings, constellations, planets or other Astro-attractions, such as an eclipse, a meteor shower, the passing of a comet, the northern lights, or however another large storm on Jupiter. The astronomical calendar is packed with thrilling, yearly happenings, and vacationer companies seem to be benefiting, as viewing incredibly hot-spots are bought out perfectly in progress for a thing specifically particular.

So, what of individuals incredibly hot-spots? Simply cannot we all just walk outdoors our front doorway and seem up? That would help save a little bit of dollars, wouldn’t it? But alas, light-weight and air air pollution more than cities and cities about the planet can severely hamper your chances to witness some of nature’s most impressive skills, so people are flocking to “Dark Sky” places across the globe. And nevertheless you could be stunned to master that there aren’t really that several this sort of spots, mainly many thanks to urbanization.  This is steadily modifying, as both equally conservationists and tourist boards see the strengths of obtaining these types of recognition, and lodging in Dim Sky regions can market out calendar year round.

What is a Dark Sky Reserve?

Simply set, a Dim Sky Reserve is wherever you can see the sky at night time in all its brilliance, with significant visibility and negligible air and light-weight air pollution. Feel of it as a clean beach front program for the stratosphere. Monitored by the Worldwide Dim-Sky Association (IDA), locations of land all around the earth have been awarded Dim Sky standing considering that 2001, should really they go arduous checks and cross-examinations. Acquiring the prestigious recognition from the IDA is not just about no matter whether or not it appears dark when you stand in your area field at evening, but far more to do with establishing fully commited environmentalists who strive to reclaim the sky from air pollution, as effectively as preserving the reserves that previously exist.

Large expanses of open place with not a dwelling in sight make the greatest feasible areas for a Dim Sky Reserve. Canada and the Usa direct the way with a range of internet sites, but nationwide parks all more than the earth are steadily making use of for the accolade, and we just happened to obtain ourselves near to one even though we have been discovering Eire – the very first of its sort in the region, and one particular of only 3 “gold tier” reserves in the earth. That appears quite fancy – but what is it?

The Kerry Worldwide Darkish Sky Reserve

Awarded the title in 2014, The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is a “gold tier” reserve – the only just one in the Northern Hemisphere. You can see far more stars here with the naked eye at night time than virtually any where else on earth, in an space of astounding all-natural elegance – even though you ought to maybe go to that for the duration of the working day.

There’s around 700 sq km of stunning scenery to explore, with forest, beach front, river, lake and stream habitats the place you can delight in exploring the area flora and fauna. But the reserve genuinely displays off its aesthetic charms when the sunshine has long gone down, with a just breathtaking vista of the cosmos in all its glory. It is minor ponder that stargazers and budding astronomers are flocking to this booming Astro-tourist site.

Where by?

The reserve is found in a corner of south-west Ireland, in close proximity to the city of Killarney, about 4 hour’s travel from Dublin. The value of astronomy has been recognized listed here for hundreds of a long time, as indigenous peoples utilized rock formations to keep track of celestial action. Right now the region is paving the way for Astro-visitors in Ireland, a country in which the pastime is getting to be increasingly common, with visits to delight in what the emerald isle has to present by day practically currently being eclipsed (sorry/not sorry) by what it features by evening. 

There is an urban legend of a Beijing male in floods of tears soon after seeing the Milky Way for the initial time – it is strong things indeed.

Where by else?

Thankfully, Kerry isn’t on your own in advertising and marketing Dim Sky conservation about the environment, as there are a range of substantial profile sites you can visit – perhaps closer to your have dwelling – and a uncomplicated research can expose all the latest IDA recognised places. But it doesn’t always will need to maintain the IDA badge of honour as there are numerous exceptional stargazing places that merely do not involve the certification. Consider a seem at some of these alternate Astro-tourism web sites that may possibly very well encourage your foreseeable future vacation options.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Arguably the most well-liked astrology web-site on earth, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile boasts cloudless, unpolluted skies that are the clearest you are ever probably to discover. There are dozens of observatories in the region – with a considerable selection prepared – Astro-travellers arrive in their hundreds to admire the breathtaking spectacle taking position every night.

The town of San Pedro is a great foundation for the practical experience and delivers website visitors typical Astro-excursions and stargazing offers calendar year-round.  

Svalbard, Norway

If you want to see the Northern Lights, it does not get significantly additional north than this. Scandinavia has extensive been a region synonymous with viewing the Aurora Borealis, with Sweden and Finland also well-known destinations.

But for purists, Svalbard’s island remoteness is difficult to conquer. Astro-tourism to the location is booming, so make guaranteed you guide ahead of you go – and really do not ignore to analysis the best periods – the lights aren’t generally up for dazzling guests. If you go in summertime, assume sunlight for 24 hours a day.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Individuals with a head of heights can try out browsing Mauna Kea, a (thankfully) dormant volcano on Hawaii’s significant island. Here you’ll uncover the world’s major optical telescope, and frequent stargazing expeditions get place at close to 9,200 ft. (2804m). Since of the lessen levels of oxygen in the air, large altitudes make for outstanding astronomy locations but make positive you consider the time to acclimatise and pack suitable clothes for the knowledge.

Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand

Curiously enough, the Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve in New Zealand twined with its fellow gold tier reserve, Kerry, in 2014.  here way too. The basin is the world’s biggest example of a Dim Sky Reserve, which has been practising the command of outdoor lights interference considering the fact that the 1980’s. Positioned on the southern island, the reserve attained IDA recognition in 2012 and proceeds to encourage this sort of conservation, as to comprehend the night sky was important to their Maori ancestors.

Mount John Observatory, New Zealand’s number 1 astronomical centre is also situated listed here.

Jasper Countrywide Park, Canada

As point out earlier, Canada has some thing of a monopoly on Astro-tourist web sites, mainly because it is crazy enormous with comparatively minor urbanisation. The Jasper Nationwide Park is one particular of many planet-course astrology locations in the nation, established deep in the Canadian Rockies. This certainly is the terrific wilderness, out in the middle of nowhere, with camping and stargazing heading hand in hand. For something certainly magical, really don’t miss out on the Jasper Dim Sky Competition which can take spot every Oct.

Admittedly we realized small about Astro-tourism or Darkish Sky Reserves right up until our amazing encounter in Kerry, but it absolutely encouraged us to obtain out far more. Probably we’ll be blessed enough to take a look at some of these astronomy internet sites in the long run, or at the very least encourage you to go yourselves. There is a ton to see on this earth, but there is, even more, to see out there – and this way you can take pleasure in it with a flask of very hot tea when retaining your toes firmly on the ground.

Are you an Astro-tourist? Let us know your experiences!

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2PZN6CW via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

[andrea-cristina-travel-blog]

