Since July 2009, the Gili Eco Trust has extended his activities towards the land ecology and nature protection. It is a big step forward and it goes through a lot of issues and frustrations but we want to carry one. We have figured out very quickly that we have to involve everyone from Gili Islands and that all our projects will start by a long phase of education first of all.
Our priority for 2010 is the rubbish system: selection, collection and treatment. Therefore education of the local population about rubbish selection and offer them different solutions to stop burning garbage and start feeling responsible of their acts towards their own rubbish.
The Gili Eco Trust has first made a partnership with FMPL (local rubbish collection and treatment company on Gilis). This has allowed FMPL to focus on their job and we could renovate the rubbish dump and look for sustainable solutions which will fit in Gilis. We are now establishing a partnership with Eco Bali as they have great experience regarding waste management and sustainable solutions. We want to ban the plastic bags, we want to recycle, to reduce the amount of rubbish, to educate local people as much as tourist to feel responsible of their own trash, we want to continue our monthly clean up day program with the gili diveshopes, etc.
Another issue is the erosion on Gilis due to cutting trees either on the beach or on Gili Trawangan hill. So we have started a vetiver grass program with the local school and some of our sponsors. This grass has got amazing deep roots which hold the soil and sand and avoid beach erosion or land slides.
For more information please check on www.vetiver.org
We are also working closely with the turtles conservation program from Dino's Cafe and Kokomo. We want the best for these little creatures so we are working on improving their water circulation system with the most sustainable system. Thanks to SPI, Solar Power Indonesia, for their accurate advice and support.
After many emails and complaints about the condition of the working horses on the island, we started a free horse clinic on Gili Trawangan, together with help from Sabine at Umalas stables in Bali. And we want to do more for them.
We also organize cat sterilization programs as the Gili Islands are overpopulated by cats.
Find out more details about our eco-projects in this part of our website