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Concessions and sustainability in southern
Africa: Wilderness Safaris
Sue Snyman
International Workshop on Tourism Concessions in
Southern Africa
Maputo, Mozambique, 19-22 March 2012
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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
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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
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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)
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Conservation - Biodiversity
…there is no Wilderness without
the wilderness
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Before
After
Protecting and restoring habitats
…maximise the conservation and tourism value
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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
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Biodiversity inventory
… need to properly understand the
ecosystems in which one operates
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Conservation – Environmental management systems
Commitment to energy efficiency
Solar powered
camps
solar geysers
…batteries and inverters
reduce generator use
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Different types of sewage
treatment are used:
•Septic tanks with soakaways
•Above ground sewage plants
Waste water discharges
Solid waste•Recycle wherever possible
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Bottled Water
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Environmental Impact
Management
…Group Environmental Minimum Standards
…minimise negative impacts and maximise positive impacts
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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)
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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
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External community
…develop positive and constructive
engagements with neighbouring
communities
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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
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Tourism activities and culture
…various cultural activities incorporated into the guest experience
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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)
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Commerce
…mobilises the resources needed to make interventions
and contributions to long-term sustainability
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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
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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
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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
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THANK YOU
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