Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare o local people (TIES, The International Ecotourism Society)

Inspiration: University of Michigan: Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

In the world of do-good tourism, Costa Rica quickly comes to mind as a pioneer of a type of tourism that predominantly built on the idea of “low human impact and high community and environmental benefit.” In one word: Ecotourism! And while ecotourism in the current (modern) understanding of the term is not Costa Rica’s invention, they did bring it to another level, where an entire country is adopting one type of tourism.

A decision Costa Rica can be proud of. In fact a few decades ago, the country made a conscious decision to abolish its armed forces and channel the budget to education, and later, ecotourism.

So thanks to Costa Rica, ecotourism is finally catching on with the rest of the world. And for the sake of getting everyone on the same page regarding definition, I’ll use the one from TIES (The International Ecotourism Society):

“Responsible travel to areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people.”

And one country that has progressed tremendously in ecotourism and its practices is South Africa. Allow me to state briefly about the principles of “4C’s”, practicing tourism that meets the needs of:

1. Conservation; 
2. Community; 
3. Culture; and
4. Commerce.

And to use one example of how this is put into action, I’ve chosen one leading Safari Tour Operator & Management Company, Wilderness Safaris, and their take on this strategy.

Wilderness Safaris views responsible, nature-based tourism as the most effective and practical vehicle to ensure the sustainability of African conservation in the modern era. We are serious about what we do and believe fully in our vision of contributing meaningfully to conservation.

Our sustainability strategy is encapsulated by “the 4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce.

And this is how they translate it into actionable steps:

1. CONSERVATION:

This comprises two elements:

A. Environmental Management Systems deals with how we build and manage our camps in the most eco-friendly way possible to ensure that we have the lowest possible carbon footprint.

B. Biodiversity Conservation covers the understanding, management and protection of the wildlife and ecosystems with which we are involved.

And they work alongside The Wilderness Trust, a South Africa-based independent entity supporting a variety of wildlife management, research and education projects throughout southern Africa.

2. COMMUNITY:

People are the heart of our business. We believe in honest, mutually beneficial and dignified relationships with our rural community partners in ways that deliver a meaningful and life-changing share of the proceeds of responsible ecotourism to all stakeholders. Our mechanisms include community-centric employment, joint ventures, education and training, social and health benefits, capacity-building and infrastructure development.

This comprises two elements:
A. Training:

Staff and guide training is a vital part of our operation. Through regional training programmes, we provide local people with the skills to become some of the best guides and managers in the African tourist industry.

B. HIV/AIDS

Our innovative HIV/AIDS programme, formally implemented with the assistance of primary health care and HIV specialist Dr Clive Evian in 2003, has built a solid foundation over the past 9 years.

And they work in close cooperation with Children in the Wilderness.

Our Children in the Wilderness programme, our pride and joy, is part of our Community vertical. Every year, some of our camps are closed to paying guests while we host underprivileged children from neighbouring communities.

3. CULTURE

Culture is a multifaceted element that governs respect for the culture of all employees as well as remote rural communities surrounding the conservation areas. This is reflected in: a healthy social environment in camp; area-appropriate camp design, décor, entertainment and meals; respect for traditional rights within and surrounding the conservation area; and communication of the area’s traditional culture to guests and staff.

At a time of increasing globalisation the protection, conservation, interpretation and presentation of the heritage and cultural diversity of any particular place or region is an important challenge for people everywhere.

4. COMMERCE

Commence deals with our ecotourism offering and is perhaps the most critical element to sustainability in the modern world. We can only make a difference in Africa if we are doing well. If our business is profitable, based on sound business principles and on good solid moral principles, then we can make good on our promise to make a difference.

The Commerce ‘C’ is what gives us the resources to make the interventions under the other three Cs. Without a viable business model, we cannot justify investing in the areas in which we operate.

Inspiration: Wilderness Safaris

Santiago-based Architecture Firm AATA Arquitectos Asociados has a knack for bringing to life eco-friendly concepts with a modern twist. See my other post on their prefab green cubes in Easter Islasnd, the Morerava Eco Cabins. 

AATA has brought their design to the urban environment, for an exhibit at the Centro Cultural Palacio la Moneda in Santiago. This was to celebrate the artisanal craftsmanship heritage of the indigenous people of Chile.

According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), it goes beyond retrofitting hotel rooms to conserving energy or planting an organic herb garden on its grounds. Ecotourism is described by the TIES as:

Responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people.

Environmental awareness and social responsibility has never been more chic and accessible. More than ever before, the world’s most renowned architects, designers, chefs and hoteliers are banding together to create a way of life that is both fashionable, yet treads lightly on the planet. EcoChic unearths the latest and most exciting developments the Green Movement has to offer, touching on gourmet eco cuisine, sustsainable fashion, eco architecture and green experiental travel, alongside daily improvements one can practice as part of an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. With ecological awareness fast becoming an integral aspect of our existence, EcoChic will be the quintessential guide to sophistication aspiring to live life both responsibly, and with style.

What I see in nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. ~ Albert Einstein

If we stop thinking of the poor as victims or as a burden and start recognizing them as resilient and creative entrepreneurs and value conscious consumers, a whole new world of opportunity will open up. ~ C.K. Prahalad

Inspiration: Frangia Eco Chic, Ideas Inspiring Innovation

Video from Taproot Founder Aaron Hurst from Taproot Foundation on Vimeo.

