Econaturalist.com Mission Statement

Mission Objective

What is Econaturalist.com?

Econaturalist.com is an online community and comprehensive resource designed for herpers, birders, and nature enthusiasts. Our mission is to connect eco-vacationers with ecolodges worldwide that offer lodging and access to pristine habitats, ideal for observing and photographing wildlife. Econaturalist.com serves two primary audiences: eco-tourists seeking detailed information on ecolodges that meet their unique needs, and ecolodge businesses that provide these services and generate profit from purchasing and protecting pristine wild lands.

Ecotourist Services

Econaturalist.com offers ecotourists an extensive resource for discovering ecolodges and private nature preserves tailored to their wildlife viewing preferences. While we cater to all nature enthusiasts, our focus lies particularly on herpers—those who seek and photograph reptiles and amphibians, often requiring nighttime habitat access. We provide information on guided and unguided tours, travel logistics, and everything necessary for a seamless, self-contained research experience for international travelers.

Eco-Lodging Services

At Econaturalist.com, we recognize the crucial role that ecolodge businesses play in environmental preservation. These enterprises have a vested interest in purchasing and protecting wildlands, offering both educational and recreational opportunities to the public. We are committed to highlighting ecolodges that actively invest in the conservation of pristine wildlife habitats, and providing these businesses with custom pages on our platform, free of charge, to showcase their efforts and attract like-minded travelers.

Primary Objective

Our primary objective at Econaturalist.com is to support businesses that make wildlife and wildland conservation profitable. We particularly focus on ecolodge businesses that invest in the protection of natural habitats and generate revenue by sharing these lands with wildlife enthusiasts. While government policies and charities play a role in conservation, we believe that making conservation economically viable for private citizens is equally crucial. By growing the ecotourism market, we aim to increase the economic incentives for conserving more wildlands, ensuring that when nature conservation is profitable, it becomes a sustainable reality.

What Sets Econaturalist.com Apart From Other Herping and Ecotourism Sites?

Econaturalist.com is not just another herping or ecotourism website. Unlike pay-to-play platforms, we do not limit our features to businesses that pay for visibility. Instead, we uniquely merge the needs of eco-vacationers with the ecolodges that can best serve them. We only showcase ecolodges that are committed to purchasing and preserving wildlands, ensuring that eco-vacationers’ money supports genuine conservation efforts.

Comprehensive and Fair Content

Unlike many travel advertisement sites, Econaturalist.com offers an ad-free, comprehensive, and unbiased view of the ecolodge landscape. Since we do not charge businesses for being featured, our users can trust that they are accessing fair and complete information. This makes Econaturalist.com an invaluable resource for ecotourism research while simultaneously supporting businesses dedicated to protecting wildlife habitats.

A One-Stop Shop

Researching international travel, especially for herpers with unique needs like nocturnal hiking access, can be daunting. Econaturalist.com simplifies this process by serving as a one-stop shop for finding ecolodges that offer 24-hour hiking access and both guided and unguided tours. We also provide relevant travel information, gear recommendations, photography tips, and more, ensuring our resources are comprehensive and tailored to eco-tourists and wildlife photographers.

Well-Organized and Accessible

We are committed to making Econaturalist.com well-organized and user-friendly, offering a seamless experience for all visitors. Unlike pay-to-play websites that prioritize paying clients, we prioritize logical, user-centric content placement. Furthermore, we strive to make our site accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. While we aim for visual appeal, we diligently ensure that our content remains accessible to the visually impaired, and we welcome community feedback to improve further.

Why Feature Private Ecolodges Over Public Land?

Econaturalist.com focuses on private ecolodges for several key reasons:

1. Limited Public Land: In certain regions or for specific species, public lands may not be available, making private preserves the only option for wildlife observation.
2. Restrictive Rules: Public lands often have regulations that hinder the goals of herpers and eco-tourists, such as restricted foot traffic and limited visitation hours. Private lands, however, offer more flexibility and accessibility.
3. Environmental Contribution: Patronizing private ecolodges directly supports the protection of wildlands. By choosing these preserves, ecotourists contribute to the purchasing and protecting of wild habitats, and other conservation efforts, ensuring that their experiences are both enjoyable and environmentally responsible.

How You Can Help

Spread the Word! If you find Econaturalist.com useful, please share it with your friends, both in-person and online. Linking to our site from your website or social media not only drives traffic but also boosts our visibility on search engines. Your support helps us grow, allowing us to continue promoting eco-friendly businesses and conservation efforts.