Eco-Lodge

November 2007

Eco-Lodge
Social - Environmental -Tourism

Carbon-Neutral - We aim to be carbon neutral by firstly using as little energy as possible and by absorbing our carbon production via indigenous tree planting. From 2005-2007 we have planted about 1000 trees.
Hydro-Electricity - We generate our own 220Volt clean hydo-electric power from the spring fed dam. Almost all light bulbs are energy saving and long lasting. We aim to have power at all times.
Hot Water - Water is heated in boilers using carbon-neutral firewood harvested in the grounds or from nearby plantations. Drain water is not wasted and is soaked back into the local ground water.
Drinking Water - All water at Ngare Sero comes direct from the springs. Bottled mineral water and ice cubes are Katadyn filtered and safe.

Ngare Sero Springs and Riverine Forest
We are undertaking a collaborative project of water supply and management, forest preservation, tree re-planting and bio-diesel planting.
Location
Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge is located beside a significant spring producing a stream which becomes part of the Pangani River catchment. The spring is protected by a small forest reserve. Since Mount Meru is a steep volcano, run-off tends to be via torrents so that the only reliable supply of water is from springs which emerge on the lower slopes. Above this level there are only small forest-fed springs which are now insufficient for the population.

Environmental Efficiency
The lodge infra-structure is as much as possible organic and environmentally efficient. Through protection of the forest reserve and tree planting we are preserving a sustainable water supply. Daming the spring has made three lakes that support many species and a healthy ecosystem.
The first dam allows for the production of hydro-electricity and water pumping by hydraulic ram requiring no external energy input.
The second dam oxygenates the water for our organic trout farm for supplying our guests and a wider market.
The third dam has two hydro-turbines (incomplete) for water pumping to the schools and villages around the forest boundary.

Compost from over grown weeds from the lake, garden plants and manure from the stables are mixed and matured to create a powerful compost for the gardens and agriculture. Organic food waste is fed to village pigs and inorganic waste is burned for a lack of any other option.

Employment of about 50 people at Ngare Sero Lodge, and all staff live locally. Most have had on the job training and improvement of skills.

Problems
People come from afar, on foot, to collect water from the Ngare Sero springs and reservoir and carry it back, up-hill, to their homes. There are now two schools about a kilometre above Ngare Sero Springs and the pupils come every morning to collect water for the day. Water is also piped from the reservoir for communities and institutions below.
Apart from the effort required in carrying the water so far, there is a risk of pollution and environmental damage due to the number of people coming to the water source. People are inclined to wash laundry and to bathe in the springs. There is a further risk of people mixing dangerous agro-chemicals for knapsack sprayers.
When coming to the springs to collect water people are also damaging the forest. Tracks running down the steep slopes encourage erosion and silting. Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge has to guard the springs and forest for all users.

Solutions
In order to protect the forest and the water quality the following action is urgently required:
" Pump water to several water storage tanks and stand-pipes positioned around the perimeter of the forest
" Extend the forest reserve and replant indigenous trees.

Present Situation
At present Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge pumps water to its north-west boundary from which point people collect. Recently the storage capacity has been sufficiently increased to serve that area.
On the south-east side, including Juwakali village, people come close to the dam where we have collaborated with a neighbour to pipe water to a manual laundry facility where villagers can also collect water without entering the lake and river.

Protection - Ngare Sero employs government empowered watchmen to physically protect the forest and water.
Ngare Sero also applies pressure to the relevant authorities in order to catalyse the correct action for the protection of the forest reserve, water source and management of water extraction.

Strategic land purchase - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge has purchased a steep portion of land surrounding and adjacent to the springs,inorder to extend the indigenous forest and to further protect the springs from erosion and pollution.

Beneficiaries
Nshupu Village, Nshupu Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as the forest, lake and its wild inhabitants.
Implementation
North-West Side - Financed and constructed by Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge. Pumping by hydraulic rams utilizing the mill race at Ngare Sero and using existing pipelines to new temporary plastic storage tanks. In collaboration with Earth Assistance Foundation, one large permanent water tank will be constructed.
North-East Side - Construction of a new dam and water turbine pump and a new pipeline to a tank previously constructed at the health centre above Juakali and on to new tanks above the schools. This scheme is a collaboration with the village water committee. The dam construction and pipeline is now complete and in collaboration with Earth Assistance Foundation (that funds Adopt a School) three water tanks will be build above the schools and a mono pump purchased for linking to the hydro-turbine at this dam.
" Water Filtration - The Ngare Sero Trust is looking for funding to purchase two Ultra Violet filters that will sterilize all the water being pumped to the Nshupu village, the Nshupu clinic and the Nshupu primary and secondary schools.

Donations
Thanks to Ed & Debbie Williams from Florida for donating $10,000.
Thanks to YogaMala attendants for raising $1500 toward the purchase of a water pump.
Financial help will be managed by the Ngare Sero Trust and is sincerely appreciated by Ngare Sero Lodge and Nshupu village. For More information please speak to Tim Leach or Mike Leach.

Future Projects

Re-forestation - Create a tree nursery on Ngare Sero land for a large scale indigenous tree replanting project on the slopes of Mount Meru.

Bio-diesel - We have already begun experimental planting of Jatropha, a plant that produces high yields of oil bearing seed that can be directly used as diesel to run our vehicles. This project will encourage small farmers on the slopes of Mount Meru to adopt Jatropha as a cash crop, replacing coffee which has little value today. Jatropha also has other positive properties such as anti-erosion and soil replenishment.
Ngare Sero Lodge will create a market for this cash crop and thus generate income for local farmers, rather than spending a significant amount of money on imported and polluting diesel oil.

