Eco-Benin

About us

Benin Ecotourism Concern (Eco-Benin) is a Beninese non-governmental organization created in 1999. Its mission is to promote human development at the local and national levels through the development and enhancement of natural resources for ecotourism and eco-development. It works to promote ecotourism and local development projects throughout Benin, for “responsible, equitable and united human development”. As a vision, Eco-Benin aspires to a convivial world where each individual is strengthened for their social well-being based on innovative means of enhancing natural capital and creating sustainable wealth.

Eco-Benin uses ecotourism as an economic pillar for the development of local communities, either in regions where income traditionally linked to fishing or agriculture is declining, or in localities with a natural and cultural heritage that is threatened with disappearance or poorly exploited. The activities of the NGO aim to develop simple tourist services that primarily benefit the host communities and that participate in the protection of their natural resources and cultural identities.

To do this, the NGO Eco-Bénin strives to fairly distribute travel revenues between communities but also to develop and enhance natural resources. With several development projects implemented since its creation in 1999, Eco-Bénin has set up a Carbon Action Plan whose objectives are the planting of mangroves in the Ramsar 1017 site and the promotion of improved stoves around national parks. In addition, the actions carried out for the development of the local economy are varied: construction of ecolodges, rehabilitation of farms, development of ecomuseums, construction of campsites, accommodation with locals and many others.