Hello everyone! As mentioned in the previous post, we will be talking about ecotourism destinations or attractions that will not only do better for the environment but for people as well. For this post, we would like to introduce you to Feynan Ecolodge in Jordan!
Feynan Ecolodge is located in the Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan. It was built by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in 2005 and has been operated by a local Jordanian company, EcoHotels since 2009
Sustainability and Conservation
The lodge is run under a 5 pillar ethos:
- Offer guests unique and authentic experiences
- Contribute to the conservation work of Dana Biosphere Reserve
- Benefit and empower the local community
- Minimize the environmental footprint of all operations and activities
- Provide environmental awareness, education and interpretation to guests, staff and local community
The main aim of this ecotourism project is to use tourism revenues for sustainability and conservation efforts of the area. The Dana Biosphere Reserve is the 2nd largest reserve in Jordan and accounts for half of Jordan’s mammal and bird species so a significant portion of lodge’s revenues funds RSCN’s conservation efforts of the reserve.
Minimizing its impact on the surrounding environment is also an important factor. This can be seen through the careful planning and design of the ecolodge and the way it is run. Firstly, the lodge’s infrastructure is designed with a courtyard linked to outer patios that provide soft breezes and shady spots, as well as perpendicular outcrops on the facade to shade outer surfaces while providing an aesthetically pleasing aspect. All this is done to reduce the impact of the hot desert temperatures of the lodge and a reduced need for air-conditioning and electricity use.
Also, 100% of the electricity at the lodge is solar energy and derived from photovoltaic panels on the rooftop. In the winter, heating is organically derived from waste from olive pressing, also known as jift. It is burned in 2 fireplaces to provide warmth, while preserving Jordan’s trees that need not be cut down for firewood and using the by-product of Jordan’s annual olive harvest.
Water is also obtained from natural sources; the local spring water near Wadi Dana. Meanwhile, waste from the lodge is composted and transformed into organic fertilizer and recycling of paper and plastic is encouraged, although the use of plastic is minimized at Feynan. Overall, the electricity and water use is restricted to certain levels to ensure the lodge’s environmental sustainability and that there is no unnecessary wastage.
Social responsibility at its core
More than just being conserving the environment, a significant aim of the lodge is to benefit the local Bedouin community. All the staff at the lodge are employed from the community and creates income and livelihoods for them, which can alleviate the poverty they experience. This also adds to a more authentic experience for guests as interactions with the locals allows for tourists to learn more about the place and the people. It is particularly through the many workshops, such as candle-making and leather workshops, that tourists can interact and learn from the local Bedouin people.
The food at the lodge is also locally sourced, such as the bread that is baked by the local Bedouin woman who runs a bakery. Artisan crafts and artworks are also displayed and showcased by locals, which can not only be purchased and provide an income for them, tourists will also be able to learn a great deal about their culture and lives!
The ethos, principles and practices that Feynan Ecolodge adopts are what we hope the rest of the tourism industry, especially mass tourism, will work towards. Not just for environmental conservation but also for the wellbeing of local communities and people in general. This is especially since we have learnt so much about how the pollution from tourism can adversely affect peoples’ health in more ways than one.
It would most certainly be a challenge for tourism as ecotourism projects and practices can be costly and requires significant coordination. Nonetheless, it is a challenge worth trying.
References
‘Feynan Ecolodge’ n.d., Jordan Tourism Board, viewed on 8 November 2020, https://www.myjordanjourney.com/social-enterprise-feynan-ecolodge
‘Feynan Ecolodge – Luxury Ecotourism in Jordan’ 2019, The Unending Journey, online image, viewed on 8 November 2020, https://theunendingjourney.com/feynan-ecolodge-jordan/