July 25 – August 8, 2010

Come join a small group of other conservationists for AlTo’s Eco‐Service tour to watch wildlife, work alongside local people, and help kick off a new trash management campaign in the world’s biodiversity epicenter.

Do you like to travel, but also want to make a positive difference in the places you visit? Want to work alongside villagers to benefit nature and people? Not afraid to get your hands dirty? (Don’t worry—you’ll wear gloves!) Then this trip is for you!

The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation, also known as Aliansi Konservasi Tompotika, or “AlTo,” is a non‐profit partnership dedicated to conserving and appreciating the unparalleled biodiversity and cultural heritage of the area around Mount Tompotika, Sulawesi, Indonesia. AlTo facilitates small group visits to tour Tompotika and participate in direct, people‐to‐people conservation activities. This year, AlTo’s eco‐service tour group will help to kick off a new trash management campaign in the region by partnering with local villagers in a “Pantai Bersih” beach clean‐up and awareness campaign aimed at addressing the growing problem of litter and marine plastic debris. This trip will be a combination of hard work picking up trash, and taking time to enjoy the natural wonders and people of Tompotika.

Celebrating Nature, Bringing People Together

AlTo’s eco‐service visitors get acquainted with the natural landscape of Sulawesi while also participating in on‐the‐ground conservation projects. The trip begins and ends in North Sulawesi, where we explore nature from our bases in gracious beach and garden resorts—the perfect bookends to our time in the otika area.
wilder, more rustic TompOur 15‐day trip includes:

• Hiking in Sulawesi’s lush native tropical rainforests
• Snorkeling (or diving) the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world
• Scouting beaches for nesting sea turtles
• Observing endangered maleo birds at their nesting ground
• Witnessing the nightly migration of huge flying foxes from their island roosting site
• Joining villagers in a series of "Pantai Bersih" beach clean-ups
• Taking part with villagers in celebratory Trash Awareness
• Campaigns with food, skits, and education about proper trash management
•  Swimming, birding, and relaxing in a tropical paradise

Sulawesi’s wild nature: unique and endangered

About half of Sulawesi’s vertebrate animals are found nowhere else in the world, and many of them are endangered. Through AlTo’s efforts, the endangered maleo bird – a striking bird that lays enormous eggs in a sandy communal nesting ground—is now recovering in Tompotika, andwe will observe these rare birds as they gather daily to lay their eggs. We will also join AlTo’s local staff in their nighttime patrols for nesting sea turtles. Other wildlife we are likely to see includes tiny primate tarsiers, endangered Sulawesi macaques, huge red‐knobbed hornbills, spinner dolphins, and myriad other species. But these species, humans, and the world’s ocean creatures are increasingly threatened by mounting piles of litter: plastic and other debdegrade natural lands and waters, choke wildlife, and threaten the health and welfare of wildlife and humans alike. In fact, the UNEP estimates that well over a million mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds are killed each year by plastic waste. During our Eco‐Service tour, we will stop at selected villages to join with locals in picking up trash in beach, forest, and village areas. After each clean‐up, we’ll all join together in light‐hearted but educational celebration aimed at introducing new trash management strategies in the area, which will be carried on by AlTo staff after the trip.

The Details

Dates: July 25 - August 8, 2010 (15 days)
Cost: $2900 per person, not including international airfare (usually $1200‐$2000), if registered prior to March 1. After March 1, $3000 per person. Limit 10 people. (Price assumes 10 people and double occupancy). Price includes all in‐country travel, meals, and accommodation. A $500 deposit is required to hold your space.
Leadership: The trip is led by AlTo Director Marcy Summers, a conservation biologist who has lived in Indonesia and speaks Indonesian, assisted by AlTo’s local Indonesian staff.

Join us ♦ Travel with a purpose!

For further information, contact:

The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation ♦ 21416 86th Ave SW, Vashon, WA 98070
(206) 463‐7720 ♦  ♦ www.tompotika.org