Chalalán is an eco-lodge in the heart of Madidi National Park that is owned and operated by an indigenous group. In the 1990s, community leaders recognized that ecotourism represented a sustainable livelihood option for the community capable of replacing environmentally damaging practices and reducing out-migration. Chalalán provides lodging transport, and guide services. The enterprise combines modern business management principles with traditional activities.
In 2008, Chalalan Albergue Ecológico won the Equator Prize which is awarded biennially to recognize outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This video was created as part of our Biodiversity for Local Livelihoods project.