The President of Costa Rica Visits Luna Lodge   President Oscar Arias Sanchez with our staff   This last January, we were privileged to have the Costa Rican President, Oscar Arias Sanchez, as our guest. I invited the President to stay at Luna Lodge because he had never before been to the Osa Peninsula. I wanted him to have the experience of physically being in the Osa Peninsula's rainforest to really appreciate its value. He brought a delegation of friends and Costa Rican leaders with him including Costa Rica's Minister of Environment, the director of the "Peace with Nature" coalition, and the president of the CR-USA foundation. Some very important conversations took place about the importance of preserving this last refuge of unspoiled wilderness and the President was able to enjoy some quality time here surrounded by the wonder of the rainforest. The President's visit was a huge success and it is our deepest hope that it will result in a definitive action plan to maintain and protect the serenity that is our Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

COSTA RICA WHITE HAWK PROJECT We have now joined together with a foundation to begin to protect the Carate River Valley. We are going to call it the "Costa Rica White Hawk Project ". The goal of this project is to purchase forested lands for protection of all of the wildlife in the Carate River Valley. It will be part of a protected corridor that will span from Corcovado National Park to Luna Lodge and continue to the southern end of the peninsula. With much of this land bordering Corcovado National Park, the corridor would literally be an extension of the park where the animals can roam freely and be protected. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining us to help protect this area please send an e-mail to whitehawk@lunalodge.com. We will get back to you about all of the details. Any donations would be tax deductible in the United States.

Harpy Eagle Monitoring Project   The Harpy Eagle spotted at Luna Lodge   We are sponsoring the monitoring and preservation of the largest raptor in the Americas. The Harpy Eagle is an endangered species with only a few hundred remaining in the world. Team members have been exploring the area surrounding Luna Lodge, the Golfo Dulce Reserve, and Corcovado National Park. One of the few photographs of this bird was taken right here at the Luna Lodge. We are currently working with local ornothologists to develop the Harpy Eagle Fund to help protect these magnificient birds.

Approach to Sustainability Luna Lodge has a serious commitment to sustainable tourism and we are constantly innovating projects and ideas in order to comply with the Certification of Sustainable Tourism (CST) of Costa Rica These are some of our initiatives: PRESERVATION: Conservation of 60 acres of Primary and Secondary Private Forest, which belong to the Golfo Dulce Biological Reserve that surrounds the Corcovado National Park. We work hand in hand with the local competent authorities in order to monitor and control the preservation of the flora and fauna of the area. We belong to conservation organizations like Women of the Osa, White Hawk Project and Harpy Eagle Project. EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Luna Lodge belongs to the Sustainable Development Committee of the area and to the Corcovado National Park Local Council; both groups design projects for the benefit of the community (entrepreneurship, health, and education) and for the preservation of the Osa Peninsula. We participate and sponsor local events that foster the sustainability of the peninsula. (www.rainforestaid09.com ) MINIMUM IMPACT Hydro-electrical power Organic disposal reused to feed the pigs of our Bio-gas Project, which supplies the kitchen of our employee housing Composting of the rest of the organic disposal Recycling of non-organic material (aluminium, plastic and glass) Certified Septic Systems and drainages for our black and grey waters Solar water heating for the non-chlorine swimming pool and solar energy for the telephone. Smart architecture designed to maximize the use of natural light and air circulation Use of biodegradable soaps and cleaning products Rational use of towels and linen to avoid waste of water and energy Organic fruits and vegetables when available No feeding of the wildlife No wild animals in captivity Denounces any abuse against the eco-system Purchasing products in bulk- in order to avoid solid disposables We train our staff and re-educate them to develop sustainable practices in their daily lives, in the hotel and with their families Certified professional guides trained in sustainable ethics