The Elephants are returning: Visiting Cambodia’s Chi Phat Eco-tourism project

“The elephants are returning to Chi Phat” our guide Leeheng smiles proudly, waving an outstretched arm across the open plain before us. “You know, a few years ago there were none here. They got scared by the hunting and the guns and moved away, into Thailand. Now, they’re starting to come back again”. His smile is one of those enthusiastic ones that sweep you along with it, helping to dissipate the memory of the steaming hot jungle-clad incline we’ve been scrambling up for the last hour. It’s hard to imagine that merely a decade ago, our presence on this peaceful grassy hilltop plain in Cambodia’s Southern Cardamom mountain region would have been impossible at best, deadly at worst. After the collapse of Pol Pot’s murderous communist regime in 1979, his loyal guerrilla fighters quite literally fled for the hills – choosing the thick jungle cover of the Cardamoms as their last stronghold. What followed was nearly 15 years of violent war and chaos for the region; mines were laid, villages attacked, locals murdered in grisly clashes. When the last of the Khmer Rouge fighters were finally driven from the area, the locals who remained were left impoverished. With few options available for survival, many had no choice but to enter the lucrative poaching and logging trades to support their families. Surprisingly, despite the ensuing destruction, the 1443 sq km mountain area has remained home to many a rare and endangered species. Big cats, elephants, gibbons, deer, wild pigs, snakes, and the extremely threatened Pangolin have survived amongst some of the most unchartered flora in the world. A chance at lasting positive change came in the form of an approach to village elders by American-based conservation NGO Wildlife Alliance. Together, they developed big plans for a community-based ecotourism (CBET) project in the Cardamoms and Leeheng’s village, Chi Phat, that set the wheels in motion for Cambodia’s most successful conservation project, transforming the lives of its residents completely. OUR VISIT TO CAMBODIA’S ECO-TOURISM SUCCESS STORY, CHI PHAT  COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN CAMBODIA Today, Chi Phat welcomes fighters of a very different kind with open arms; those workers, volunteers, and travellers interested in the battle for environmental conservation. It’s this goal and a promise of world-class hiking that has brought us to our current grassy plain and the first of our three-day hike into the mountains surrounding the village of Chi Phat. Getting here is half the adventure. It’s a 4-hour bus ride from Phnom Penh to the small highway town of Andoung Tuek, and (having missed the 2-hour boat ride alternative) a white-knuckled 45-minute ride through fields of sugarcane and patches of sand on the back of a local motorbike to this pretty community of 500 families. Colourful bamboo houses on stilts line the two dusty red streets, giggling children wave sous-dey (hello) enthusiastically, and all around us are the genuinely welcoming, happy smiles of locals. Villagers, like Leeheng, who once roamed the forests in search of a quick payday are now wildlife warriors, now lead educational cycling, kayaking and trekking tours, training as cooks, opening guesthouses, learning English and computer skills, and working together to protect their futures.    Under his knowledgeable eye over the next few days we explore the stunning and diverse ecosystems on offer; thick jungle, mountain ranges, grasslands, lush river systems; eagerly observing animal tracks. We camp in hammocks under the stars and swim in refreshing waterfalls.  While we have the time of our lives, we’ll also be supporting a community working tirelessly to protect their environment, helping to provide them with a livelihood far removed from those of their pasts. Read more | Our guide to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh     Leeheng opens up about the huge shift he’s seen take place over the last few years.  A former hunter (mostly deer, wild pig, and Pangolin) and logger himself, he knows first-hand what it signifies for him and his young family.   “It was hard at first, some people had no choice but hunting or logging – we had to make money. “Everyone thought they’d lose their income, so only 20% of the community supported it at first. But now almost 100% support it because the tourists come. We have jobs and opportunities again,” he shares. Not only do they have opportunities again (over 5,000 people have benefited from the creation of sustainable jobs here), they are passionate about sharing their expert knowledge of the area with visitors. That passion has been helped along by intensive conservation and guide training programs established by the CBET and Wildlife Alliance. We pause regularly to inspect the day-old tracks of a herd of elephants, taste a Tamarind pod, discover a new plant species. We eat a meal made from root vegetables found in the forest and drink water from vines one afternoon. “City people don’t know how to do this,” Leeheng winks, “this is something you grow up learning around here”.     As we eat lunch, sitting cross-legged in the middle of a dry river bed one day, we ask him whether there’s a downside to this huge change. To him it’s extremely simple; “In the past, if I killed a deer I might make $100USD. But now if I bring people here and they don’t see any animals, I feel pretty sad. If someone visits and sees lots of animals, they might tell their friends and encourage other people to come here. Our community could earn $10,000, maybe $20,000 USD instead”, he tells us. The community is now starting to show signs of prosperity, and it’s obvious that they realise they have a stake in the protection and health of their home. Last year, the community celebrated 10 years of zero elephant poaching in the Southern Cardamom Forest region; a monumental achievement. We get an incredibly authentic taste of the returning elephants on our second day, when Leeheng stops abruptly in front of us, holding up a hand for quiet. He’s spotted fresh tracks and believes a wild elephant could be in the area – confirmed by the faint sounds of the ground being trampled and low grunts about 300 metres away. Our excitement at the find turns to something a little more serious when he warns us quietly that we have to walk quickly, a sober expression on his normally cheerful face. As we move forward, he swings the back of an axe hard against a tree, a gunshot-like sound ringing out through the thick forest.   Cambodia’s Islands | Why you need to visit them now  The elephants here haven’t forgotten the hunting days when bullets fired by humans would land amongst their herd. It makes them a dangerous animal for a human to encounter in these forests today, but Leeheng hopes their fear of the sound of guns will keep them well away from us. Pausing frequently to take stock, he inspects tracks, listens to the low grunts in the distance. When we come across a strong earthy smell – a mound of very fresh droppings – and damage to ferns, tree trunks and plants reminiscent of a rogue ride-on mower, he gathers us around urgently. He thinks it’s a mother and child, meaning protective aggression is a real risk. “They’re extremely close now, maybe 100 metres. If you see the elephant on the path, drop your bag immediately and run through the jungle. They can’t turn easily, so find the biggest tree you can and run behind it. Then move to the next and do the same. If you get lost, get to the river and head downstream. We’ll find you”. Senses sharpened, we move stealthily along the paths to the nearby soundtrack of grunting and Bush-bashing(while hoping the fact we haven’t showered in a few days won’t give us completely away). With Leehengs help, we escape any face-to-face meetings with a territorial mother – but if our close encounter is the price to pay for CBET and the Wildlife Alliance achieving their goals of protecting the area’s remaining elephant population, we’ll happily take it.   Since its inception, the program has resulted in the reforesting of 733 hectares of degraded areas, cancelled 36 land concessions, and protected 720,000 hectares of tropical forests from illegal loggers and industrial encroachment. It’s a success story that leads the way in eco-tourism initiatives around the world. But sadly, not everyone values their incredible successes; during our time in the mountains, there were whispers of devastating Chinese development threatening to destroy the region with mining and dams. There is a chance that the long-term future of CBET is again at the very real risk of crushing environmental destruction and financial uncertainty.  They’re fighting hard though, with many protests and legal cases underway. In the meantime, the elephants are returning, and the community of Chi Phat is on the rise.   Thinking of visiting Cambodia? Don’t miss Chi Phat for an incredible, unique experience in the Cardamom Mountains. Have you been before? Share your stories in the comments below!  Visiting Cambodia? You might like these posts: Why you need to visit the Cambodian Islands now 16 incredible useful things to know before visiting Cambodia 30 photos that will make you want to visit Cambodia   Need to book accommodation in Cambodia? Check out Hotel’s Combined for the best hotel deals Cambodia has some of the best hostels in Asia – check them out via Hostel World FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES ON FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST LIKE THIS POST? PIN AND SHARE IT! JOIN OUR TRIBE & WANDER WITH US Join 30,000+ people and receive travel stories, tips + hacks, and stunning photography to inspire your wanderlust. Straight to your inbox We hate spammers. We'll never be those people.   The post The Elephants are returning: Visiting Cambodia’s Chi Phat Eco-tourism project appeared first on The Common Wanderer.

https://www.thecommonwanderer.com/chi-phat-eco-tourism-project-cambodia/