Transforming vision into reality

Vision

Heco envisions a future where rural communities across India, especially in the Himalayas, thrive socially and economically while deepening their connection with nature, fostering a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship.

Mission

Our mission is to empower local communities to achieve economic prosperity through environmentally responsible means, ensuring that conservation and restoration efforts are led by the people who depend on the land. We recognize that sustainability is deeply intertwined with economic well-being, and we strive to create opportunities that enhance livelihoods while protecting natural ecosystems.

We believe in the transformative power of women in conservation, particularly in the rural Indian context, where women often hold the key to preserving traditional knowledge and fostering sustainable practices. Strengthening their roles and supporting their leadership is essential to our approach.

Additionally, we focus on preparing and educating the next generation to cultivate an inherent respect for nature and sustainability. By empowering children with knowledge and awareness, we help build communities that naturally embrace ecological and social responsibility.

Objectives and Strategy

Heco’s path to sustainability and the realization of our vision is structured around three key pillars :

Economic Prosperity through Sustainable Tourism

• We engage local communities in our social enterprise, ensuring they become real stakeholders in the ecotourism industry. Unlike conventional trekking and tour operators, our model provides them with a significantly better financial return.
• Through tourism, locals gain an intrinsic understanding of environmental conservation, as they recognize that the natural beauty of their surroundings is essential to their economic success.
• Himalayan Ecotourism, a branch of Heco, operates on this principle. Local members agree that a portion of tourism-generated income is dedicated to ecological restoration efforts, in which they also participate as active contributors.

Women’s Empowerment as a Driver of Conservation

• Conservation is inherently tied to nurturing and care, qualities embodied in the feminine power within each of us. In rural India, where societal norms often place women in secondary roles, we see immense potential in elevating their influence.
• Heco supports women in forming micro-enterprises, providing them with financial independence and leadership roles within their communities.
• These micro-enterprises, supported by Himalayan Ecocreation, focus on the production of local goods, adding economic value while preserving cultural heritage.
• Additionally, women play key roles in both our ecotourism and ecological restoration programs, as well as in education initiatives aimed at fostering sustainability.

Child Development for a Sustainable Future

• Sustainability is best achieved when the next generation grows up with an intrinsic respect for nature and community well-being.
• We engage children in environmental education, helping them understand the connection between their community’s prosperity and ecological health.
• This pillar is led by our non-profit wing, Himalayan Insight, ensuring that the knowledge and values necessary for long-term sustainability are instilled in the youth.

Together, these three strategies – economic empowerment, women’s leadership, and child education – create a holistic and self-sustaining model for promotion of ecological restoration and symbiotic development. The economic activities of Himalayan Ecotourism and Himalayan Ecocreation generate the resources needed to partially fund environmental and educational programs.

To maintain balance and ensure that financial sustainability does not come at the expense of these initiatives, our non-profit Himalayan Insight provides additional support, allowing Heco to expand into new regions and replicate its model for broader impact.

Where Heco thrives, sustainability emerges.

Our values

Fairness, inclusiveness, transparency, respect and honesty are the set of values that we nurture to achieve our goals.