Tourism for People and Planet: how responsible is
responsible?
Manchester 04 April 2014
The Zeitz Foundation• Created in 2008• A Holistic Balance in
Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce – 4Cs
• Two Pillars:(a)The Long Run
Initiative(b)Laikipia Program
Vision: ....an ecosphere – our planet and all of its life-sustaining regions
– maintained in the healthiest possible state, with the major contribution to that health coming from people making sustainable choices.
Mission: ... to create and support sustainable, ecologically and socially
responsible projects and destinations around the world to achieve long-lasting impact and sustainability through the holistic balance of conservation, community, culture and commerce (the 4C’s) in privately managed areas.
The Long Run Initiative - LRI
• Membership– Long Run Supporters– Long Run Alliance Members– Global Ecosphere Retreats
• GER ® Standard
LRI Reach
Setting it Apart ...
• The holistic balance in 4Cs• A focus on posterity• A journey of continuous improvement• Leveraging business and enterprise for
the wellbeing of planet and people
The Complexity
The Web of Life is Intricately Woven - exemplified by droughts, famines, poaching, feuds and wars, profit and loss, inequities and inequalities
Despair or Hope:
The connectedness and complexity of life ....
... offers
multitude of
opportunities
and synergies:
The Laikipia Case
Soneva Fushi - Thailand
The Whole World Water: Billion possible to save and invest for posterity
Tahi – New Zeeland
The Honey in Harrods
Massai in Alps
The Grootbos – South Africa
...from 9 acres of degraded farmland to 60,000 acres of conservancy ....
Michael Lutzeyer
Is it Making a Difference?
In less than 5 years, at the end of 2013,the LRI community reached 78 members conserving more than 12
million acres of biodiversity sustaining livelihoods and supporting economies
around the world. Last year, the 9 core founding destinations alone invested
more than 4 million USD in the 4Cs
My Take Home
• Synergies are inherent in complexity of life;• Innovation and knowledge sharing is key• Ethical appeal alone is not enough;
conservation must make economic sense;• Pragmatism needs to guide responsible
tourism – how responsible is responsible!• Credible assessments are essential but lacking
The journey continues ...