Serengeti ecosystem faces growing threats. Friends of Serengeti – a nonprofit organization founded by Serengeti Watch – is looking for members to promote sustainable travel and benefit local communities.
David Blanton, Director at Serengeti Watch said:
“The Serengeti and Mara ecosystems are at a critical point and our actions will determine their resilience and sustainability.”
The travel industry is playing a vital role. Climate change, growing human and livestock populations and threatened water resources are all contributing to a perfect storm that threatens the Serengeti eco-system. Maasai herders are also being forced to leave their traditional lands in order to make room for more tourism. This has caused an international outcry.
Tourism exacerbates these threats, adding roads, lodges, and other infrastructure into the ecosystem, disrupting wildlife hunting, reproduction, and access to key rivers. areas. Tourism must align itself with best practices and build guardrails to protect biodiversity and promote local development.
Mission and Benefits
Friends of Serengeti’s mission is to create a framework that supports ecosystems through a sustainable approach.gh advocacy & funding
This includes:
- Maintaining best practices for responsible and sustainable tourism.
- Supporting the rights of local communities and their livelihoods.
- Travelers should be educated about conservation and community initiatives and encouraged to participate.
- Assuring that local operators and guides adhere to high standards.
- Advocating for responsible travel policies
Members can also stand out on the market by demonstrating their commitment towards conservation. Using Friends of Serengeti brand and, Safari operators, hotels, and lodges can use this to attract eco-conscious travelers.
Members engage their travelers by providing them with information and asking for voluntary donations to pay for their trips. Modeled on the successful International Galapagos Tour Operators AssociationThe experience of travelers shows that they are willing to give, and want to feel like they are part of a solution.
Friends of Serengeti partners with organizations on the ground in order to identify and implement needs. The focus of the project is to provide benefits to local community members so that they become stewards for the park.A remarkable natural heritage.
Membership Information
Tour operators from around the world and East Africa are welcome to join. Dues are $600 per year for international members, and $400 for East African tour operators. Friends of Serengeti members can benefit from the Friends of Serengeti brand, marketing materials, as well as enhanced online visibility.
