All of the Sinharaja Rainforest needs your help and there are lots of things which you can do:

Here we will provide ideas that can have a diverse affect on the profit-hungry moguls who see our rainforest as their own money bank.

Write to your local MP.

Write to UNESCO, WWF, GREENPEACE, any ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP.

Write to your local papers, TV and Radio.

Talk to other people about the issue, and persuade them to get involved.

We define ecotourism as responsible travel that promotes the conservation of natural areas and sustains the well-being of local people.

Many tour operators and travel agencies use the term ecotourism to describe their operations. There are organizations that 'certify' ecotourism operators. However, many of these projects do little to conserve nature or to benefit local people.

Specific criteria that guarantee that they are true ecotourism projects, including:

• a majority of net profits must be returned to conservation efforts
• local involvement, input, support and benefits from the ecotourism project
• no extraneous ecological or social damage
• scientifically tested approaches to wildlife observation that are safe to animal and human
• respect to local cultures and values
• above average visitor satisfaction
  

Motivation of private travel companies is profit - as it is in any other sector. The problem is that pressure to increase profits does not lead to sound long-term planning or sustainable development.

So next time when book a holiday for eco-tourism, Please find out what is that company doing to help the conservation effort and the local people before you book your holiday. And please look around the projects they are funding.