Eco-tourism initiatives are providing alternative livelihoods for individuals previously involved in activities such as fishing and logging, according to a Condé Nast Traveller report. These projects aim to address the root causes of harmful environmental practices by offering new economic opportunities.
Project Hiu, founded in 2018 by Australian filmmaker Madison Stewart, hires fishermen and their boats in East Lombok, Indonesia, for tourist activities like snorkelling and sailing. The project, which includes approximately 80 fishermen and 15 boats, also supports shark tagging and research. Stewart stated that the goal is to provide genuine alternatives and fair pay, which has enabled two former shark fishermen to attend university.
Similar initiatives are underway in other regions. In the Philippines, Ruben Gianan, a former logger, now works as a veteran ranger at Masungi Georeserve. In Tanzania, Anderson Mgesi, who grew up in a village where bushmeat fed his family, became a guide at Usangu Expedition Camp after studying at Mkuyu Wildlife School. Additionally, Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia trains and employs former snare-setters to combat illegal logging and poaching in the Cardamom Mountains.