Latest News
HomeRegional NewsAfricaMara Naboisho becomes first Wildlife Conservancy "Early Adopter" of GSTC for destinations
Africa

Mara Naboisho becomes first Wildlife Conservancy "Early Adopter" of GSTC for destinations

Kenyan destination recognized for good practices and desire for improvement.

Mara Naboisho is the first wildlife conservancy to participate in the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) Early Adopters Program. In doing so, the destination has achieved an important milestone in the recognition of sustainable tourism as a model to protect an area of high concentration of wildlife in Kenya’s Greater Mara region, while empowering the local Maasai community.

Lars Lindkvist, CEO of Basecamp Foundation, which oversees the destination said, “Mara Naboisho Conservancy is honored to be the first wildlife conservancy to participate in the GSTC’s Early Adopter Program. We are proud of our innovative approach to sustainable tourism, which is already realizing significant benefits, and improving lives and livelihoods in the beautiful Masai Mara. From the evaluation, we recognize a great opportunity to monitor and report on our impacts going forward, so that we can celebrate our success, identify improvements, and collaborate both regionally and across the globe.”

Home to a large variety of flora and fauna, Mara Naboisho Conservancy is a 50,000-acre community located in a pristine part of Narok South district, next to the heavily trafficked tourist destination Masai Mara National Reserve, approximately 250 km from Kenya’s capital.

Through a participatory planning process that deserves global recognition for inclusiveness of its stakeholders, innovation, and outcomes, Mara Naboisho Conservancy has already begun transforming lives and land. “Throughout its short existence, the destination has already seen a significant increase in wildlife numbers and a strengthening of local traditions, while encouraging Maasai landowners to take a proactive role in their own survival”, revealed the evaluation from Sustainable Travel International, the lead NGO partner for the GSTC on the Early Adopter Program.

“The results from Mara Naboisho Conservancy’s assessment are outstanding. The tourism model implemented by the destination successfully integrates many fundamental sustainable tourism practices and principles. As the conservancy grows, it will only increase its positive impact on tourism partners and landowners. It is truly a global showcase for the wildlife conservancy model” added Jeremy Sampson, Sustainable Travel International’s Senior Director and Destination Specialist, who also conducted the on-site assessment.

In 2010, Basecamp Foundation Kenya was requested by some 500 Maasai landowners to facilitate the creation of the conservancy as a community wildlife and tourism cluster. The conservancy was designed to protect the natural resources and socio-cultural heritage of the Maasai land, to promote tourism through partnerships with investors, and to contribute to sustainable growth for their people.
 
After three years of intense planning, compromise, and implementation of strict policies, the conservancy decided to participate in the GSTC Early Adopter Program in order to evaluate its performance and to help identify areas for improvement with hopes of benefiting those communities working toward similar objectives. “In a time when complex solutions are critical to the conservation of the last remaining vestiges of spectacular wildlife, as well as the improvement of quality of life for the traditional landowners of the Mara, this project represents hope in finding solutions. This project will continue to be a leader and a case to exemplify hope for the future” said Dr. Kelly Bricker, Chair of the GSTC.

News Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Posts

Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.

25/04/2024
24/04/2024
23/04/2024
22/04/2024
19/04/2024
18/04/2024