IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY
Situated in the Caribbean, one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change, Altamer Resort is committed to sustainability and the pursuing of ongoing fiscally, socially, and environmentally responsible business practices.
As such, we have taken the opportunity to offset ALL carbon emissions generated from our guests’ travel (to and from the resort) and overall stay at our villas by donating to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called The Ocean Foundation and their SeaGrass Grow program. By offsetting the carbon footprint of our guests, we ensure that we are not adding to climate change and are instead defending our blue planet from it.
Carbon Offset Program
SeaGrass Grow is the first and only blue carbon calculator – planting and protecting coastal wetlands to fight climate change.
Since 2008, The Ocean Foundation has been involved in many coastal restoration projects and has widely promoted the concept of Blue Carbon — the capacity of the natural ecosystems of seagrasses, tidal marshes and mangroves to take up and sequester large quantities of carbon in both the plants themselves and the sediment below. Recognizing that this concept could help address and mitigate climate change while promoting ocean health, TOF has made an effort to protect and restore these coastal systems while investing in the science and viability of blue carbon.
Through this innovative program, individuals or businesses can calculate the carbon footprint of their home, workplace or travel and offset it to restore and protect seagrass.
Learn more and calculate your carbon footprint at SeaGrassGrow.org.
Anguilla United Relief Fund
The historically catastrophic hurricane season of 2017 caused widespread devastation to the island of Anguilla and the greater Caribbean region. As property owners on Anguilla with longstanding connections to the island, we felt an implicit responsibility to mobilize quickly and assist with relief efforts on the island. As such, the Anguilla United Relief Fund (AURF) was founded and raised over $250,000 to support the island’s recovery.
AURF’s approach has been to make the largest impact to the areas of most need on Anguilla. In the days immediately after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we chartered three separate flights delivering over 7,400 pounds of emergency relief supplies, sourced and shipped nearly $70,000 of long term recovery items requested by Anguilla’s Department of Disaster Management, and contributed $10,000 towards an upgrade of the electrical system for the Anguilla Health Authority hospital. We then formed a partnership with the Anguilla Department of Education, working to reequip the schools on island with all educational and technological items needed to provide the highest level of education to the school children in Anguilla.
The AURF also sponsored the development of the Made in Anguilla Arts & Crafts Center, which is located about five minutes away from Altamer on the West End. The Center is a studio and showcase space where local artists can create, show, and sell their work and features artwork and crafts created by a number of local artisans on Anguilla. Through the Made in Anguilla Arts & Crafts Centre, the AURF aims to support local artisans, the entrepreneurial creative industry, and tourism at large, while providing space to promote, preserve, and grow Anguillan culture. The space will also offer an opportunity train and expose youth to creating authentic Anguillan art. Stop by on your next visit for unique, handmade items and support local artists on Anguilla.
Tourists visiting Anguilla and living in the tourism belt, at West End, now have opportunities to purchase and take back home various items of arts and crafts with the tagline “Made in Anguilla.”
The exhibits are housed in a refurbished building, east of the Alwyn Allison Primary School. The refurbishing work was carried out by a number of community-minded persons with financial sponsorship by the Anguilla United Relief Fund mainly through Mr. Francis Greenburger, owner of Altamer Resort.
Through the Made in Anguilla Arts & Crafts Centre, the AURF aims to support local artisans, the entrepreneurial creative industry, and tourism at large, while providing space to promote, preserve, and grow Anguillan culture. The space will also offer an opportunity train and expose youth to creating authentic Anguillan art.
AURF is thankful for your continued support in aiding the long-term recovery efforts of Anguilla. Our work continues.
RESOURCES
