Gili Eco Trust

About us

Gili Eco Trust, or Yayasan Ekosistem Gili indah, is an NGO based on Gili Trawangan. It was founded in 2000 to protect the coral reefs around the Gili islands from destructive fishing.
In 1999 local fishermen founded the SATGAS to patrol the waters around the three Gili islands. At that time there was a lot of dynamite and cyanide fishing, destroying all the coral and killing the aquatic life inhabiting the reefs. The local population reacted and started to organize patrols around the islands in order to eliminate and educate against the bad fishing practices. An agreement was concluded between the fishermen, defining the legal techniques of fishing, limited to certain authorized zones, with the purpose of putting an end to dynamite and cyanide fishing practices.
To support the SATGAS, the main dive shops of the Gili islands decided to establish the NGO Gili Eco Trust in 2000. Gili Eco Trust has grown and expanded its activities from marine conservation to waste management and sustainable eco tourism.

Our mission is to create a sustainable island. To promote ecotourism and provide a healthy environment for working animals. To restore our coral reefs and to replenish our natural fish populations. To ensure that all waste created on Gili T is reduced to minimum levels and managed and separated properly for recycling projects where materials can be transported off the island.

Goals
• Restore and protect the coral reefs around the Gili islands by building more Biorock structures, installing moorings to prevent further anchor damage and provide education and marine workshops.
• Prevent and manage waste and rubbish on Gili Trawangan by recycling and educating both locals and tourists.
• Clean up Gili Trawangan by organizing weekly beach clean-ups and island clean-up days.
• Reducing the amount of plastic on the island by motivating businesses to provide water refill stations and get locals and tourists to stop buying bottled water,.and encouraging the ban of plastic bags.

What we do
• Biorock: The Biorock technology is a novel technique to create artificial coral reefs, by building a steel structure and putting a low voltage of direct current through it when sunk in the ocean. Due to the low voltage current and resulting electrolytic reaction a stable substrate is formed of calcium carbonate around the metal, providing a sturdy surface for corals to cement to. This low voltage also promotes the corals grow faster and stronger than on natural reefs.
• Ecotourism: We can guide and inform you, through the huge range of activities without damaging the island’s environment. Drop by our office and learn how to be a responsible tourist, what are the most sustainable fish to eat and where you can refill your water bottle on the island to keep your eco footprint small!
• Waste Management: The Gili Eco Trust has made huge progress in getting the island to its current state, initiating a recycling scheme and waste collection. Debris Free Friday: Every friday we get together with beach cleaning organisation SeaMade who, along with dive staff, tourists and locals at 5pm to clean the beach. Recycling; Upcycling glassware: Our shop is filled with beautiful and unique upcycled products, all handmade from the rubbish found on the island.

Delphine Robbe is the Coordinator and Project Manager of the Gili Eco Trust.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.