Misool Eco Resort is deeply committed to a policy of environmental and social responsibility. We seek to provide exceptional and enriching experiences in a sustainable environment. We aim to protect and revitalize both our natural surroundings and the community in which we operate. We are committed to demonstrating to our hosts, our guests, and the local government that tourism can support a local economy with much more favourable terms than mining, logging, overfishing, or shark finning.

Conservation:

• with the full cooperation of the local community, we've established a 200 sq km Marine Protected Area (no-take zone) surrounding Misool Eco Resort
• we regularly patrol the area for illegal fishing and shark finning
• the Misool Conservation Centre is being registered as a UK-charity, and will provide a well equipped, functional base for scientific research and conservation projects, both social and environmental

Building: we've enginereed our structures to be as low impact as possible, both during building and operation.

• MER uses sustainable sources of wood. With the exception of a few furniture samples and plywood, all the wood used to build our resort has been salvaged hardwoods. Our team has excavated driftwood buried under beach sand, and then milled every single piece by hand in our portable saw mill.
• this wood has been purchased directly from the local people rather than logging conglomerates.
• most of the fine carpentry work, such as making doors, windows, and furniture, is done locally. We supply the carpenters with our own eco-lumber.
• our pier has been constructed with salvaged 22-inch metal pipe.
• we've engineered our structures for a balance between energy efficiency and using natural, environmentally appropriate materials:

• our cottages use natural thatch roofing. It's a locally made product, and an excellent insulator.
• the cottages have deep verandahs and low roof lines, decreasing the amount of solar heat which enters the building.
• the steeply pitched roofs and open eaves create a natural ventilation system.
• cavity walls are insulated with coconut fibres and treated with borax, a natural termite deterrent.
• we've eliminated the use of toxic paint by sealing both the exterior and interior walls of our structures with a plaster made with local sand
• whenever possible, we use natural finishing products such as teak oil rather than varnishes and chemical sealants

this is our thatch roofing, commissioned in Seram. The next step is to lay it out into strips and dry it. Then it's ready for putting on the roof!

Energy: we're doing what we can to minimise our consumption of fossil fuels.

• we have sourced low consumption appliances such as air conditioners, fans, and lights
• we are currently experimenting with a wind turbine. We've successfully rigged one small one to power the staff bungalows.
• we also experimenting with solar panels. We now have a small panel powering the Dive Centre in the evenings, cutting down the number of hours our generator runs
• we hope to switch over to biodiesel soon using locally produced coconut oil

Water: water is very scarce at Misool Eco Resort, and we ask our guests and staff to do their part in minimising its consumption. We'd like to decrease our dependence on water sources off our island.

• we have drilled our own well, and also installed a desalination unit.
• we've installed dry toilets and water-saving shower heads and taps
• rather than washing linens and towels daily, we will wash them only when requested

Waste: we are operating in a very fragile eco-system, and we're trying to create a closed loop

• grey water from the showers goes through our waste water garden cleaning flower beds before being recycled for our gardens
• black water gets moved to our composting area on the far side of the island to make compost
• we compost all our kitchen scraps, which makes great fertilizer for our organic kitchen gardens. And it keeps the monitor lizards happy
• we don't use pesticides or herbicides. We spritz our plants and trees with an unsavoury mix of tobacco and water. Bugs don't like it either
• inorganic matter is returned to Sorong for proper recycling and disposal
• each of our guest cottages is furnished with a dry toilet. Water is in short supply at Misool Eco Resort, and flush toilets consume more than 40% of household water. Don't worry, it's more than just a fancy outhouse. It's clean, and completely odour-free
• we will minimise the amount of toxins released into our waste system by supplying our guests and staff with biodegradable soaps and shampoos
• our island will be free of disposable plastic water bottles. Guests will be given a sterilised reusable water bottle, refilled at no cost with safe drinking water
• we ask our guests to think carefully when they're packing and leave disposable plastic lighters, plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc, at home
• we intend to offer a carbon-offsetting option with our holiday packages

People: the conservation of this delicate ecosystem is critical for a multitude of reasons, including the survival and wellbeing of its human inhabitants. The local community is a subsistence economy, existing on a very slim economic margin. We truly believe that the conservation of this area is absolutely vital to the economic and cultural survival of Raja Ampat's indigenous people.

• we've contracted the land for Misool Eco Resort directly from the Yellu, the local village 14 miles to the northwest of our resort island.
• the majority of our labour comes from Yellu
• whenever possible, we buy locally

• we offer favourable employment terms, approved by the local department of labour as well as our workers themselves
• all of our workers are offered health insurance for themselves and their families
• we offer many opportunities for advancement as well as job training and English lessons
• we educate our local staff on the importance of conservation
• our local staff educate our management on local remedies, traditions, wildlife patterns, secret lagoons, etc

photo by justin ebert

We'll be adding and amending this page as new challenges arise - keep checking back to see our progress.