JOIN US IN PANAMA
TAKE PART IN OUR COAST TO COAST CENTRAL AMERICAN ADVENTURE, RAISING FUNDS TO PURCHASE AND PROTECT A TRACT OF TROPICAL RAINFOREST IN PANAMA.
WE ARE GOING TO BUY A TRACT OF STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT RAINFOREST IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
WE WILL RE-FOREST IT, PROTECT IT AND RUN A ZERO-IMPACT JUNGLE TRAINING COURSE ON THIS LAND, TRAINING LOCALS AND TRAVELLERS IN JUNGLE SKILLS
Our vision is to re-wild 185 acres of strategically positioned primary rainforest in Panama. We will do it with minimal impact to the land; and in so doing not only bring back rare species to this specific parcel but help protect a vast tract of jungle stretching from the Panama Canal to Ecuador.
We have identified the land, we have the experts and completed our first expeditions in Panama’s lust jungles. In October 2025 we aim to agree on the land purchase value and after that to launch the first courses on the land 1 year later, in Jun 2026. Now we are looking for a partner to help realize Project Jungle. Click here to contact us.
WHY ARE WE DOING IT?
Rat Race is a travel company. We fly around the world, and we take people with us. Arguably, there's environmental good in that -the more that folk see the areas of the world that need protecting, the longer these areas (and the more of them) will be protected.
But let's be honest: We are generating significant emissions and we unquestionably have an obligation to do our bit. We could have gone for a 'quick n' easy' carbon offsetting scheme, like many in the travel trade. But we want our action to count. Big time.
We will leave a legacy. We want to be part of the global solution to act on the climate emergency. We don’t want to go skin-deep. We are going all in, and we are looking for partners to help us. The ultimate ESG, if you will.
WHY HERE AND WHY NOW?
Panama is the crossroads of the Americas. It is currently one of only 3 carbon-neutral countries on Earth. Property tenure and legal systems are well developed in the country and the ability therefore to purchase land and have certainty over long-term usage, re-forestation and ownership is secure. This particular tract of land is strategic and is specific to our early plan. Watch Team Member and Panama's foremost jungle guide Rick Morales explain it all in this 3 minute video.
HOW WILL WE DO IT?
Find a partner
We’re looking for the right partner to launch Project Jungle. The right partner is an organisation looking for a project with a tangible positive environmental and social impact and with a strong focus on ESG principles and values. In exchange, we offer the possibility to be a core partner of Project Jungle, including heavily discounted access to Project Jungle courses, access to measurable documented climate impact and branding opportunities.
Set up a Trust
We have identified a fully transparent trust vehicle in Panama to own the land. This will have a small board of Trustees, who can be Panamanian residents, or foreigners. Key partners will be given the opportunity to become a Trustee.
Set up a trading company
We will establish a trading company to offer long-term activities on the land. This trading company will pay a revenue share to the trust, allowing ongoing fund generation to maintain the land.
Training for locals and partners
With our expert team skilled in expeditions and courses in extreme environments, we will offer courses to partners, travelers and NGO’s. Courses will range from jungle survival and nature stewardship to honing leadership, management and team building. Courses will also be offered to locals.
Access to FinTech
After launching Project Jungle, we will deploy Innovative FinTech such as 'meta squares' to allow members of the public the chance to buy their own pledges, attributable to small parcels of land which they then follow in the reforestation journey. This will generate revenue towards maintenance, running costs, re-planting activity and future land purchases.
Restoring Jungle
We have access to serious expertise and native species for replanting. Local community workers and security will be employed in this endeavour.
Re-planting will encourage the proliferation of rarespecies like Jaguar, Peccaries, Ocelots & more.
eDNA
We will measure and document our impact through eDNA analysis of the land pre, during and post restoration in full eDNA data, giving accountability and credibility to the re-wilding journey.
"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit."
-Greek proverb
WORLD CLASS JUNGLE TRAINING
In our jungle will develop and sell world class jungle training courses. Courses will follow two themes:
· A recognised jungle training course, accessible to rangers, NGOs, students and travellers does not currently exist outside of military circles. We will create it.
· One-of-a-kind courses that hone skills within leadership, management, sustainability and team building.
Types of courses
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Full Jungle Course 10 days
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NGO Short Course 4 days
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Reforestation & Jungle Explorer 5 days
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Customizable courses for companies and NGO’s
Course topic catalogue
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Leadership
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Management
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High-pressure environment and crisis management
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Sustainability
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Team building
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Nature conservation
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Interpretation
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Bushcraft & self-reliance
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Jungle navigation
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Expedition planning
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Wilderness medicine
Each of these subjects usually requires a stand-alone course. There are very few organizations that group these modules together in one all-encompassing training and no one else does it in a tropical jungle setting. Our course is tangible and credible through our certified instructors.
ENVIRONMENTAL GAINS – ULTIMATE ESG
Our project delivers ESG benefit in the most tangible manner imaginable.
Farming
We will restore illegally farmed land adjacent to a National Park back to its original state. This will eliminate soil degradation and reduce local use of fertilizers and antibiotics in local cattle seeping into soil and water streams.But we are not denying local farmers their trade: This land will be purchased at market rate, from a farmer with other operations elsewhere in less sensitive locations.
