Every year, I deposit a portion of the company’s earnings into my Conservation Fund. In 2019, I decided on USD 5.00 per bed-night which raised a total of nearly USD 2,000.00 to be donated to conservation initiatives in Zambia. This is small-scale funding compared to some of the grants that large NGOs give and receive, but it’s crucial that all businesses that operate in — and benefit from — the Natural world repay that benefit in some way. And, crucially, in a way that is sustainable.
After careful consideration, I divided the fund equally between 3 excellent initiatives in Eastern Zambia – Conservation South Luangwa, BioCarbon Partners & Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust.
I’m really pleased that the conservation fund donation to Conservation South Luangwa will be used to finance anti-snare patrols next year and support the ongoing requirement for law-enforcement in the marginal areas between human populations and wildlife. If you would like to add to this support, please consider donating this Christmas to a very worthwhile cause.
BioCarbon Partners’ remit is to protect wildlife habitat by making forests valuable to local people in natural form, rather than only as timber or firewood. You can read a lot more about their plan for reinvesting the revenues from carbon credits. The donated funds bought 61 tonnes of carbon credits which offsets the carbon emissions generated by me and my business this year, including my airline flights.
Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust’s work is perhaps the most important of all. They invest in children’s education, teaching and inspiring them to care about Nature. Many of their graduates are now working in wildlife conservation and have gone as far as the USA for University, training or to advocate for conservation. I am thrilled that the funds donated will be used for their Nature Nights Programme. This programme gives local kids the chance to experience the rich natural world and learn from safari experts about the bush around them.
All this support would not be possible without the guests who travel with me, visit Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana and help to support the unique ecosystems where I work, and which local people in these areas rely on. Thank you from me and from Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. And Happy Christmas.
