By working with Rainforest Concern, we encourage people to visit the extraordinary Amazon rainforest and help to protect this threatened natural habitat and the indigenous people that live there.
When people book with Andean Trails, we ask them to donate to Rainforest Concern – a registered charity in the UK – to help to protect the amazing areas that are being visited, or to offset their carbon with Rainforest Concern’s Forest Credits carbon offsetting scheme.
Biodiversity
The world’s tropical rainforests are the richest and most diverse habitats on earth. They represent a vast reservoir of knowledge and contain a wealth of ecosystems and wildlife, with many species still undiscovered. Rainforest Concern was established in 1993 to protect threatened natural habitats, the biodiversity they contain and the indigenous people who still depend on them.
Central to Rainforest Concern’s philosophy is the establishment of strong partnerships with small yet dynamic organisations in the countries where it operates. Such long-term partnerships have repeatedly shown to result in the continued success of projects.
Conservation work
This sometimes includes the purchase of land, usually in the name of the local NGO or the local communities. Emphasis is placed on the creation of forest ‘corridors’ that connect existing protected areas, avoiding the risk of fragmentation and enabling species to move freely from one to another. Programmes of alternative income generation, health and education are developed with the local communities living near the projects.
These are designed to reduce the negative human impact on forests arising through, for example, cattle ranching and subsistence farming. It also has well established volunteer programmes. These include groups of gap year students as well as mature volunteers who work on projects that include tree planting, trail maintenance and data collection.
Carbon offsetting
Rainforest Concern’s Forest Credits, is a not for profit carbon offset programme, running and managing Rainforest Concern’s own offset projects. This well established programme protects threatened areas from deforestation. Forest Credit’s current priority is the Neblina Reserve, in North West Ecuador. The cloud forest is part of a larger plan, the Choco-Andean Corridor Project, to create a biological corridor in one of the most biodiverse regions of the world.
The carbon offsetting program has the aim to not just offset carbon but also to protect endangered habitats and species; protect the important water storage the forest provides, that helps regulate the climate; and protect the local communities who have always relied on these forests. Forest Credits are independently assessed and audited in line with IPCC methodologies.
You can calculate and offset the carbon emissions for your trip, or find out more about Forest Credits by visiting www.forestcredits.org.uk
Or let us know if you’d like us to offset with Rainforest Concern’s Forest Credits programme, and we’ll offset on your behalf. Rainforest Concern will send you a Forest Credits certificate acknowledging the offset.
Work in the UK
Rainforest Concern operates an ‘acre sponsorship’ programme to encourage the public to become directly involved in rainforest conservation.
The GBP 25 per half acre requested, goes towards purchase and protection of rainforest at one of our projects.
Andean Trails donates annually to Rainforest Concern.
Please visit the Rainforest Concern website or contact us for more information.
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info@andeantrails.co.uk
After an initial chat on the phone, Tom received our general brief for a month-long trip to Patagonia, to include a few specific places and activities with an emphasis on trekking. His first comprehensive draft arrived soon after. Subsequently, it was a joy to work with Tom as he swiftly and effectively amended the plan to reflect our evolving appreciation of where we were heading. Nothing seemed too much trouble, repeat questions included. The result was a relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable introduction to South America. The itinerary was thorough and well briefed, the travel arrangements practical. All the necessary paperwork and ticketing clear and correct. There was never a hitch, doubt or wasted day. The in-country agents were also on the ball and supportive on the occasion we made a minor change at short notice. No drama, no problem. We recommend Andean Trails, and Tom, without reservation and aim to use their services again. We heard about Andean Trails from family & by reading travel books. (On spotting a puma on the Paine W trek) The puma was around the Central hotel area on our way up to the Torres, initially seen as two green eyes in the dark at about 30m. We waited at the hotel until half light, tried again only to face it coming aound the corner here. We finally continued 15 minutes later passing it lying in the grass about 20m off the path. Seen by others up to an hour later. One of a pair apparently. Kind of (not) cuddly!
Lars and Susie Smith » Self-guided Torres del Paine W Trek
We had a great time. All arrangements were smooth and the guides all great - Jorge in Quito, Gabriel in Mindo and Sebastian for our hiking week. We had walks on the Cotopaxi paramo, and great lunches! And we had another great walk around Quilotoa crater. Our week cruising on Tip Top II in the Galapagos was everything we could have asked for, a fantastic time. Thanks again for organising this trip.
