|
|
||
|
ISSN 1108-8931 |
Year 6 - Issue 72 |
|
|
Sponsored by: Zante Feast Discovery Holidays, Purple Valley Yoga Centre, Hana Maui Botanical Gardens, Jorth Consult Limited, Pacuare Lodge, Ecolife 2005 Fair |
||
|
To celebrate our 6th anniversary, we held our second annual ECOCLUB.com Ecolodge Awards 2005. ECOCLUB Members were asked to vote for the two best project proposals submitted by ECOCLUB Ecolodges around the world. The winners were announced on July 1, 2005, the 6th anniversary of ECOCLUB following a vote by Members. The winning project, receiving 27.5% of the votes, was that by Rainforest Retreat of Karnataka, India which involved the establishment of an Association of local small Organic Growers in the nearby village, Galibeedu. The 2nd Winner (23.3 %) was 3 Rivers, Dominica who proposed the installation of a hydraulic ram pump system in the nearby village health centre. Laguna del Lagarto of Costa Rica was Runner up with 17.4% of the votes, for their project of training four village women. Presenting the Awards at a live on-line event, ECOCLUB Director, Antonis B. Petropoulos, said: "Building on the success of our 2004 awards, our first, with the winning project completed on time by Ranweli Holiday Village, we aimed to improve and expand the 2005 Awards by introducing a theme, Poverty Reduction - and both winning projects assist in that direction. We also increased the grant amount by 50% but sought to reward 2 projects rather than raise the amount for just 1 project, to show how much can be achieved with relatively little, if there is will and skill, and will and skill abounds among our Ecolodge Members". Our oldest Member, Elliot Helman from San Fransisco, noted while casting his vote: "It was hard... All good projects". Thus, as all 9 finalist projects were very indeed worthwhile, we have decided to keep them on-line so that interested Members and readers can choose to donate towards their implementation. Those wishing to donate, please contact us.
Accepting the 1st Prize, Rainforest Retreat Director, Dr Anurag Goel said "This is a great honour and surprise on a monsoon evening with rain pouring. All of our guests really appreciate the organic farming aspect of our Rainforest Retreat and with this Award we can take it to the next step which is to get the local people involved in organic farming and at the same time realize some benefits from the increased tourism in this district."
Accepting the Second prize, 3 Rivers Director, Mr. Jem Winston, said "Thank you on behalf of everyone. The villagers will be delighted when they hear the news. We thank ECOCLUB and those who voted for our project. 3 Rivers will donate the other half of the necessary funds." The 2005 Awards are accompanied by the monetary sum of Euros 750 (Euros 500 for the 1st winner and Euros 250 for the 2nd), and this amount is meant to cover fully the expenses of the First winning project and half of those of the Second winning project. Already, the first installment has been paid by ECOCLUB the First Winner, and the full installment to the Second Winner. The two projects are already under way. As last year, the projects implementation will be closely monitored and details, including photos, are made available on-line, at http://ecoclub.com/award.html
Rainbow Retreat Wilderness Eco-Cabins, is a romantic eco retreat set on a private nature reserve on the north east coast of the island of Tasmania, south of Australia. Situated on St Patrick's Head, a famous geological formation, the lodge affords sensational coastal views. The property has been declared a Private Nature Reserve and has seventy five acres of regrowth bush which backs onto St Patrick's Head State Reserve. The owners Peter & Ian, sold their business in Melbourne, and moved to Tasmania to dedicate themselves to the environment. In various enclosures they house rehabilitated native animals that they hand rear before release, including Bennett Wallabies, Pademelon Wallabies, Wombats, Possums, Quolls and Tasmanian Devils. They receive these animals as orphaned or injured joeys who's mother have been injured or killed through land clearing or road kill, they go out daily and check all road kill for babies, if they find them they bring them back to the Lodge and check them for injuries then start them on rehabilitation. Peter & Ian also work along side local authorities including the Parks and Wildlife and Vets and the local community.
Pentre Bach is a multi - eco award-winning, quiet retreat, easily accessible where the mountains meet the sea in Wales's famous Snowdonia National Park. Pentre Bach dates back to the mid 18th century and two of the three cottages are from this period, surrounded by farmland, with magnificent sea views from two of them. Guests are welcome to walk around the vegetable and fruit growing areas. The facilities of the village are just 260 metres away. Margaret & Nick Smyth, the owners, have initiated many local environmental projects, are organic producers, and have won among other prizes, "Best B&B in Britain - BBC Radio 4's "The Food Programme" 1996", the Wales Tourist Board's "Taste of Wales Award" in 2000 and more recently the prestigious Wales Environmental Award for Sustainable Tourism in 2003. |
||
|
Home|Ecolodges|News|Shop|Community|Chat|Library|Events|Advertise|Join|Recommend |
||
|
Copyright © 1999-2005 ECOCLUB S.A. All Rights Reserved. |
||
CLUB
NEWS
