New study indicates that ecotourism can only successfully support the conservation of orangutans and other seriously endangered animals if it brings in enough money to balance off logging earnings. Part of the revenues can also be used to help with initiatives to restore animals impacted by conflicts between humans and wildlife to their natural habitats.

It is becoming common knowledge how business establishments in many indigenous areas use the term “ecotourism,” but this tendency is not completely understood and is even misinterpreted by those driven only by profit.

Human-wildlife conflict occurs when humans and wildlife interact in ways that result in negative outcomes such as property destruction, disruption of livelihoods, and even death. Killing for self-defense or revenge has the potential to lead to the extinction of some species. This phenomenon is most common in areas where deforestation has occurred, causing more and more animals to be displaced from their natural habitats.

An update is required to address the significant changes in the concept of ecotourism by 2024. Responsible businesses have played an important role in changing the perception of ecotourism, which was previously exploited by profit-seeking individuals in 2016. If the study found that ecotourism benefits cheetahs, hoolock gibbons, golden lion tamarins, African wild dogs, great green macaws, Egyptian vultures, and African penguins, it is reasonable to expect that it will benefit orangutans and other critically endangered species in the Sumatra Islands, which have a human population of 60 million and a rainforest area of 16 million hectares.

Understanding and experiencing ecotourism cannot be accomplished solely by examining how the ecotourism industry operates; rather, to fully comprehend ecotourism, one must consider the impact of ecotourism today.

The impact of ecotourism on orangutans differed based on the scale of the endeavor. The positive effects of small-scale ecotourism were not enough to offset the main danger faced by orangutans, which is habitat degradation caused by logging activities. According to researchers, when the size of the operation increased, ecotourism had the capacity to generate an overall positive effect on populations. Previous research has shown that the main advantage of ecotourism is its ability to generate financial resources. These funds can be used to support conservation efforts that discourage logging or poaching.

If the financial benefits of ecotourism in a specific area outweigh those of logging, people will prioritize the protection of the forest in that area, consequently safeguarding the orangutans. The conservation of threatened species through ecotourism would be influenced by political factors as well. Although ecotourism has the potential to generate greater financial returns compared to a primary industry, its overall impact may still be overshadowed by the primary industry. This is contingent upon the control and distribution of funds within the industry, which is heavily influenced by power dynamics at a large scale. It is important to recognize that ecotourism is just a single component within this complex framework, according to Professor Buckley’s statement.

Based on my study of numerous NGOs, it is evident that their positive impact is not sustainable in the long term. Many of these organizations even struggle to survive due to their reliance on a manipulative internal culture as their primary means of soliciting donations. The exponential growth of human populations and the rapid progress in information and technology pose current challenges in the conservation of endangered species. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in developing nations like Indonesia face significant constraints imposed by government regulations and are often constrained by bureaucratic frameworks. Consequently, a considerable amount of resources allocated to various programs end up being squandered.

We have an ecotourism tour program that we will use to challenge the income from forest logging. Of course, this will take a long time, but as previously stated, in order to fully understand ecotourism, one must consider its impact as of today.

Price:

It is very important to understand that you will be starting your jungle trek from a degraded Leuser area surrounded by cleared land for palm oil plantationsm where wild orangutan, elephant, and tiger are there.

• 1 day jungle trekking to look for wild Sumatran elephants and orangutans, costs 100 EUR per person (min 2 people).
• 2 days and 1 night jungle trekking to look for wild Sumatran elephants and orangutans, costs 190 EUR per person (min 2 people).
• 3 days and 2 nights jungle trekking to look for wild Sumatran elephants and orangutans, costs 290 EUR per person (min 2 people).
• 4 days and 3 nights jungle trekking, costs 390 EUR per person (min 2 people).
• 5 days and 4 nights jungle trekking, costs 490 EUR per person (min 2 people).

We focus on quality, and you must inform us three days in advance for jungle tours (trekking) to see wild Sumatran elephants in Halaban. The activities inside Gunung Leuser National Park through Halaban will cover the exploration of biodiversity, especially the endemic species. During the activities, an expert on local wildlife will assist you with species identification. The price includes transportation (4 hours driving from Bukit Lawang to Halaban and 4 hours driving from Halaban to Bukit Lawang or 5 hours driving from Halaban to the airport), food, a tent, a guide, documentation during the expedition, and expertise on local wildlife. A nocturnal hike is included in all packages.