Kodkod

"If something is sustainable, it means we can go on doing it indefinitely. If it isn't, we can't"

Jonathon Porritt

Sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism" is often equated with nature or eco-tourism; but sustainable tourism development means more than experiencing the natural environment. It means proper consideration of host peoples, communities, cultures, customs, lifestyles, and social and economic systems. It is tourism that truly benefits those who are on the receiving end, and that does not exploit and degrade the environment in which they live and from which they must earn a living after the last tourist has flown back home. It is tourism that enhances the material life of local communities, without causing a loss of traditional employment systems, acculturation or social disruption.

Chile has been slow to take up the challenge of using tourism as a force for positive social and environmental change. In fact, Kodkod Meeting Place is the first company in Chile to get Sustainable Tourism certification. It is just recently becoming a priority, as the government recognizes that new models of tourism are needed to compete in the world tourism marketplace.

We are part of a growing network of small-scale enterprises in the Araucania, which includes trecking guides, hostels, tour services, and restaurants that embody the spirit of the sustainable tourism movement. The Araucania Ecotourism Network is helping to change the way tourism is done in the Araucania region, placing more emphasis on positive interactions with local culture and promotion of environmental protection.

Experience Kodkod meeting place

Kodkod Meeting Place is a wonderful place to unplug from city life. Leave the lecture hall or office behind for a few days, and do something completely different.

Our weekend breaks are aimed at students who have little time to spare from their studies, but are interested to see the incredible landscapes of the Araucania, and learn something about this unique ecosystem.

Tours

Wild Araucanía !

What is Smart Voyager?

Smart Voyager is a certification system developed by the Ecuadorian NGO Conservation and Development in the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador to improve the operational and ecological standards on cruise ships and hotels. Certification is based on thirteen principles of good practice which range from conservation of ecosystems to integrated waste management. For details, we suggest you look at their website.

These principles mark out a holistic framework for developing a tourism business that is both efficient and environmentally positive. The record-keeping that is involved also generates useful statistics that help to measure progress at meeting the sustainability targets.

These sustainability principles give form and structure to our activities at Kodkod. Copies of the documentation (in spanish) can be found by following the links below:

Kodkod Meeting Place Staff Manual

I. Company Policy

Policy statement

Company background

II. Conservation of Natural Ecosystems

Policy statement

Vegetable garden manual

Wildlife conservation plan

III. Reduction of Negative Impacts on the Environment

Policy statement

IV. Risk of Introduction and Extraction of Species and Conservation of Native/Endemic Species

Policy statement

V. Just and Fair Treatment of Workers

Policy statement

VI. Personnel Training

Policy statement

VII. Community Relations and Local Welfare

Policy statement

VIII. Strict Control in the Supply and Storage of Inputs

Policy statement

IX. Integrated Waste Management and Emissions Control

Policy statement

Waste managment guide

Organic waste management guide

X. Information for the Tourist

Policy statement

Text for guided woodland walk

XI. Security

Policy statement

Risk assessment

Procedure in event of emergency

Procedure in event of an earthquake

Procedure in event of a fire

How to use a wood stove

XII. Planning and Monitoring

Policy statement

Form (excel) for fire extinguishers

Form (excel) for staff protective clothing

Form (excel) for bathroom cleaning

Form (excel) for registration of cabin rentals

XIII. Quality Control

Policy statement

Customer survey questionnaire

Quality manual

Staff environmental programme

Form (excel) for capacity building

Calender

Annual training programme

Volunteering at Kodkod

We sometimes have opportunities for volunteering and practical work experience at Kodkod. There are a range of activities that you may expect to help with, ranging from fieldwork support for research projects, to participating in the everyday running of the park and vegetable gardens. We expect to have an ongoing programme of construction of new cabins, using natural building techniques, such as cordwood and living roofs. It would be useful to have volunteers to help with that.

The activities are constantly changing, so it is worthwhile to drop us an email if you are interested, so we can send you more details. We do ask that you are prepared to cover the cost of your own living expenses, as we have no budget, unfortunately for this.

Thesis students

If you at a university other than PUC in Santiago, you may still be able to base your thesis work here. We have successfully hosted an MSc thesis from Imperial College, London, and a DPhil. from Oxford University. We also have hosted practical experience students from Institut National Superieur des Sciences Agronomique, Dijon, France, and from Cambridge University, UK, and are always interested in new collaborations. If you are interested, you should first look at our research web page, and then drop us an email.

Horario

Temporada baja: Mayo-Septiembre