Directly behind 3 rivers stands about 150 acres of privately owned rainforest. The owner had already begun logging the area, and so we tried to find a way to save the forest.
In 2005, with the help of a good friend, we acquired a small 6 acre section close to our main property, and developed The Rosalie Eco Forest Retreat.
We were not wealthy enough to just buy more and more land, unfortunately, so we needed to find a way for the forest land to pay for itself. For this reason we have chosen to develop the area sparsely with a handful of locally crafted, low impact cabins. They have been built using either renewable materials like bamboo or grass, or already fallen trees.
Guests are asked to respect the nature, and we have staff who closely monitor the noise and rubbish situation daily. Most guests who have thus far chosen to stay in the forest, have found the closeness to the wildlife a valuable educational experience. Electric music is not permitted, and powerjust enough for lights is provided by a small wind turbine installed above the rainforest canopy, which is also used for teaching locals about the benefits and uses of renewable energy.
We do not allow any transport in the forest, the only access is on foot along a steep trails, and it is only residents who are permitted in the area, thus keeping disturbance to a minimum.
Whilst it is true that developing the forest could be a negative eco vibe, we feel that our considerate development is better than the negative impact of the logging by the previous owner.
The faciltites provided are back to basics, traditional pit composting loos, rainwater collected for showers, and wood fire klitchen. All communal facilities.
