Kosrae scuba diving resort in Micronesia
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
For our yard we use a solar energy night light, while power for the buildings is from Kosrae Utility Authority. The European Union has recently installed a solar panel system to supplement the Kosraen grid. We use Earth Bulbs (Green Ribbon Program). We ask our guests on an individual level to help us in promoting sustainable development of Kosrae and minimize their use of energy. We ask them to switch off the lights, air conditioner and electric appliances when not needed. We also ask that guests re-use their towels.
We have septic tanks for waste water. We only use phosphate-free washing soaps to reduce the impact of waste containers. We provide our guests with organic cotton towels and sheets, and environmental friendly bath soaps (Environmental Sensitive Amenities). We also have a rain water catchment system. Our environmental, economic and social policies include a pledge to help recycle waste materials, conserve energy, protect the mangrove forest and monitor the health of the ocean. We encourage the consumption of local foods and local produce and promote new eco-friendly investments. As we live on a small island in the middle of the Pacific, we wish to protect our environment from mangrove destruction and global warming.
We have recycling baskets outside each cottage and encourage guests to separate waste for recycling. Our tourists are informed about our environmental policy since their arrival (verbally and with a booklet inside the room). They use the recycling bins to separate their trash during their visit in Kosrae, respect the ocean and do not leave rubbish bags lying around. We are paving our resort using the glass bottles that tourists have discarded. These bottles, instead of going to full the landfill, will be forever part of our resort. Furthermore, the island is cleaner and the beach and coral reef are safer from dredging. We are actively involved in the conservation of Kosrae ocean (KIRMA), mooring buoy project. We are an official Project Aware operator to monitor Kosrae reefs and to protect them from drastic decline.
Community
We have a long-term commitment to operate our business in a manner that is beneficial to the sustainable development of wonderful Kosrae. We only employ local people. We currently we have 14 members of staff, who all are from Kosrae (Tafunsak and Lelu village). We buy local produce when possible and we use only local services.
We are part of Micronesia Eco Inc. recycling project. Local residents sell the glass bottles, cans, plastic bottles and batteries to Micronesia Eco Inc. and get 5 cents for each item. For some locals that's the main personal income and every week there are hundreds of residents coming to sell the recovered material. While there is a market for aluminium, plastic and lead materials there is no demand for crushed glass. We started using the crushed glass stacked in the warehouse for paving our resort and we are showing the community how it's possible to use crushed glass as aggregate in the cement and they can get the glass for free, while they have to pay for sand.
We donate money to finance local cultural events on a regular basis. We volunteer and help with equipment during clean up days. With Micronesia Grand Tour we organize all sorts of mountain and ocean eco-activities showing our guests the beauty and the ancient culture of the island. There is no public transport in Kosrae, but we can arrange an island cultural tour with a local guide or our guests can rent mountain bikes, kayaks or a canoe to explore the island. Kosraen handcrafts can be purchased in our gift shop.
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