IUCN partners with the TUI Care Foundation to protect threatened species through nature-based tourism projects
Gland, Switzerland (IUCN) – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is partnering with the TUI Care Foundation to support species conservation through nature-based tourism projects in Namibia and Cambodia. The Foundation is supporting IUCN Save Our Species to fund and deliver two community-based tourism projects that will both protect threatened species and ensure positive outcomes for local communities.
Photo: Sophea Chea
NNDFN Namibia Rangers
Photo: Dave Cole
Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General, IUCN said, “Collaborations like this one show the importance of diverse partnerships in achieving global nature goals and positive outcomes for local and Indigenous communities alike. They are the stewards of much of our delicate natural world and it is vital that they are recognised and treated equitably as partners in its protection.”
Thomas Ellerbeck, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the TUI Care Foundation added: “This groundbreaking partnership, as part of our global Wildlife programme, highlights the transformative power of tourism in conservation. By integrating conservation efforts with sustainable tourism, we are fostering a symbiotic relationship where both nature and local communities thrive. This initiative not only safeguards endangered species but also transforms local communities into active participants and beneficiaries of conservation.”
Supporting Indigenous community-based conservation in Namibia
The Nyae Nyae and N≠a Jaqna nature conservancies are managed by Indigenous San communities in north-eastern Namibia. These communities steward more than 18,000 km² of savannah, habitat for many threatened species, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos.
While the conservancies play a critical role monitoring threatened species and managing their habitat, they face major challenges, including lack of resources and livelihood opportunities. Thanks to the partnership, IUCN Save Our Species is supporting a three-year scheme to strengthen the conservancies’ capacities for biodiversity conservation through the development of sustainable, nature-based tourism projects.
Sustainable tourism will create job opportunities for locals, as wildlife guides, hospitality managers and tourism operators. This in turn, supports greater environmental awareness on the importance of the Conservancies’ work and scales-up resources for the participation of local communities to participate and benefit from nature conservation.
Driving ecotourism in Cambodia
In Cambodia, Veun Sai Siem Pang National Park is a biodiversity hotspot, home to many threatened species like the Endangered northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. However, the park faces growing threats like deforestation driven by poverty. Under the partnership, communities will be trained in conservation efforts, including species population monitoring, to improve the protection and management of this biodiversity hotspot.
Collaborating with local tour guides, the project will help to develop ecological tourism opportunities, with guided tours and environmental education workshops, which in turn generate more income and opportunities for community-based conservation. Critical to its success, this two-year project is engaging local communities to ensure that habitats for threatened species are conserved and communities benefit.
Notes to editors
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
TUI Care Foundation
Manuel Ferreira
Head of Programme Management and External Communication
+44 7471 260915
[email protected]
IUCN
Amy Coles
Media and Communications Office
Tel: +41 22 999 0000, Mobile: +41 79 415 7857
[email protected]
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, Indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
About the TUI Care Foundation
Building on the potential of tourism as a force for good, the TUI Care Foundation supports and initiates projects which create new opportunities and contribute to thriving communities in tourism destinations all over the world. Connecting holidaymakers to good causes, it supports education and training opportunities for young people; drives the protection of natural habitats and the marine environment; and helps local communities to thrive sustainably and benefit from tourism. The TUI Care Foundation builds on strong partnerships with local and international organisations to create meaningful and long-lasting impact. The independent charitable organisation was founded by TUI, one of the world's leading tourism businesses, and is based in the Netherlands.