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November 2007 Eco-Lodge Social - Environmental -Tourism Carbon-Neutral - We aim to be carbon neutral by firstly using as little energy as possible and by absorbing our carbon production via indigenous tree planting. From 2005-2007 we have planted about 1000 trees. Hydro-Electricity - We generate our own 220Volt clean hydo-electric power from the spring fed dam. Almost all light bulbs are energy saving and long lasting. We aim to have power at all times. Hot Water - Water is heated in boilers using carbon-neutral firewood harvested in the grounds or from nearby plantations. Drain water is not wasted and is soaked back into the local ground water. Drinking Water - All water at Ngare Sero comes direct from the springs. Bottled mineral water and ice cubes are Katadyn filtered and safe. Ngare Sero Springs and Riverine Forest We are undertaking a collaborative project of water supply and management, forest preservation, tree re-planting and bio-diesel planting. Location Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge is located beside a significant spring producing a stream which becomes part of the Pangani River catchment. The spring is protected by a small forest reserve. Since Mount Meru is a steep volcano, run-off tends to be via torrents so that the only reliable supply of water is from springs which emerge on the lower slopes. Above this level there are only small forest-fed springs which are now insufficient for the population. Environmental Efficiency The lodge infra-structure is as much as possible organic and environmentally efficient. Through protection of the forest reserve and tree planting we are preserving a sustainable water supply. Daming the spring has made three lakes that support many species and a healthy ecosystem. The first dam allows for the production of hydro-electricity and water pumping by hydraulic ram requiring no external energy input. The second dam oxygenates the water for our organic trout farm for supplying our guests and a wider market. The third dam has two hydro-turbines (incomplete) for water pumping to the schools and villages around the forest boundary. Compost from over grown weeds from the lake, garden plants and manure from the stables are mixed and matured to create a powerful compost for the gardens and agriculture. Organic food waste is fed to village pigs and inorganic waste is burned for a lack of any other option. Employment of about 50 people at Ngare Sero Lodge, and all staff live locally. Most have had on the job training and improvement of skills. Problems People come from afar, on foot, to collect water from the Ngare Sero springs and reservoir and carry it back, up-hill, to their homes. There are now two schools about a kilometre above Ngare Sero Springs and the pupils come every morning to collect water for the day. Water is also piped from the reservoir for communities and institutions below. Apart from the effort required in carrying the water so far, there is a risk of pollution and environmental damage due to the number of people coming to the water source. People are inclined to wash laundry and to bathe in the springs. There is a further risk of people mixing dangerous agro-chemicals for knapsack sprayers. When coming to the springs to collect water people are also damaging the forest. Tracks running down the steep slopes encourage erosion and silting. Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge has to guard the springs and forest for all users. Solutions In order to protect the forest and the water quality the following action is urgently required: " Pump water to several water storage tanks and stand-pipes positioned around the perimeter of the forest " Extend the forest reserve and replant indigenous trees. Present Situation At present Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge pumps water to its north-west boundary from which point people collect. Recently the storage capacity has been sufficiently increased to serve that area. On the south-east side, including Juwakali village, people come close to the dam where we have collaborated with a neighbour to pipe water to a manual laundry facility where villagers can also collect water without entering the lake and river. Protection - Ngare Sero employs government empowered watchmen to physically protect the forest and water. Ngare Sero also applies pressure to the relevant authorities in order to catalyse the correct action for the protection of the forest reserve, water source and management of water extraction. Strategic land purchase - Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge has purchased a steep portion of land surrounding and adjacent to the springs,inorder to extend the indigenous forest and to further protect the springs from erosion and pollution. Beneficiaries Nshupu Village, Nshupu Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as the forest, lake and its wild inhabitants. Implementation North-West Side - Financed and constructed by Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge. Pumping by hydraulic rams utilizing the mill race at Ngare Sero and using existing pipelines to new temporary plastic storage tanks. In collaboration with Earth Assistance Foundation, one large permanent water tank will be constructed. North-East Side - Construction of a new dam and water turbine pump and a new pipeline to a tank previously constructed at the health centre above Juakali and on to new tanks above the schools. This scheme is a collaboration with the village water committee. The dam construction and pipeline is now complete and in collaboration with Earth Assistance Foundation (that funds Adopt a School) three water tanks will be build above the schools and a mono pump purchased for linking to the hydro-turbine at this dam. " Water Filtration - The Ngare Sero Trust is looking for funding to purchase two Ultra Violet filters that will sterilize all the water being pumped to the Nshupu village, the Nshupu clinic and the Nshupu primary and secondary schools. Donations Thanks to Ed & Debbie Williams from Florida for donating $10,000. Thanks to YogaMala attendants for raising $1500 toward the purchase of a water pump. Financial help will be managed by the Ngare Sero Trust and is sincerely appreciated by Ngare Sero Lodge and Nshupu village. For More information please speak to Tim Leach or Mike Leach. Future Projects Re-forestation - Create a tree nursery on Ngare Sero land for a large scale indigenous tree replanting project on the slopes of Mount Meru. Bio-diesel - We have already begun experimental planting of Jatropha, a plant that produces high yields of oil bearing seed that can be directly used as diesel to run our vehicles. This project will encourage small farmers on the slopes of Mount Meru to adopt Jatropha as a cash crop, replacing coffee which has little value today. Jatropha also has other positive properties such as anti-erosion and soil replenishment. Ngare Sero Lodge will create a market for this cash crop and thus generate income for local farmers, rather than spending a significant amount of money on imported and polluting diesel oil.
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