Introducing the Recipients of the Planeterra Global Community Tourism Fund 2026

Mango Project is a women-led community enterprise designed to reduce human-elephant conflict during Tanzania’s peak mango harvest season. Between October and February, ripening mangoes attract elephants into Kisiwani, often resulting in crop damage, property destruction, and dangerous encounters. The project will support women in harvesting and processing mangoes into sun-dried fruit before they over-ripen, helping to remove a key attractant for elephants while creating an additional source of income.

The finished products will be sold through Kazi Ya Tembo’s retail space, Arusha Deli, with profits supporting night-time thermal drone patrols and ongoing human-elephant conflict interventions. The project will benefit participating women while contributing to the protection of communities, crops, and wildlife.

The project will develop an interactive cultural and tourism space at Beit Al-Ward Association in Aqaba, Jordan, where visitors can experience Jordanian culture through traditional handicrafts and Aqaba cuisine. The project will also renovate and maintain the community kitchen and outdoor dining space, while providing English-language and handicraft training to strengthen participants’ skills and capacity to engage in tourism and income-generating activities.

The project will benefit approximately 20 to 30 women, unemployed youth, and local artisans, creating greater opportunities for their participation in Aqaba’s tourism sector while strengthening community tourism experiences in the area.

The project will provide training and capacity building in natural dyeing techniques, support the harvesting and processing of indigo, and provide fabric and other raw materials needed to continue developing textile products. It will also support participation in the Souq Jara exhibition, providing artisans with an opportunity to showcase and market their work to a wider audience.

The project will benefit women artisans, youth, and visitors to Al-Karak by strengthening traditional textile skills and creating greater opportunities for women to develop and market their products. By connecting skills development and traditional craft production with opportunities to reach visitors and new markets, the project will help preserve Jordanian textile heritage while supporting economic opportunities for the women involved.

The project will strengthen Beit Al-Jameed Al-Karaki’s cultural tourism offering by providing traditional dance costumes and musical instruments for youth training, as well as bicycles for new tourism packages. These additions will create more opportunities for visitors to engage with Jordanian cultural heritage while supporting young people to learn and participate in traditional music and dance.

The project will benefit local women artisans, youth and visitors to Al-Karak, while strengthening Community Tourism Experiences and creating greater opportunities for participation in tourism. By investing in cultural activities and tourism infrastructure, the project will help preserve and share Jordanian cultural heritage while supporting local livelihoods.

The project will upgrade the trail to meet international tourism standards through trail clearing, bamboo infrastructure, canoe building, ecocamp refurbishment, solar energy, and essential equipment. It will also support trained and uniformed Community Tourism teams, helping the trail welcome more visitors and convert growing interest from tour operators into bookings and local revenue.

The project will directly benefit 136 community members, primarily women, youth and Indigenous residents, with a further 200 people benefiting indirectly across 40 households. By strengthening Community Tourism, the project will create sustainable livelihood opportunities while supporting the conservation of the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary and the wider Gola-Tiwai Complex.

Kassa Kunda Nature and Heritage Project is a community conservation and ecotourism project that will strengthen the protection of the Kassa Kunda Community Forest in The Gambia while developing it as a nature and heritage destination. The project will provide community forest guide training, strengthen fire protection and bushfire prevention, and support the development of a bird photography hide and observation tower. It will also establish a tree nursery and support annual tree planting, helping restore and protect the forest’s biodiversity.

The project will create opportunities for youth and women to participate in ecotourism, environmental education, and income-generating activities such as beekeeping. By linking conservation with tourism and livelihoods, the project will support the long-term protection of the Kassa Kunda Community Forest while creating new opportunities for the community to benefit from its natural and cultural heritage.

This project will strengthen Community Tourism in Dos Brazos de Río Tigre on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula as an alternative to extractive activities such as hunting and small-scale mining. The project will improve and equip Community Tourism facilities, including the community hall, while strengthening food services and women-led culinary enterprises. It will also provide training in environmental education, conservation, sustainable tourism, visitor services, and entrepreneurship, helping community members develop the skills needed to participate in and benefit from tourism.

The project will also support community restoration, cleanup, and environmental awareness activities, alongside promoting and strengthening tourism experiences in the community. By creating employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods, the project will help strengthen community tourism while contributing to the long-term conservation of the Osa Peninsula’s natural and cultural heritage.

This project will furnish and equip six newly constructed guest rooms at the La Moya Community Tourism Center in Riobamba, Ecuador. The rooms currently lack the furniture, equipment, and fixtures needed to become fully operational. By providing these essential items, the project will increase La Moya’s capacity to accommodate visitors while improving the quality and comfort of its lodging services.

The project will help the community respond to growing visitor demand and create additional opportunities to generate tourism revenue. This income can be reinvested into collective community development and family livelihoods, strengthening the role of Community Tourism in supporting the long-term wellbeing of La Moya’s 62 participating families.

