The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is partnering with the TUI Care Foundation to support species conservation through nature-based tourism projects in Namibia and Cambodia. The Foundation is supporting IUCN Save Our Species to fund and deliver two community-based tourism projects that will both protect threatened species and ensure positive outcomes for local communities. 

Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General, IUCN said, “Collaborations like this one show the importance of diverse partnerships in achieving global nature goals and positive outcomes for local and Indigenous communities alike. They are the stewards of much of our delicate natural world and it is vital that they are recognised and treated equitably as partners in its protection.” 

Thomas Ellerbeck, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the TUI Care Foundation added: “This groundbreaking partnership, as part of our global Wildlife programme, highlights the transformative power of tourism in conservation. By integrating conservation efforts with sustainable tourism, we are fostering a symbiotic relationship where both nature and local communities thrive. This initiative not only safeguards endangered species but also transforms local communities into active participants and beneficiaries of conservation.” 

Supporting Indigenous community-based conservation in Namibia 

The Nyae Nyae and N≠a Jaqna nature conservancies are managed by Indigenous San communities in north-eastern Namibia. These communities steward more than 18,000 km² of savannah, habitat for many threatened species, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos.  

While the conservancies play a critical role monitoring threatened species and managing their habitat, they face major challenges, including lack of resources and livelihood opportunities. Thanks to the partnership, IUCN Save Our Species is supporting a three-year scheme to strengthen the conservancies’ capacities for biodiversity conservation through the development of sustainable, nature-based tourism projects.  

Sustainable tourism will create job opportunities for locals, as wildlife guides, hospitality managers and tourism operators. This in turn, supports greater environmental awareness on the importance of the Conservancies’ work and scales-up resources for the participation of local communities to participate and benefit from nature conservation. 

Driving ecotourism in Cambodia 

In Cambodia, Veun Sai Siem Pang National Park is a biodiversity hotspot, home to many threatened species like the Endangered northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. However, the park faces growing threats like deforestation driven by poverty. Under the partnership, communities will be trained in conservation efforts, including species population monitoring, to improve the protection and management of this biodiversity hotspot.  

Collaborating with local tour guides, the project will help to develop ecological tourism opportunities, with guided tours and environmental education workshops, which in turn generate more income and opportunities for community-based conservation. Critical to its success, this two-year project is engaging local communities to ensure that habitats for threatened species are conserved and communities benefit. 

A shared vision for people and nature 

Both projects reflect a shared vision by IUCN and the TUI Care Foundation: to enable communities to become active participants and beneficiaries in nature conservation. 

These efforts are part of the broader IUCN Save Our Species programme, which supports frontline conservation action. They also align with the TUI Care Foundation’s mission to harness tourism as a force for good by protecting ecosystems and empowering communities.