Trekforce finds new missions
Dec 13 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal
AGAP-YEAR conservation holiday company has signed a new deal that will see it extend its operations in Central America and more than double its size.
The deal sees Wooler-based Trekforce Worldwide form a partnership agreement with environmental consultancy Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) to undergo conservation work in the Chiquibul National Park in Belize.
The agreement will see Trekforce Worldwide double its nine-strong workforce in the next two years as it looks to grow its dedicated sales team.
It also plans to increase the number of volunteers it works with every year from around 250 to over 300.
Conservation work in Belize will involve clearing the northern boundary of the national park, constructing an observation post and collecting sightings of wildlife.
Rob Murray-John, director at Trekforce, said: “The partnership will create a positive impact for the conservation of the Chiquibul-Maya Mountain area for years to come, in the careful planning and execution of valuable projects.”
The 17-year-old firm dropped its charitable status last year to expand its operations, which has seen it introduce conservation holidays for corporate clients to sit alongside its ongoing work with gap-year students.
It was set up in 1990 by North Shields- based explorer Wandy Swales under the name of Swaletreks and the International Scientific Support Trust.
This year has seen it strengthen its relationship with a number of television companies in order to provide logistical back-up and safety planning for a number of productions such as tribal combat show Last Man Standing and a series of Adrenaline Junkie featuring Jack Osbourne.
Mr Murray-John is hoping that the deal with the FCD will help deflect some of the negative publicity that has been created from a number of recent news reports.
He said: “There have been a number of stories that have said that conservation holidays are not as organised and worthwhile as advertised.
“It’s true that some providers are not as good as others. However, the agreement with FCD shows that there are worthwhile gap year companies out there like Trekforce.”
The firm has already carried out work within Belize and has discovered two new waterfalls as well as the Morelets Tree Frog, which had previously never been recorded in the area.
