Cusco Clubhouse Environmental Campaigns

URUBAMBA RIVER CLEANUP IN THE SACRED VALLEY - The SAE clubhouses organized every year a clean up of the Urubamba River which normally takes place in September. In the past, we´ve had nearly 300 volunteers take part, collecting a whopping 25 tonnes of rubbish!

Before....

After!

Although the clean-up is an important event, bringing together local authorities, tourism operators and SAE members to clean the river, if it is to stay clean, a more sustained campaign is needed to educate both locals and tourists alike of the need to be responsible and carry out all their trash, as well as recycling paper, plastic, glass and tin. SAE has a recycling center, and i working on a ´keep our natural areas clean´ campaign with local authorities. WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!!! Both short- and long-term volunteer opportunities are available. Contact us at the address below if you are interested.

QOYLLOR RIT´I CLEANUP - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY !!! June 7th through 9th is the religious festival of Qoyllor Rit´i - thousands of local religious pilgrims and international visitors will make the trek to the Sinakhara peak, in the district of Osangate. Many of these visitors, unfortunately, do not carry out their trash, and so they leave a very large mess behind. The Natural Resources Dept. of the Regional Government of Cusco is organizing an educational campaign and a post-festival cleanup on June the 10th, and is looking for volunteers to help both during the festival and on 10th. This is a great oppotunity for those who´d like to see this traditional festival and also give something back.

KEEP OUR TREKS CLEAN - ¨Leave no Trace¨ Pledge. Unfortunately, not all trekkers or even trekking agencies, have the same idea of responsible tourism, and the alternative Inca trails often do not have the same level of governmental control as does the official Inca Trail itself. So it is up to us to provide a good example, and to help educate others to make sure that Ausangate, Salkantay, Choquequirao and the many other beautiful trekking trails are keep as pristine as possible.

As part of our campaign, we will be asking all of our members and other trekkers as well to take a pledge to follow the ´Leave no Trace¨ Ethic. This includes the following ten points:

1. Plan ahead and prepare - so that you know the trail and its regulations well.

2. Camp and travel on durable surfaces only - also avoid trampling flowers or crops, and make your campsites at least 200 ft (70 m) away from trails, water sources, and archeological sites. Ask permission from local landowners before camping.

3. Dispose of waste properly - practice the ´carry in and carry out again´ philosophy, leaving no trash behind. Make sure your porters and arrieros (horse men) do the same. Bring extra plastic bags and gloves to clean up campsites. NEVER ´go to the bathroom´ near trails or campsites - walk at least 300 ft (100 m) away. Bring along a small trowel to dig a ´latrine hole´ to properly bury human wastes, and carry all toilet paper out in plastic bags - don´t simply leave it to flutter in the wind.

4. Leave what you find - don´t take ´souvenirs´ from archeological or natural sites.

5. Minimize campfire impacts - use established rings, or even better, small gas camp stoves (so that you´re not cutting trees or branches for firewood). Make sure fires are completely burned out, and dispose of ashes by dispersing and covering with sol.

6. Respect wildlife - NEVER feed or pursue birds or other wildlife.

7. Respect local communities and other visitors - travel in small groups, avoid loud displays, and don´t encourage begging along the trails or bad dental hygiene by giving away sweets (it´s better to give small notebooks or pencils instead.)

For more information on any of these campaings or volunteer opportunities, please email cuscoenvironment@saexplorers.org

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