Endangered Species International (ESI) creates and supports sustainable small businesses that benefit local communities and the environment. Businesses are managed by locals and a large portion of the profit (usually 50 percent) goes directly to local conservation projects.

The Balabac Island Project: Purifying Water and Saving Endangered Species and Their Habitat!

Balalac Island is located between the Philippines (Palawan) and Malaysia (Borneo). The island is about 50 km long and 10 km wide, and harbors endemic and endangered species inhabiting rainforest, coral reef, and mangrove.

Our small business initiative provides safe drinking water using portable water purifiers to local communities at a very cheap price (much cheaper than buying water bottle). By doing so, waste of plastic bottles is also reduced. We have built small kiosks where portable water purifiers are stationed. Kiosks are made of bamboos and certified eco-friendly local wood.

The portable water purifier uses ultraviolet (UV) light to destroy waterborne microbes. Whatever your source of water is, the water purifier purifies clear water by destroying viruses, bacteria and protozoa-including Giardia and Cryptosporidium in seconds! The batteries of the water purifier are recharged with small solar panels.

This project was created and fully funded by ESI and some of the water purifiers were donated by SteriPEN.

The first half of the benefit goes to a local student organization from Palawan State University to support educational activities in Balabac.

The second half goes to ESI local office to fund local conservation projects in Balabac. Local projects support conservation of biodiversity including saving the endangered mouse deer (the world's smallest deer). ESI is planning to expend this initiative to other islands where safe water is needed and biodiversity is in trouble!

As mentioned by ESI President during a meeting with local authorities: "We need to be audacious in finding sustainable ways to fund conservation projects in remote places by creating businesses that benefit the local communities. Businesses must be sustainable and fully respect the environment".

For further information please contact us at info@endangeredspeicesinternational.org or visit us at www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org