Concessions and sustainability Wilderness Safaris Sue Snyman

Our Journeys Change Lives

Concessions and sustainability in southern

Africa: Wilderness Safaris

Sue Snyman

[email protected]

International Workshop on Tourism Concessions in

Southern Africa

Maputo, Mozambique, 19-22 March 2012



Sustainability issues integrated into the

concessions process

• EIAs and EMPs for any new/expansion projects– Includes social, economic and environmental aspects

• Materials for building – Sourcing

– Local materials

– Local labour

– Culturally appropriate

– Minimum environmental impact

• Sustainable processes during operation– Training

– EMS & alternative forms of energy

– Equitable, empowering community engagements


A strong

financial

foundation is

critical to the

overall health of

a business.

Without a

sustainable

base to the

product (camps

and wildlife) one

won’t have a

business.

Social equity or

fair community

engagement is

ethical and also

good business

sense.

Sharing and

respecting local

culture with

guests is as

important as

sharing wildlife

experiences.

Initiatives to promote sustainability



• Conservation/Environmental– Conservation of biodiverse areas

– Solar projects & water initiatives

– Minimise environmental impact

– Reduce overall carbon footprint

– Environmental education (guests/staff/community)

• Social– Community partnerships

– Philanthropy/Donations

– Staff training/development and empowerment

– Cultural activities

– Ethics Charter & Codes of Conduct for Cultural Tourism

• Economic– Budgets

– Consolidations & partnerships

– Brand awareness & strengthening

– Marketing (social media)

– Use of local suppliers of goods and services

– Alternative forms of energy (solar)


Conservation - Biodiversity

…there is no Wilderness without

the wilderness


Before

After

Protecting and restoring habitats

…maximise the conservation and tourism value


Water bodies

Ensure that there are no significant negative impacts on these bodies

Minimise water usage through collection buckets in solar showers &

education…most camps (70%) rely on borehole water


Biodiversity inventory

… need to properly understand the

ecosystems in which one operates


Conservation – Environmental management systems

Commitment to energy efficiency

Solar powered

camps

solar geysers

…batteries and inverters

reduce generator use


Different types of sewage

treatment are used:

•Septic tanks with soakaways

•Above ground sewage plants

Waste water discharges

Solid waste•Recycle wherever possible


Bottled Water


Environmental Impact

Management

…Group Environmental Minimum Standards

…minimise negative impacts and maximise positive impacts




















Internal community

• Employment: employ nearly 2 500 people

• Skills training and development – including Lobster Inc.

• Scholarships

• Staff welfare

• HIV/AIDS programme (Wellness)

• Environmental education & awareness


External community

…develop positive and constructive

engagements with neighbouring

communities


External Communities

Formal

•Contractual relationships e.g. joint ventures

and lease agreements

•Wages and salaries

•Lease fees and community levies

•Training and skills development

•Social welfare improvements for staff, e.g.

HIV/AIDS programme

Informal

•Environmental education: Children in the

Wilderness & Wilderness Angels

•Feeding schemes

•Curio sales to guests

•Improved infrastructure: roads, comm. etc.

•Empowerment impacts – involvement in local

decision making

•Scholarship programmes


Tourism activities and culture

…various cultural activities incorporated into the guest experience




















Commerce

…mobilises the resources needed to make interventions

and contributions to long-term sustainability


Case Study: Kalahari Plains Camp, Botswana

• 100% Solar

• Rain-water tanks

• Incorporates traditional walks: culture

• Payments to National Parks: conservation

• Waste removal & recycling

• Decommissioning with minimal impact


What has worked well

• Cost savings e.g. generator fuel

• Retention of staff

• Environmental awareness & conservation – guests,staff &

communities

• Overall sustainability of business

• Partnerships with communities (e.g. Namibia) –

empowerment & development

• Integrated report – brand awareness; awards; recognition


Challenges

• Getting operations to see the value of all aspects of sustainability & integrating into the business

• Cost of alternative forms of energy

• Cost of on-going skills training and development

• Time & cost issues related to maintaining community partnerships and engagements

• Achieving breakeven occupancies in niche camps

• Monitoring and collecting accurate, reliable, comparable data for reporting


THANK YOU

Concessions and sustainability Wilderness Safaris Sue Snyman

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