Daniel Turner

The importance of nature

As tour operators, we already know the importance of nature and what it uniquely brings to many destinations across the world. It:

• Is integral to our prosperity and wellbeing
• Supports human development and equality
• Feeds our resilience to viral pandemics and climate change
• Provides the lives of thousands of other species

In fact, The World Economic Forum estimated Nature’s economic value generation at US$44 trillion. That’s over half of the world’s total GDP! Yet, as highlighted in ANIMONDIAL’s May blog, “Save Nature; save ourselves”, biodiversity loss is rapidly causing its demise.

Tourism must act #ForNature

Last week, the JNCC (the UK Government’s advisor on nature conservation), issued a stark warning on how consumer choices are causing significant natural habitat loss across the world. Not only resulting in massive biodiversity loss, but also driving climate change.

Studies indicate there is still time to reverse our negative impact on the environment, save nature, and enjoy the benefits this brings. At the same time, it also evidences that we cannot just carry on where we left off - before COVID-19. This is why tourism must act now, to conserve nature.

Entering the planetary era

Encouragingly, there is growing interest and motivation to learn from our mistakes and build something better. Dr Robert Gilman, the sustainability pioneer, has acknowledged that humanity is entering the “Planetary Era”, whereby change agents are developing compassionate and sustainable cultures.

However, with a task so great, it’s often difficult to know where to start and what to do, or even whether our actions are doing enough.

“Sustainable tourism can no longer be regarded as an ‘aim to have', but an integral component of all that we do"

We need to give back more than we take away. And do all we can to encourage the entire, mainstream tourism industry to do the same. A multifaceted, strategic approach is required to optimise output, involving all departments within your business as well as stakeholders across the supply chain.

Reconnecting humanity with nature

Anna Pollock, founder of Conscious Travel, has said regeneration of the travel industry (post-COVID), must begin in the community. Given the fact that domestic tourism is likely to return first. Efforts through tourism, should ensure the care of people and the environment. I share this sentiment, and further believe that tourism can be, and has to be the medium for reconnecting humanity with nature and its wildlife, as well as local people and their culture.

3 ways to contribute to nature conservation

So, what can you do as a tour operator? I’ve composed 3 ways, each with several tips, to practically contribute to nature conservation.

Let’s take responsibility

Fellow members of the tourism sector; post-COVID tourism must do what it can to act #ForNature. We must all take responsibility, end destructive activity, and strive to return and value what we have lost. Tour operators (no matter the size) have a crucial role to play, by putting nature at the core of their activities and decision-making, assessing, mitigating, and managing animal and nature-related risk.