Green Resorts' Development

An overarching ecological perspective drives Knut Willand, a Norwegian native and the developer of Eden Caribe in the Dominican Republic.

Willand’s philosophy is one where nature set the rules. For example, one of the principles is never to cut down an old tree. “The architect has to consider the impact on vegetation before he begins,” explains Willand. “If we have to cut down young trees, we plant new ones. We use only renewable energy: sun, wind and water. We treat all sewerage and black water with the Biodisc treatment system. We recycle the treated water and use it on the gardens. All garbage will be recycled where possible.

“We try as much as possible to use materials that are environmentally friendly. For example using natural stones, and making wooden fences from coconut palm trees that have been blown down by storms and strong winds. All houses are low energy properties, which means they are built with high-quality insulation. All road construction, digging and moving of materials like sand, stones and earth is done by hand, using no machinery, in order to minimise the environmental impact." Property prices start from £67,500.

In Belize, Central America, British company Someplace Else is developing a project covering almost 1,000 acres of sub-tropical rainforest. Currently under construction, Belize Reserve is an eco-resort that incorporates a wildlife reserve and a conservation and research centre. Natural springs and a river ensure water self-sufficiency; prices start from £35,000 for a one-bedroom house.

On the Cape Verde island of Santiago, Sambala Resort is a new eco-project in development where one-third of the land parcel has been designated for the nesting of indigenous turtles, allowing them to return freely to nest in the safety of a biological corridor. Social responsibility is part of the ethos too. Sambala has funded the construction of a school on the island, and employs 450 local people

Sustainable features of the resort include all properties are built using recycled steel from American cars such as Cadillacs. a biological RO desalination plant has been commissioned and is designed to recycle over 80 per cent of the waste water which can be used for irrigation purposes, and furniture packs are compiled from sustainable FSC certified reclaimed teak from colonial hospitals in India and other renewable materials.