I stumbled upon a great non profit organization, Tap Root Foundation, whose core mission is to help provide professional services to other non profit organizations, via Pro Bono Services from Expert Professionals in their field.  Because in the end, just like corporations, non profit organizations face the same challenges of how to run their organizations efficiently and effectively, using a plethora of resources and skills… all for the goal of reaching their goals. Providing humanitarian efforts is a commendable action, anywhere on the planet, but these organizations must be run professionally too, it’s not as simply as a few do-gooders joining forces in their conviction of a great cause. Humanitarians may differ from their counterparts in the corporate sector with a higher degree of idealism, but the manner in which they run their organizations succumb to the same risk as corporations, in professional management, optimizing resources on hand, and seeking innovation to get things done better.

The challenges of Financing, Marketing, HRD-matters, and Operations, are all the same. The Tap Root Foundation recognized this challenge early on and seeks to make a difference by seeking help from professionals willing to donate/volunteer services pro bono. Great cause, lofty mission… deserving the support! Thank heavens for Social Media, spreading such commendable message has become so much easier… and their great cause… all the more doable!

When we think of someone volunteering for a nonprofit, a typical image which comes to mind involves an individual working in a homeless shelter or digging a well in Africa, taking a position on the front line to help those in dire need. But all nonprofits need help with infrastructure too: marketing, computers, human resources & finance.

Most organizations tackling social problems don’t have access to the marketing, design, technology, management or strategic planning resources they need to succeed. Without this talent, few are able to have their intended impact on critical issues like the environment, health and education. Taproot is a nonprofit organization that makes business talent available to organizations working to improve society.

Inspiration: Global Patriot

Taproot’s Approach from Taproot Foundation on Vimeo.

I stumbled upon a great non profit organization, Tap Root Foundation, whose core mission is to help provide professional services to other non profit organizations, via Pro Bono Services from Expert Professionals in their field.  Because in the end, just like corporations, non profit organizations face the same challenges of how to run their organizations efficiently and effectively, using a plethora of resources and skills… all for the goal of reaching their goals. Providing humanitarian efforts is a commendable action, anywhere on the planet, but these organizations must be run professionally too, it’s not as simply as a few do-gooders joining forces in their conviction of a great cause. Humanitarians may differ from their counterparts in the corporate sector with a higher degree of idealism, but the manner in which they run their organizations succumb to the same risk as corporations, in professional management, optimizing resources on hand, and seeking innovation to get things done better.

The challenges of Financing, Marketing, HRD-matters, and Operations, are all the same. The Tap Root Foundation recognized this challenge early on and seeks to make a difference by seeking help from professionals willing to donate/volunteer services pro bono. Great cause, lofty mission… deserving the support! Thank heavens for Social Media, spreading such commendable message has become so much easier… and their great cause… all the more doable!

When we think of someone volunteering for a nonprofit, a typical image which comes to mind involves an individual working in a homeless shelter or digging a well in Africa, taking a position on the front line to help those in dire need. But all nonprofits need help with infrastructure too: marketing, computers, human resources & finance.

Most organizations tackling social problems don’t have access to the marketing, design, technology, management or strategic planning resources they need to succeed. Without this talent, few are able to have their intended impact on critical issues like the environment, health and education. Taproot is a nonprofit organization that makes business talent available to organizations working to improve society.

Inspiration: Global Patriot

Hello, I’m Severn Suzuki, speaking for ECO, The Environmental Children Organization. We’re a group of 12 and 13 year olds trying to make a difference. Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg, and me. We’ve raised all the money to come here ourselves. To come 5,000 miles to tell you, adults, you must change your ways. Coming up here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future.

Losing my future is not like losing the election or a few points on the stock market. I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of all the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak for the countless animals, dying across this planet every day, because they have no where left to go.

I am afraid to go out into the sun now, because of the holes in our ozone. I am afraid to breathe the air, because I don’t know what chemicals are in it….

While attending Lord Tennyson Elementary School in French Immersion, at age 9, she founded the Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO), a group of children dedicated to learning and teaching other youngsters about environmental issues.[3] In 1992, at age 12, Severn Cullis-Suzuki raised money with members of ECO, to attend the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. [Source: Wikipedia]

They say that a picture tells a thousand words, and can travel across borders. When a picture is that compelling, often no translation is required. Such is true in photojournalism.

The reverse can also be said, about attaching statistics and figures that can help drive home a message as it puts into perspective reality. Often making a transition between perceived reality into well… reality bites.

Here are some not so rosy figs about the plight of the world’s oceans and her contents that were published in Singapore-based “Asian Diver” adventure travel magazine.

• 2048: The year ecologists and economists predict that the world will run out of seafood.

• US$ 9 billion: The annual value of illegal fishing activities.

• 1 billion: The number of people who rely on fish as one of their main sources of protein.

• 2008: The year the Yangtze River Dolphin was declared extinct due to pollution and boat strikes.

• 90%: The percentage of all the ocean’s large fish that have been fished out.

• 23,000: The number of dolphins and porpoises reportedly killed every year in Japan.