Continued growth of Ecosystem Restoration Camps demonstrates increased demand for hands-on ecological experiences
• Camp-based ecological projects attract new breed of planet-conscious travellers
• Campers can choose from over 50 camps across all six continents
• Rapid growth demonstrates strong market for ecological restoration experiences
Ecosystem Restoration Camps (ERC) has reported significant growth in their camp-based ecological restoration projects. Aimed at a new breed of planet-conscious travellers, the camps offer short-term breaks and longer volunteer opportunities for those wanting to play their part in alleviating the climate crisis and practically contribute to environmental projects around the world.
Embracing a new trend of hands-on eco-tourism, ERC welcomes ordinary people seeking respite from the daily stressors of life whilst making a positive impact on the planet. Campers range in age and background – from millennials and the middle-aged to parents and professionals.
A far cry from the traditional “eco-warriors” and environmental activists of the past, the camps’ practical set up sees participants getting their hands in the soil to restore degraded ecosystems from the rainforests of Brazil to the mangroves of Kenya forests and wetland ecosystems.
The camps also function as “living labs” where campers and local people have the opportunity to learn from leading experts in ecosystem regeneration, biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, refine their practices and, most importantly, share them with the world via ERC’s global knowledge exchange platform.
Having opened their first camp in Spain in 2017, ERC has grown rapidly, with camps now in 55 countries across all six continents and a goal of having one million people come together to reverse ecological destruction and restore biodiversity in hundreds of camps globally by 2030.
To date the camps have contributed to the restoration of 8,962 hectares of degraded land, with more than 2,713,296 plants and trees planted by over 20,045 campers.
Describing ERC’s growth, Pieter van der Gaag, Director of Ecosystem Restoration Camps movement said:
“We empower ordinary, everyday people to take the lead in restoring the earth, working together to change the broken system ourselves rather than waiting for others to take action. Our rapid growth, the success of our restoration projects worldwide and the increasing demand for spaces at our camps demonstrate the growing market for this hands-on type of eco-tourism experience. It’s clear that as well as wanting to take time out from stressful lifestyles, ordinary people are also looking for ways to give back to the planet – and our short-term camp stays offer a practical and meaningful solution.”
ENDS
About Ecosystem Restoration Camps
Ecosystem Restoration Camps (ERC) is a non-profit organisation supported by thousands of donors from over 30 countries globally, with the camps supported by non-profits, Ecosystem Restoration Camps Foundation in the Netherlands, and ERC USA. ERC offers ordinary people the opportunity to discover personal efficacy in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, drought, poverty and hunger crises. The camps form living laboratories where methods are developed to restore and rehabilitate ecosystems, introduce regenerative uses of ecosystems, and educate people on these techniques. With the first camp opened in 2017, ERC now has 50 camps across all six continents, with a goal of having one million active participants in hundreds of camps by 2030. For more information and a list of camps worldwide please visit https://ecosystemrestorationcamps.org