Hacienda Tranquila’s mission is to improve both the environmental and social situations of the Galapagos
Hacienda Tranquila, a project that reconciles the conflict between man and nature by promoting sustainability.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Geovanny
Last Name
Sarigu
Organization
hacienda tranquila
Country
Ecuador, W
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
hacienda tranquila
Organization Website
Organization Phone
593-52-521732
Organization Address
Via a playaman, San Cristobal, Galapagos
Is your organization a
For‐profit
Organization Country
Ecuador, W
Your idea
Name Your Project
Hacienda Tranquila’s mission is to improve both the environmental and social situations of the Galapagos
Country your work focuses on
Ecuador, W
Describe Your Idea
Hacienda Tranquila, a project that reconciles the conflict between man and nature by promoting sustainability.
Would you like to participate in the MIF Opportunity 2010?
No
Innovation
What makes your idea unique and innovative?
Hacienda Tranquila is where people go to help strengthen the human and natural communities of the Galapagos by day, and to soak up the cultural and natural beauty of the islands by night (and weekend).
Hacienda Tranquila is defined by the work its volunteers do to. Our mission is to strengthen the environment and community simultaneously. Virtually all volunteer programs in the Galapagos focus solely on the environment and neglect the problems of the people. The small number of organizations that do address social issues pay no attention to the environment. Hacienda Tranquila is different. We are the only project in the Galapagos that works with community, environmental, and social issues. Our volunteers tackle social and environmental issues as one
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had on your clients and the tourism sector?
Carbon sequestration: The project has planted 750 trees, two types of species Manzanillo & Matarzarno that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Of this quantity, 250 are Manzanillo, each tree capturing 470 kilograms per year, and 500 are Martazarno, each tree capturing 148 kilograms per year helping to capture 191 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.
Problem
The Galapagos are under siege from invasive species. Invasives overrun small farms destroying livelihoods, and they choke out the endemic forests which Galapagos tortoises, mockingbirds, and finches depend on for survival & Per year 170,000 thousand tourists visit Galapagos and each person produces on a journey by plane 144kg of Co2
Actions
By 2020, we aim to have rehabilitated all of the Hacienda’s 50 hectares, which will cover three endemic ecosystems – the transitional zone (between the arid lowlands and the upper moist zones), the miconia zone, and the escalesia zone. Once all the land is restored, Galapagos tortoises will be reintroduced.
Furthermore, our volunteers help local farmers clear invasive plants from their farms.
Community Work – Every week, children from INFA (the local equivalent to family services) come to the Hacienda to hike, horseback ride or play games with the volunteers. At the same time these kids are enjoying the outdoors, they are being instilled with environmental education. This should hopefully manifest in more sustainable habits, livelihoods, and ways of thinking as the kids mature.
Local disabled people come to the Hacienda to receive free therapy using horseback riding (hippo-
Results
The Hacienda Tranquila local staff and volunteers from over 10 countries worldwide are proud of the diverse range of environmental accomplishments that they have pioneered during its four years of operation. These accomplishments include reforestation of 150 hectares of highly vulnerable abandoned agricultural land; helped 50 farmers remove invasive species from their lands; replaced an aging eight km water pipeline for the community; refurbished an elementary school; sequestered 191 tons of carbon; and provided an educational and therapeutic outdoor escape for 180 disadvantaged children on the San Cristobal Island, Galapagos.
Reforestation: They have planted 1,855 trees in three different areas of the island to protect endangered species, and we have created a nursery with 2,650 plants to be transplanted and distributed to schools and farmers in the community. We proudly help to restore native and endemic forests to increase the natural harmony and tranquility of the island.
Agriculture: The program is helping 15 families (50 people) of the community to recover their abandoned farms. The local staff and volunteers help cultivate their farms so they can supply with organic
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Each year, the local workers and international volunteers that comprise Hacienda Tranquila accomplish better conservation work and contribute to improving sustainable development of this fragile environment. The managers added more rooms to the guesthouse to accommodate more volunteers, forged new partnerships with large volunteer organizations to increase their human capital, and the increased manpower contributed to a significant expansion of the onsite endemic plant nursery.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
No human capital.
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$1000 - 4000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy or introduce models and tools that benefit the tourism sector in general?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
In what country?
Ecuador, W
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Hacienda Tranquila
How long has this organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
No partnerships.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1.New partnerships with large volunteer organizations 2.Increase their human capital, and 3.increased manpower contributed to a significant expansion of the onsite endemic plant nursery
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
It is time to get to work and start making a difference!
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Hacienda Tranquila is a small organization located on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos that has already received recognition from Municipality of San Cristobal, Galapagos National Park & Ministry of Tourism for its unique approach to socio-environmental improvement and learning.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Friend or family member
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
Ecuador Adventure
 | 20 weeks ago P P said: This is the place to go if you're looking to work with machetes all day, everyday for 5 hours a day. The "manager", Geovanny, writes a ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 138 weeks ago Geovanny Sarigu submitted this idea. |