“Caminhos de Mata” Catalog Project will create and distribute a catalog showcasing Community Tourism experiences and products from the Solidary and Creative Economy of Mata de São João, Bahia, Brazil. The catalog will connect tourists and hotel visitors with community enterprises, artisans, family farmers, and cultural agents, featuring professional photography, stories from producers, geographic mapping, and QR codes to make these experiences and products more accessible to visitors.

The catalog will be distributed through hotel networks, resorts and tourism centers, helping community enterprises reach new audiences and create stronger connections with the tourism market. The project represents the first phase of the Mata de São João Community Tourism Plan and will culminate in the VI Solidary and Creative Economy Fair, creating a platform to showcase local creativity, products and Community Tourism experiences.

This project will equip La Cabaña Unión’s accommodation, kitchen and dining facilities in the Luribay Valley, Bolivia. The project will provide furniture, household goods and textiles for visitor accommodation, while upgrading kitchen and dining equipment to improve food safety, service standards and the overall visitor experience. These improvements will help address current capacity limitations and outdated equipment while creating a more comfortable and functional space for visitors.

The project will also help reduce the physical workload of association members, particularly women, while improving safety and comfort for visitors and those working within the tourism facilities. By strengthening the quality and capacity of its services, La Cabaña Unión will be better positioned to grow its high-altitude Community Tourism offering and create sustainable income opportunities for participating families.

An Inclusive Museum for Isla Maciel is a project that will improve accessibility at Museo Comunitario Isla Maciel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, through the acquisition and installation of a wheelchair lift. The lift will make it easier for students, neighbors, and visitors with reduced mobility to access the museum and participate fully in its exhibitions, activities, and Community Tourism experiences.

The project will help create a more inclusive cultural space where people with different mobility needs can engage with Isla Maciel’s history, identity and community heritage. By removing a physical barrier to participation, the project will strengthen the museum’s role as an accessible space for learning, cultural exchange and community connection.

The project will develop two new tourism experiences in partnership with communities in southern Ecuador. The first will equip the “Por los Caminos de la Historia” ancestral trekking route with camping and field-catering equipment, enabling full-day and multi-day expeditions with improved safety and comfort. The second will establish a specialty coffee experience in La Papaya, with coffee-brewing equipment that will allow visitors to experience the journey from coffee production and preparation to specialised tasting alongside coffee-growing families. The project will benefit approximately 75 families involved in tourism, including coffee-growing families, local artisans and young people supporting guiding and logistics. It will also contribute to SARAURKU’s wider community development work, with 10% of its profits allocated to community education and conservation projects.

Flavors That Connect is a project that will strengthen the culinary tourism offering in Misminay by improving community dining facilities, purchasing new tableware and equipment to serve visitors, and installing a solar-powered water-heating system. The project will also strengthen the association’s visual identity and digital promotion, helping to increase the visibility of its traditional cuisine and Community Tourism experiences.

The improvements will create a more comfortable, authentic and higher-quality experience for visitors while incorporating renewable energy and local materials into the community dining space. The project will also support responsible tourism that values Misminay’s Andean landscape, natural resources and cultural heritage. The project will benefit the 24 participating families, particularly those involved in preparing traditional foods and young people supporting visitor services and tourism promotion. It will also strengthen their skills in customer service and digital tools, helping create greater opportunities for employment and income generation.

The Last Ringa is a project that will establish a small weaving center at Desia, a community-managed ecolodge in the Koraput Valley, where older Bonda women can continue the traditional hand-weaving of Ringa, a traditional cloth of the Bonda community. The center will create a space for older women to weave and pass on their knowledge and techniques to younger generations, helping to keep this traditional practice alive.

The project will also create opportunities for the women to earn income by selling Ringa products to visitors, including pieces that can be used as tableware or runners in contemporary homes. By connecting traditional craft with Community Tourism, the project will support women’s livelihoods, create a more engaging experience for visitors, and help preserve Bonda weaving traditions for future generations.

Women-Led Circular Craft Tourism Experience, from Wood Waste to Wonder is a project that creates an interactive experience where visitors can discover how discarded wood waste and local natural materials are transformed into eco-friendly handicrafts and wellness products. The project will train women artisans as tourism facilitators and develop interactive educational stations that demonstrate circular economy practices.

The project will benefit women artisans, youth trainees, local communities, and visitors seeking authentic and sustainable tourism experiences. By creating greater opportunities for women artisans to participate directly in tourism, the project will support income generation while reducing wood waste, promoting Khmer craftsmanship and strengthening awareness of circular economy practices.

Sustainable Ecotourism Balleangin is a community ecotourism project in Balleangin Tourism Village that will strengthen the skills and capacity of young people to participate in sustainable tourism. Through training, field practice, environmental education, and capacity-building for tourism guides, the project will help young people develop practical skills while increasing awareness of environmental conservation in the tourism area.

