GILI ECO TRUST

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• Gili Eco Trust, also known as Yayasan Ekosistem Gili Indah, is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based on Gili Trawangan, one of the Gili Islands off Lombok, Indonesia. 
• It was founded in 2001 (some sources say 2000) with the original mission of protecting the coral reefs around the Gili Islands from destructive fishing practices. 
• Over time, its scope has grown to include a wide range of environmental, social, and animal-welfare projects.
   

• Marine Conservation & Reef Restoration
   
  • One of GET’s flagship programs is its Biorock technology: they install steel structures on the ocean floor and apply a low-voltage electric current, which helps coral grow faster by depositing minerals. 
  • These “electrified” reefs serve dual purposes: they provide habitat for marine life (fish, shellfish, etc.) and help protect the coastline from erosion. 
  • GET also installs mooring buoys to prevent boats from anchoring directly on coral, reducing physical damage to reefs. 
  • They collaborate with universities (e.g., Mataram University) and conduct “reef gardening” and coral propagation to bolster reef resilience.

• Waste Management
   
  • GET partners with FMPL (Forum Masyarakat Peduli Lingkungan) to run Gili Trawangan’s first recycling station, called Bank Sampah Gili Indah. 
  • Recyclable materials (plastic bottles, glass, cartons) are collected, processed, and transported off the island to be recycled. 
  • They also run a glass upcycling workshop: glass bottles collected on the island are crushed and repurposed into products (like drinking glasses, lamps, jewelry) in their glass studio. 
  • GET aims to make Gili Trawangan a zero-waste island, though this is a long-term goal.
     
• Eco-Education & Sustainable Tourism
   
  • The Trust educates both locals and tourists: they hold environmental lessons in local schools (e.g., weekly classes), teach about waste segregation, and promote eco-behavior. 
  • They train local businesses (hotels, shops) and boat operators on environmentally responsible practices, including how to avoid damaging coral. 
  • GET runs eco-tourism programs, such as:

• Eco-snorkel tours: tourists can snorkel to view the Biorock structures, underwater life, and coral, with a minimum donation supporting conservation. 
• SUP (Stand-Up Paddle) Eco Safari: paddleboard trips where participants can clean floating debris or beach litter.
   
• Their office doubles as a zero-waste gift shop, selling upcycled products, reusable items (bags, straws), books (via a swap library), and more.
   
• Animal Welfare
   
  • GET supports animal-care programs for working horses/carts and stray cats on the Gili Islands. 
  • They organise free veterinary clinics, partnering with international vets, to provide treatment to the island’s horses and cats. 
  • GET also has a program dedicated to turtle conservation: they protect turtle nests with cages while eggs develop, monitor nest status, and collect data.
     
• Community Engagement & Events
   
  • They host a weekly event called “Debris-Free Friday” where locals, tourists, and dive shops come together to clean beaches and collect marine debris. 
  • They run environmental awareness campaigns: posters, training for local staff, and behavioral workshops (e.g., on recycling, waste, coral protection). 
  • As part of funding, they encourage dive shops and visitors to contribute: for example, divers are encouraged to donate a small “eco-fee” (~IDR 50,000) which supports reef protection, coral restoration, and SATGAS (local sea-patrol).
     

• Coral Reef Recovery: Through their Biorock program, GET has installed dozens (or even over a hundred, in some reports) of mineral-accretion structures, helping to speed up coral growth and restore degraded reef areas. 
• Waste Reduction: Their waste-management model helps divert significant amounts of recyclable waste from landfills, reduces pollution, and raises awareness about sustainable waste practices. 
• Behavior Change: By educating both the local community and tourists, GET promotes long-term behavior shifts toward more eco-conscious living and tourism. 
• Animal Welfare Improvement: They play a crucial role in improving the lives of working horses and stray cats, animals that would otherwise receive little to no systematic care on the island.
• Sustainable Tourism: Their eco-tourism programs not only raise funds but also involve visitors directly in conservation, giving them a sense of participation and responsibility.
   

• Zero-Waste Ambition: Although GET aims for a zero-waste island, this is a complex and long-term endeavor. They are still developing the infrastructure (sorting center, recycling, composting) to scale up. 
• Funding: Like many NGOs, they rely on donations, grants, and the income from eco-tours and upcycled products to sustain their work. 
• Cultural & Economic Constraints: Many of the horse-cart drivers (cidomo) and local residents have limited income, which makes animal care, regular veterinary treatment, and better practices a financial challenge. 
• Sustainable Growth Under Tourism Pressure: With growing tourism on Gili T, balancing environmental protection, waste management, and local livelihoods remains a continuous challenge.
   

• It’s a locally rooted organisation: Having grown from grassroots patrols and dive shop support, GET has strong local legitimacy and stakeholder buy-in. 
• It integrates multiple dimensions of sustainability: Not just coral restoration, but also waste, tourism, community education, and animal welfare.
• It offers a model for small island conservation: Their work shows how volunteer-driven, donation-supported NGOs can make meaningful environmental and social impact in fragile island ecosystems.
• It gives tourists a way to contribute: Through eco-tours, cleanups, and voluntary donations, visitors can participate in conservation rather than just passively consume the destination.

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/giliecotrust?igsh=eG80dXpqYWo4aG9y 

Website https://www.giliecotrust.com/