THE AUTHENTIC AMAZON BY CLAIRE KREDENS
I
t’s no secret that the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse and important ecosystems in the world and currently faces high rates of deforestation. These are two forces that do not mix— heavy deforestation causes extinctions we do not even know are happening, creates chain reactions of environmental disasters like floods, decreases carbon sequestration (giving us less protection against climate change), and changes weather patterns. It’s not all doom and gloom—one way to help conserve the Amazon is simply to visit it in a very responsible manner.
Photos by Claire Kredens
With all of this in mind, I chose to visit the Peruvian Amazon with Otorongo Expeditions during the wet season. It was the best three days I could have imagined; we saw sloths, prehistoric-looking birds, monkeys, boas, poison frogs, primary forest, and much more. Otorongo prides itself on promoting sustainable community development and providing authentic Amazon experiences with a small footprint on the forest. They do not condone activities that harm the forest or its creatures (like sloth selfies), rather, they expose visitors to opportunities to see animals in the wild.
When planning a trip to the Amazon, choosing a lodge, While I visited the Amazon to see its famous biodiversity tour, or activities that are and support sustainable sustainable, responsible, tourism efforts, I am glad and in the best interest of it was not entirely the the forest and communities pristine paradise advertised within it is of utmost by other tour companies, importance. Many lodges giving a false illusion that and tourist attractions in the forest is not under the Amazon take advantage threat. Otorongo promises of people wanting to see as the visitor the authentic much as they can during Amazon, and that is exactly their short trips with all what we got. the luxuries of home. This results in many animals We saw plastic in the being exploited via practices Amazon River where the like baiting, illegal capture pink and gray freshwater for paid wildlife interaction, dolphins swim, trees cut and their habitats being down for agriculture, and invaded with modern smoke coming from the (rather than sustainable) tree line in the distance. We stayed in one of three of Otorongo’s new and beautiful private infrastructure and Most memorably, while on bungalows built with recycled and long-lasting materials. See more on amenities. a boat excursion to search the new construction in their journal.
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greenliving | March 2020
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