Deforestation
Since 1970 we have lost 69% of the world's biodiversity including many rare and top predator species.We mean to carry out actual physical reforestation: Planting new tropical rainforest.
Jungle training as legacy
The next generation of rangers, jungle advocates and experts will help us love, cherish, educate and protect this environment.
OTHER SUSTAINABLE REVENUES
We intend to fund Project Jungle through selling courses, but we will also explore other sustainable revenue sources to help scale the model and buy more land in the future.
Through the climate and biodiversity impact documented through our eDNA analysis we will generate proofs of impact which firms can purchase to minimize their impact generating revenue we will use to further scale the project.
Documented climate and biodiversity impact through eDNA analysis
Through the climate and biodiversity impact documented through our eDNA analysis we will generate proofs of impact which firms can purchase to minimize their impact generating revenue we will use to further scale the project.
Metasquares
We will use meta square data to generate 3x3m geofenced squares, sold as pledges to public supporters. Each square will be transacted at $100 (£75). We will store all processed meta square financial transactions transparently on the blockchain. No title passes from these sales; more-so this scheme allows members of the public a tangible way of following the journey and planting their own small part of the forest.
eDNA
We will show the biodiversity of the land pre, during, and post-restoration in full eDNA data
CREDIBILITY
The best there is, Rick Morales is a Certified Wilderness Instructor and a Certified Specialized Guide with the Professional Association of Wilderness Guides and Instructors, and Certified Interpretive Trainer with the National Association for Interpretation. He is the only person to have trekked the entire length of Panama and it a qualified naturalist guide. He knows, loves and lives the jungle of central America.
Experts in Training
Check out this video showcasing Rick’s skills
Meet the Team
TARGET MARKET AND SIZE
Scale of the Training Course Market
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The global certification market is valued at $355bn in 2021, growing to $457bn by 2030
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20% of students took a gap year in 2020-2021 each spending between $10-30k
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There are currently 1.5 million rangers with a shortfall of at least 150k with little training available, especially in Central America
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$366bn globally is spent on leadership courses
FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS
Annual(USD)
We intend to finance Project Jungle through our courses. Our calculation below is the profit generated through courses after all costs associated with running courses.
Total customers 120 pa with average course duration of 5 days
Total profit after costs: $192,000pa
Other sustainable revenues
As the market for our other sustainable revenues is still at an early stage, we are not basing the financial sustainability of Project Jungle on these. Therefore, we keep them out of our Projected Annual Revenue. However, as we launch these initiatives all profits will go towards scaling Project Jungle to cover more land.
Nature Credit revenue: $90-200k pa*
Meta squares sold via website and blockchain for $100 each,
forecast revenue: $30,000 pa
*We use Nature Credits as the label for the impact documented through the eDNA analysis.
15,000 available at $6* each = £90, 000 pa
(Nature Credits can vary from $6-$52 per tonne)
1 nature credit = 1-tonne carbon dioxide sequestered
The more revenue Project Jungle generates on commercial terms, the more land we can purchase, protect and follow the model.
CAPEX AND RUNNING COSTS
Initial land purchase: $165,000
One-off Trust and trading Co set-up fees via Panama attorney: $8,000
Other set-up costs including registration with Ciudad de Sabor (City of Knowledge) and accreditation set-up costs for jungle course: $5,000
Fintech set-up and web costs: $12,000
Contingency: $10,000
TOTAL $200,000
Annual Running costs
Annual Marketing budget: $40,000
Annual Maintenance& local Staff: $30,000
Annual Re-planting programme: $15,000
Accountancy, legals and admin: $3,000
Other sundry: $5,000
TOTAL $93,000
ALL UP TOTALS
One-off set-up costs and land purchase: £200 000
Annual Revenue: $290 000
Cost of operation: $93 000
GP: $193 000
MILESTONES
Oct 2025
Preliminary agreement on land purchase value –target offer $165000
Dec 2025
Legal and Banking systems set up for Trust and Trading Company
Jan 2026
Nature Credit Technology Platform Build Begins
Meta squares sales commence
April 2024 Purchase complete. Site visits, eDNA data capturedCourses launched recruitment of local maintenance and security staff
April 2026
Purchase complete. Site visits, eDNA data captured. Recruitment of local maintenance and security staff begins.
Oct 2026
First courses to run
Mar 2027
First rewilding activity commences
INVESTMENT OVERVIEW
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Leave a legacy –a true and tangible one
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Become a Trustee of a fully transparent legal land-owning entity in Panama
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Alignment to 5 of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) to combat climate change –real ESG in action
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Removal of carbon, restoration of degraded land and habitat protection and growth in a primary rainforest, whilst training the next generation of rainforest guardians
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Full eDNA analysis of the land health measured pre-project and throughout the life of the project minimum 30 years–tangible and credible
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A commercially run endeavour held in trust that allows re-investment
in land maintenance, re-planting and ongoing future land purchases
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We aim to raise an $250k, to cover one-off purchase of land and other set-up costs, plus provide 6 months of working capital in the project towards continued operation.