Central America is a region of extraordinary ecological diversity and deep cultural heritage, featuring lush rainforests, vibrant coral reefs, and ancient civilizations. The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) supports conservation projects in this area to protect its unique natural and cultural assets from environmental threats and cultural erosion. By funding initiatives throughout Central America, we aim to ensure that local communities and adventure travelers can continue to benefit from and enjoy the region's rich biodiversity and cultural legacy.

Award: 20,000 Funded: 2018

The ATCF funding is being sought to construct a field base, upgrade the FCD research headquarters, equip the field teams, promote citizen science participation and train field technicians. The field base will be located at a strategic anchor point for FCD rangers, researchers, volunteers and other visitors. Upgrade of the research headquarters will occur at Las Cuevas Research Station which will support a presence of staff involved in hand rearing of scarlet macaws.

Award: $10,000 Funded: 2021

The  project  aims  to  promote  traditional  knowledge and  agroforestry  revitalization  towards contributing  to  sustainable  food  systems  in  the  archipelago and  linking  community-based tourism. Two  ways  to  combat  and  mitigate  impacts  of  climate change:  restoration  of  ecosystems and  reduction  of  GHG  emission  related  to  the  supply chain  of  food  systems  in  the  islands, through  the  diversification  of  tourism  products  and the  implementation  of community-managed  nursery.

Award: $30,000 Funding: 2017

The Coral Reef Conservation Project is strengthening the conservation of 686,767 acres of natural protected areas with coral reefs on Mexico’s Pacific coastline by improving coral reef monitoring, visitation management and legal protections for coral reefs in six protected areas(Cabo Pulmo, Huatulco, Isla Espiritu Santo, Bahia de Loreto, and Isla Isabel National Parks and Cabo San Lucas Area of Protected Flora and Fauna.

Award: 10,000 Funded: 2021

Train Indigenous farmers in sustainable planting practices and local guides in bird watching/ nature tourism, resulting in the reforestation of the lake shoreline with local trees and plants, the recuperation of local biodiversity, sustainable food access for local families, birds, and pollinators, and an improved and environmentally responsible tourist experience. Though climate change brings an existential threat to farmers and food access, responsible stewardship of native plants allows them to adapt to a changing climate.

Award: $8,000 Funded: 2020

Community-led and owned indigenous tourism enterprises in Guyana’s hinterland, have proven to provide an economic incentive for the residents to protect their natural and cultural heritage resources as it balances the preservation of resources and income generation.

Award: 8,000 Funded: 2020

As part of our Fund a Ranger Campaign the ATCF contributed to this cause to help support rangers fighting illegal wildlife trafficking in the Chiquibul Forest in Belize.

Award: $20,000 Funding: 2018

This project will promote and facilitate the reduction of single-use plastics, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of our natural ecosystems and local communities that draw tourists from around the globe. As part of a larger statewide campaign, our goal is to promote and facilitate the reduction of single-use plastics in the communities of Todos Santos and Pescadero and set an example for other communities in the state.

Award: $20,000 Funding: 2018

Oaxaca Sea Turtle Conservation Project will protect the unique natural and cultural resources of adventure travel destinations along approximately 65 miles of the Oaxaca coastline in southern Mexico by: promoting the official protection of 9.3 miles of nesting beach for Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles; improving sea turtle monitoring on key nesting beaches; continuing an oil spill response program for oiled wildlife; providing sea turtle conservation outreach, education, and stewardship activities for local indigenous communities; and enhancing ecotourism infrastructure in the indigenous community of Rio Seco.

Award$ 10,000 Funding: 2021

We will conduct a multi-site humpback whale survey, in collaboration with our network of whale watch guides, local citizens, young Mexican biologists, and our team of Mexican biologist/educators. Our team will identify key regions along 75 miles of coast where mother/calf pairs rest, nurse, and give birth with the goal of generating region wide stewardship and protected areas where whales will be safe, the ocean can heal and communities can gather to celebrate and care for nature.

Award: $20,000 Funding: 2019

The ultimate goal of this project is to expand beyond Coiba to promote the understanding, management, and conservation action for sharks and rays throughout Panama while supporting the development of conscientious and locally based shark tourism. A successful wrap to the project would encompass the completion of all activities programmed, an engaged constituency, a body of knowledge that responds to informational needs to guide management and conservation and possible solutions identified with fishers for reducing fishing effort on threatened species of sharks.