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 ...