Mollejones
The successful El Tigre model is already being replicated with Mollejones, a small community also located along the Pacuare River. Mollejones hosted the October 2011.
International Rafting Federation’s World Rafting Championships (WRC), thanks to Rafael’s leadership. Mollejones launched 4 major initiatives: 1) a campaign to save the Bobo fish, a native species of the Pacuare River that is currently listed as in danger of extinction due to illegal fishing, 2) developing and distributing organic food products during WRC, 3) installing solar energy and internet capacity to the race site, which stays on for future community use, and 4) local tree-planting for participants and spectators. The community’s achieved its own audacious goal of making the WRC the first-ever carbon-neutral sports event.
Rafael presented this model of Sustainability and Sport at the second People, Peace -EcoTourism Conference in Costa Rica in the winter of 2011-2012. Rios Tropicales continues to guide the transformation of Mollejones into another replicable model of sustainable adventure tourism focused on protecting natural resources, providing income and educational opportunities, and sharing best practices, training, and resources.