The project will benefit young people, communities, and the surrounding environment and ecosystems. By linking skills development and employment opportunities to environmental stewardship, the project will help strengthen the community’s capacity to manage tourism sustainably and create new livelihood opportunities for youth.

Rûmi’s Eco Garden: Resilience and Regeneration will be implemented in Kallady, a fishing village near Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, where communities rely primarily on fishing and farming for their livelihoods. The project responds to environmental challenges in the area, including littered beaches, widespread use of single-use plastics, and agricultural practices that rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In a region where infrastructure and tourism services remain comparatively limited, the project will support efforts to build greater environmental awareness and encourage more sustainable practices.

The project will create opportunities to connect environmental stewardship with Community Tourism, helping raise awareness of the importance of protecting Kallady’s natural surroundings. By addressing waste and unsustainable practices while working within a community shaped by fishing, farming and a complex history, the project will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for the area.

The Ban Huay Thom Safe Access Improvement Project is a project that will construct a permanent staircase with handrails along a key access route used by community members and visitors. The existing temporary staircase becomes slippery and difficult to navigate during the rainy season, creating safety risks and making access more challenging. The new infrastructure will provide a safer, more accessible, and durable route for daily community use and tourism activities.

The project will benefit community members and visitors, including elderly residents, children, and people with limited mobility who currently face greater difficulty using the pathway. By improving access throughout the year, the project will help protect tourism-generated income for local households, improve the visitor experience and strengthen the long-term sustainability of community tourism in Ban Huay Thom.

Wild Horsewatching Lab & Territorial Identity is a project that will strengthen the nature-positive quality of the horsewatching experience in the Aveto Valleys while supporting greater understanding of coexistence between rural communities, wildlife and the landscape. The project will provide binoculars and camera traps, allowing visitors to observe rewilded horses and other wildlife from a greater distance while reducing physical disturbance and improving safety and interpretation. The equipment will also support systematic data collection on herd behaviour and other species, helping the organization adapt routes, group sizes and visitor guidelines in ways that support ecosystems and animal welfare.

The project will also introduce a small ethical rental fee for binoculars, with the income contributing to the long-term care of the equipment and community-owned conservation work. A new landing page and guide identity will further help visitors understand responsible behaviour in a rewilding landscape, including the importance of maintaining distance, respecting wildlife and listening to local communities.

Wild Naxos: A Community Wildlife Educational Experience is a project that will transform an existing space at the organisation’s office in Naxos town into an interactive outdoor wildlife education space. The space will use educational panels, wildlife photography, storytelling displays, portable exhibitions, educational leaflets and an interactive board featuring animals currently undergoing rehabilitation to help visitors and local communities learn about the biodiversity of the Cyclades and the challenges facing local wildlife.

The project will also create opportunities for visitors to support conservation through an “Adopt a Wild Animal” initiative and QR-code-based donations. A wildlife mural created by local student artists will celebrate the island’s biodiversity while encouraging youth participation in conservation. The project will benefit visitors, students, local communities, businesses, and partners, while raising awareness of wildlife protection and encouraging more responsible tourism and conservation action across Naxos and the Cyclades.

From Flowers to Honey: A Community Tourism Experience is a project that will develop a nature-positive, Community Tourism experience in Karjan Village, near Gjirokastra, centred around the area’s biodiversity and long-standing beekeeping traditions. The project will establish a Bee Nature Park where visitors can learn about bees and pollinators through guided apiary visits, beekeeping and honey harvesting demonstrations, honey tasting, and environmental education. A dedicated children’s area will provide creative, family-friendly activities inspired by bees and the structure of the hive.

Initially led by one local beekeeping family, the project will also support visitor facilities, product development, hospitality and risk management training, and the development of a market-ready tourism experience that can eventually be replicated by other beekeepers in the region. The project will benefit local beekeepers, women and youth, rural families, visitors and the wider community by creating new tourism opportunities and increasing demand for local accommodation, food, handicrafts and agricultural products.

Mezze Workshops are immersive, hands-on culinary experiences in which refugee and migrant cooks teach participants to prepare dishes from their home countries, followed by a shared meal. Based at Mezze’s restaurant in Mercado de Arroios, Lisbon, the workshops are also mobile and can be delivered in other locations across Portugal.

The project will create employment opportunities for refugee and migrant cooks while bringing Portuguese communities, companies and travellers together through food and cultural exchange. By creating space for people to meet, cook and share stories, the workshops aim to challenge prejudice, build empathy and support greater social integration. The primary beneficiaries will be young adults and women from refugee and migrant communities who lead and deliver the workshops, while participants will gain a deeper understanding of the cultures and experiences represented around the table.