Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Inkaterra Sustainability Policy is based on:

• Defining and respecting authentic cultural, social and environmental values
• Creating opportunities for professional development
• Encouraging the recruitment and training of local staff
• Developing an ideal working environment that provides better living conditions
• Developing activities in accordance with current legislation
• Development of contingency plans for natural, social or financial disasters
• Raising awareness among partners, travelers and locals about environmental conservation
• Use of environmentally friendly products, maintenance and good communication with suppliers
• Efficient use of energy and water and proper waste management
• Developing continuous improvement in our management and process controls by minimizing negative impacts
• Identify the positive and negative impacts of human activities
• Offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the organization’s operations to achieve carbon neutrality.
• Be a replicable business model with low initial costs and high positive impact on local communities
• Believe that conservation is achieved through the sustainable use of natural resources
• Developing strategies to protect and restore ecosystems
  Promoting the development of local communities

The non-profit organization ITA started researching in 1978, in order to promote the conservation of Peru’s biodiversity and cultural resources.

• Committed to sustainable development
• Core objectives are the encouragement of scientific research and the promotion of responsible business models to benefit local communities
• ITA has been able to protect over 15,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in the low basin of Madre de Dios River (capturing 3’400,000 tons of carbon emissions), as well as ecosystems in Cuzco’s cloud forests
• These activities are supported by partnerships with National Geographic Society, Global Environment Facility (United Nations), Conservation International, World Bank, International Game Fish Association, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and other influential organizations
• ITA’s research program is self-funded through its ecotourism activities, which have provided 21 new species for science among orchids, amphibians, insects and liana
• A Spectacled Bear conservation program in Machu Picchu; bird and orchid studies; and a marine reserve at Cabo Blanco (Northern Peru) stand out among ITA’s current projects
• ITA’s mission is to preserve the nature and biodiversity for the benefit of the environment, local communities and future generations
• ITA’s vision is to strengthen research, restoration and conservation of biodiversity through sustainable development

ITA’S VALUES

1. Passion for conservation.
2. Actions in favor of sustainability, to ensure resources for future generations.
3. Constant innovation towards sustainable development.
4. Support on scientific research and awareness among local communities, as well encouraging education for future specialists, allowing the application of innovative methods during science projects.
5. Application of research on restoration and conservation, creating permanent value on biodiversity.
6. Free outreach of the information generated by ITA, as the comprehension of nature, is a universal right.
7. Sharing experiences through training, environmental education and participative, multidisciplinary activities.
8. Development of replicable low-cost production models that promote sustainable activities of high impact.
9. Integral support for the benefit of ecotourism.
10. Encouragement of strategic partnerships with organizations and associations with similar goals of ITA.

The preservation of natural resources, ecosystems and the environment is a subject that needs to be taught to communities. Especially to school children, so that sustainable development becomes part of the educational progress.

• Inkaterra Asociacion (ITA), dedicated to educating the future guardians of nature, has developed educational workshops on conservation for school children.
• The workshops combine knowledge and fun, through games, exhibitions, crafts and experiments, so that children have fun learning and discovering different topics related to environmental protection and biodiversity.
• ITA has established partnerships with prestigious institutions such as Markham College, with whom it develops programs to improve schools, such as helping to paint and furnish the indigenous community of Ese’eja Palma Real.
• ITA currently organizes an annual conservation education course in the district of Machu Picchu.

ITA develops research and conservation activities, constantly creating new ecotourism products as it is the most efficient strategy to protect the environment and economically develop local communities.

• Through training courses, it shares knowledge with (mainly young) professionals to specialize them in environmental interpretation, ecotourism, agroforestry, good practices, etc.
• This contributes to the development of a responsible and sustainable activity focused on the conservation of Peru’s most important ecosystems.

Examples for Training courses:

Tambopata

• “III Bird Banding Course”
• “IV Environment Interpretation Course for Ecotourism Guides”
• “Tropical Dendrology”

Machu Picchu

• “Introduction to Birdwatching Workshop”
• “Birdwatching Techniques Workshop”
• “Orchid Conservation at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Course”
• “Andean Bear Conservation Course”
• “Apiculture Course”
• “Bio Garden Development Workshop”

Cabo Blanco

• “Implementation of Good Practices in Touristic Activities”
• “Customer Service”
• “Implementation of Sport Fishing Sustainable Techniques”
• “Best Practices on Artisanal Fishing”

• The carbon monitoring program, established in 1989, is based on the establishment of four permanent sites.
• Carbon levels in soil and vegetation are monitored using a variety of methods.
• Studies by Oliver Phillips and Tim Baker have shown that the average carbon sequestered per hectare is 200 Tn/ha.
  This calculation excludes 25 tons of necromass, 70 tons of biomass.
• The strategic link with global academic institutions and organizations is of great benefit to ITA. Every three years, the University of Leeds research team conducts carbon monitoring in the Amazon rainforest.
• According to these calculations, ITA has sequestered 3,000,000 tons of carbon in the forest, proving that Inkaterra’s tourism activities are CO2 neutral

ITA Scholarship

• Starting in 2011, a scholarship program for scientific research has been created.
• The program has been developed without relying on external funding, only with its own efforts and the support of Inkaterra Peru S.A.C..
• As ITA finds other sources of funding, the number of students who will benefit from this program will increase.
• Research takes place at the Casa ITA field station (Tambopata), located 17 km from Puerto Maldonado on the left bank of the Madre de Dios lowland river.
• A bi-annual scholarship has been established for subjects such as biology, forestry and environmental engineering, ecotourism, and other related professions according to the call.
• The scholarship consists of financing the scholar’s stay at Casa ITA for the period determined by his or her activity plan, with a maximum duration of 24 months.
• Two scholarships have been awarded so far
• The call for the next scholarship will be published on the ITA website.

• Volunteering is an alternative way of traveling that gives you a deeper experience of the local culture and environment.
• ITA offers the opportunity to participate in activities that help counteract aggression against nature by contributing to conservation, research, social development and education.
• Volunteering also helps fund ITA’s projects.
• The list of activities for volunteers is carried out in the biological station Casa ITA, located in the Amazon rainforest in Madre de Dios.
• Since 2004, Casa ITA has been a place of learning for professionals and young people interested in conservation, research and ecotourism.

ITA offers an intense and total immersion experience in the Amazon forest that is as educational as it is fun. This is achieved through a carefully prepared program and interaction with technical teams, as well as working with researchers who offer lectures and demonstrations of the work being done.