1) Driving destination sustainability

We have established a Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s recognised ‘Nature Friendly’ Kitemark for lodging sustainability – the PUG certification – with 85 certified providers in 26 protected and unprotected biodiversity rich habitats in India and Nepal. We are presently working on a number of separate proposals to bring new wildlife destinations to fruition.

2) Driving commitment from the travel industry

Nearly 300 of the world’s best-known travel operators, agents and suppliers are now members with a commitment to driving best practice, sustainability and support. We  run the most respected Wildlife Travel Awards in South India to highlight the best of the best across the subcontinent.

3) Encouraging new templates for conservation based investment

We fund research on wildlife tourism and its effects on conservation and communities, for Forest and Tourism departments to better understanding the issues and opportunities, and thereby create better regulations and more visionary policies to ensure nature based tourism is a tool for conservation and protection.  In 2010 we set up and proposed India’s first carbon funded community conservancy outside of the Protected area network.

4) Encouraging visitor and travel trade participation

We produce and sell the Good Wildlife Travel Guide to South Asia, (now in its third edition) and run countless lectures, industry and Forest workshops and training for travellers, for officials and for the travel industry globally and across South Asia.

5) Undertaking nature interpretation and training

We have trained over 600 personnel in nature interpretation, nature guiding and safari driving and an entire State’s Field and Tourism departments in nature tourism sustainability besides other training projects.

 

6) Funding conservation efforts

We have funded a range of projects, most recently batches of Village Wildlife Guardians on anti poaching and village and wildlife conflict projects, through partners in Ranthambhore and Kanha Tiger Reserves since 2014, resolving hundreds of man-predator conflicts every year.