CRISTALINO FOUNDATION

The lodge, together with other organizations such as Botanic Kew Gardens and Fauna and Flora International, supports the Cristalino Foundation, which is a Non-Profit-Organization located in the municipality of Alta Floresta, Brazil.

The main projects are focused in the buffer zones of the Cristalino State Park and are dedicated to the promotion of environmental awareness and the sustainable use of Amazon’s natural resources.

The main projects are:

SCHOOL OF THE AMAZON
This is a program with two main divisions - one destined to students from all over the world and the other to the local community. The latter is centered on teenagers from local schools and aim to increase their ecological awareness. This program received the Whitley Award in 2007 from the Whitley Awards Foundation, United Kingdom, as a recognition for its valuable work.

A DAY IN THE FOREST
This project brings local children to spend a whole day learning about the rainforest and its importance to their daily lives.

FLORA CRISTALINO
This is a research project focused on studying the forests in the Cristalino Region, being the first large program gathering information on this issue. It has already identified more than 700 species - three of them were new to science. Current list of species.

PEOPLE AND JAGUARS
This project was conceived by Silvio Marchinni and is destined to prevent the killing of jaguars, especially in the buffer zone of the Cristalino State Park.

FLAG SPECIES
This program uses the White-Whiskered-Spider-Monkey as an icon to raise ecological responsiveness with the children.

Tourism is not the only function of Cristalino. Our most important objective is to preserve the rain forest and to contribute to conservation efforts in part of the Amazon that is rapidly changing. With this in mind, we encourage and support certain scientific research projects in the area, and our Escola da Amazônia holds regular workshops at our hotel and forest fragment in Alta Floresta. These workshops cater mainly for high school and university students and aim to increase their awareness of environmental issues and respect for nature.

Sustainable Tourism at Cristalino Jungle Lodge

- Preservation of private rainforest land ( aprox. 26,000 acres- 10,500hectares) in the southern border of the Cristalino Park, that otherwise would be threatened by human activities;

- Work with the Ecotourism Development Program of the Brazilian Amazon (Proecotur) in order to build a long term ecotourism strategy for the whole region, including the fulfillment and management of the Cristalino Park;

- Minimum impact focus in the long run. The lodge has a sustainable long term objective;

• Infra-structure: simple and rustic style in harmony with the environment;

• Minimum impact over the forest as related to: size of the groups (maximum 10 at a time), noise, litter, not attracting wild animals by feeding; not allowing tourists to collect plants and seeds; stressing the use of canoes; rational use of linen and towels: tourists are invited to be part of the solution;

• Recycling trash;

• Composting for a small vegetable garden;

• Treated wastewater;

• Use of alternative power whenever possible: solar power for water heating and gas freezers. Low use of generator during some hours at night. We are searching for hydraulic power and other energy solutions.

- USD 25 from every tourist visitor to Cristalino Lodge is donated to the Cristalino Ecological Foundation

- FEC, which deals with preservation of forest areas and environmental education for the local community;

- Respect for the employees, with a strong and friendly relationship;

- All personal trained to be part of the ecotourism business;

- Fresh vegetables, fruit and other goods are provided by local farmers;

SUSTAINABILITY

The lodge has a serious approach to sustainable tourism, having the following initiatives:

PRESERVATION
Conservation of 24.000 acres of Private Primary Rainforest, which is connected to other conservation areas forming a huge corridor with millions of acres.

EDUCATION AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Support to education, preservation and research projects in the Cristalino Region through the Cristalino Ecological Foundation in partnership with Fauna & Flora International.

MINIMUM IMPACT
The following activities are held to promote minimum impact from our tourism activities:

- Composting of all organic disposal;

- Recycling of all non-organic material - alluminum, plastic, metal and paper - which is
separated and brought back to the local community to be recycled;

- Solar water heating for all rooms;

- Effluent grey-water treatment with organic system;

- Effluent black-water treatment with filters and evapo-transpiration system;

- Hydrokinetic energy generator which provides a small amount of power from the
river;

- Smart architecture buildings with wide windows and roof air-escapes, providing a
better air circulation inside the rooms;

- Use of biodegradable cleaning products

- Rational use of towels to avoid waste of water and energy

- Staff training programs related to the rational use of resources

- Use of canoes instead of motor boats when possible

- Use of organic fruits and vegetables when available

- Trail usage respecting the carrying capacity limits with a maximum of 8 people per
guide.

- Personalized guest experience with low impact through the limited number of only 20 rooms

- No feeding wildlife at no circunstances to avoid disturbance in the ecossistem

- Use of regional plants in the landscape design to prevent disturbance in the flora

- Responsible management of the Private Rainforest Reserve through the Cristalino Ecological
Foundation