Members of The Long Run Safeguard Global Landscapes Greater Than the Size of Switzerland

London, England (19^th July 2018) –  THE LONG RUN, THE WORLD’S LARGEST SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INITIATIVE, HAS REVEALED THAT LAST YEAR ITS MEMBERS HELPED PROTECT MORE THAN 13 MILLION ACRES OF SOME OF THE WORLD’S ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS.

 

This includes biodiverse havens and prestigious travel destinations such as; Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, a unique lodge located among the fynbos of South Africa’s largest floral kingdom; Segera, a 50,000-acre retreat of pristine wilderness in Northern Kenya; and Caiman Ecological Refuge, Brazil’s first eco-lodge located in the Pantanal, one of the world’s most important wetlands.

 

The 13 million-acre area that The Long Run members together protect is larger than the land mass of not only Switzerland (10 million acres), but almost as large as the combined size of Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

 

Publishing its 2017 Annual Report, the non-profit organisation – which was founded by former Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz to unite nature-based tourism operators in achieving the most rigorous sustainability standards – announced that this had enabled more than 30,000 wildlife species to be protected at a time when biodiversity is increasingly under threat.

 

Members of The Long Run also invested over $10 million in conservation and local communities. Collectively, they have a positive impact on the lives of over 500,000 people, many of whom are indigenous inhabitants of Long Run members’ landscapes and among the planet’s most marginalized populations.

 

"Our vision is that of a world in which business, nature and people are harmoniously working together for a sustainable future," Mr Zeitz said. "The Long Run is extraordinary in that it provides a unique way to manage land and water holistically — integrating a robust financial model to sustain positive impacts for the long-term."

 

The Long Run was founded in 2009 to support eco-sensitive tourism ventures as they sought to develop businesses in tune with the protection of the landscapes in which they operate. It now has more than 30 members and is the world’s largest sustainable tourism initiative. Last year its members employed over 5,500 people and supported over 100 cultures.

 

Mr Zeitz continued: "No other organisation proposes a win-win solution founded on systemic change, and therefore, The Long Run is in a strong position to make a difference to the conservation of ecosystems around the world, as well as to the communities and cultures that rely on these landscapes."

 

The Long Run‘s destinations around the globe

 

The 2017 Annual Report blends statistics and graphics, along with breathtaking photographs of The Long Run‘s member destinations. Dr Delphine Malleret-King, Director of The Long Run, said: "Our members manage unique places, in beautiful, often threatened wilderness areas. What sets them apart is the depth of experiences they provide because of the passion and purpose they share.

 

"Beyond financial profit, they strive to protect nature for the future and improve the lives of people, using their business to do so. The Long Run firmly believes that business has the power to help solve some of the biggest environmental and social challenges the world faces today."

 

A full version of The Long Run‘s 2017 Annual Report can be found here:

https://tinyurl.com/y8fd7ogx

 

For further press information or interview requests please contact:

Alicia Brett, Marketing Manager, [email protected]

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

About The Long Run

 

Set up in 2009, The Long Run has quickly grown to become one of the world’s largest sustainable development initiatives. It works by championing any nature-based tourism business which is willing to commit to a journey of sustainable improvement through The Long Run’s ‘4C’ framework (encompassing Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce).

 

Members of The Long Run are at the forefront of conservation and responsible tourism, be that in Scotland or Sao Paulo, and prove that the planet and profit can co-exist and thrive together. Through their membership these pioneering businesses become connected to a global community of exceptional destinations and organisations who support and inspire each other to expand their positive impact even further, as well as collectively influencing others to take up best practices for a sustainable future.

 

The Long Run provides ongoing support to members to drive sustainability, as well as helping inform travellers about making positive choices which support responsible destinations. All members of The Long Run strive to become recognised as Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®. The GER® standard is one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the tourism industry. This standard was granted recognition by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in 2015, and is only awarded to organisations that demonstrate a holistic balance of the ‘4C’s, excel in conserving nature and improve the wellbeing of the communities they belong to.

 

Website: www.thelongrun.org

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