Ecotourism is a means of making a profit from the rainforest without destroying it. Indigenous people can earn an income and maintain their cultural integrity. Ecotourism is extremely important to the indigenous people and conservation of the Amazon Rainforest.
In 1993, Tropic Ecological Adventures and the Huaorani people developed Ecotourism programs. The Huaorani and Tropic developed a joint program to bring visitors to the territory of one of their communities on the upper Shiripuno River, the community in which Moi lives. Recently, other Huaorani communities have joined Tropic in this joint ecotourism venture. Tropic's ecotourism programs involve an exploration of both primary and secondary rainforest in the company of Moi and a bilingual naturalist guide. This is a way for the world to see the rainforest through the eyes of people who have lived there nearly forever. It allows the Huaorani to make a profit while sharing their culture with the world. It will let people see the beautiful land and culture the oil companies have been destroying for so many years.
Another organization working to preserve the rainforest through ecotourism is Amazon Funedesin, Foundation for Integrated Education and Development. It is a non-profit organization, which was founded in 1991 to help the people of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Yachana Lodge which is located on Napo River in the Ecuadorian Rain Forest, sustains and supports Fundesin's work by providing a source of income for the foundation's projects while offering visitors a way to see the rainforest.
Yachana produces tropical jams and other products, from fruit grown in permaculture, in their food-processing house, for sale in Ecuador and for export. Profits from this go to support Mondaņa Health Clinic, which was established to provide services to the communities on the Rio Napo. The Health Clinic is open and serving the 6,000 people of the region. Their farm promotes organic agriculture and is the primary source of food for guests.
