Page 74 - Gondwana Collection Namibia Value Creation Report 2021

HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT

Eco-friendly lodges and lodge activities
The Gondwana game count – keeping our parks sustainable Gondwana launches Gondwana applies the highest environmental practices across The proof of our success
comprehensive its lodges and accommodation options. We are mindful of our Green Five Flower Certificate Eco Flower rating
Gondwana Canyon Park has run according to an environmental decline in animal numbers at the end guidebook to Namibia’s lodges’ carbon use and actively manage our carbon footprint.
management plan since 1996. This includes a wildlife of 2019 (63% decrease in wildlife from nature parks We invite travellers to enjoy low-carbon activities or means of Award of distinction awarded for exemplary environmental 12 Gondwana lodges have a five Eco Flower rating and received
programme that has increased the variety of animals to re- 2019 to 2020) due to the protracted transportation. These include: efforts excellent scores for conservation and guiding, energy, water,
establish the natural balance. These include red hartebeest, drought, the 2021 game count results In June 2021, Gondwana ○ The Desert Grace legal compliance and employee health and welfare.
Burchell’s zebra, blue wildebeest and giraffe. showed an 8% increase in numbers. released the first ○ E-bikes 12 lodges were assessed by Eco Awards in 2021, including seven
Although from a low base, gemsbok comprehensive guidebook to ○ Stargazing ○ The Delight
Game counts are an important tool in wildlife management. Namibia’s parks in almost 30 new properties. The results are still pending.
Gondwana opens game counting to the public with an event numbers increased by 125%, while years. Namibia Nature Parks ○ Fishing Three lodges are due to be assessed in 2022.
that draws about 50 participants. Game counting follows the springbok increased by 8% and kudu by Helge Denker showcases 22 ○ Dune-walking
same methodology each year. People count the animals on increased by 13%. state-protected areas and two large
standardised routes, and computerised estimations extrapolate For the second consecutive year, our stocking private nature reserves and offers an ○ Scorpion walks
the total animal populations based on the sample data. rate is lower than the carrying capacity of the overview of the community conservation ○ Tree-planting project in Canyon Park (where guests adopt Sustainable Development Awards
veld. This is a deliberate management action to areas that maintain wildlife habitat. a quiver tree)
This year brought an end to the six-year-long drought in aid in the veld recovery after many years of intensive In 2021, The Desert Grace was awarded the runner-up prize at the Environmental Investment Fund’s Sustainable Development
Gondwana Canyon Park. When we completed our annual game stocking. Good rainfall took the carrying capacity from a very This in-depth guide provides detailed portrayals of Eco Awards Namibia Awards in the category: Private Sector Champions for Sustainable Development.
count in the park in July 2021, we noted a vast improvement low 4kg/hectare (the lowest it’s been in the last two decades) in landscapes and geomorphology, fauna and flora, These awards are an initiative by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council.
in veld conditions. This meant that the animals were in good 2020, to 8.8kg/hectare in 2021. The historical carrying capacity history, current conservation priorities, research Our lodges consistently This category celebrates companies that embrace environmentally friendly approaches to managing and using energy, water, and waste.
condition. The management of waterholes, moving game for the area is 12kg/hectare. initiatives, and findings for each of the featured
around the park and well-spread rainfall have resulted in game protected areas. Other features include fact sheets https://sustainable-development-awards.eif.org.na
being evenly distributed throughout the park. The Gondwana Namib Park is part of the Greater Sossusvlei and detailed park maps showing all visitor routes receive environmental
Namib Landscape. The association was formed more than a and fascinating and informative nature notes and
Except for gemsbok, ostrich and kudu, game numbers decade ago to create a ‘fence-free’ Namib, allowing for the awards and high
continued to decrease. This is due to the game movement migration of wildlife. The parks’ fences were opened, allowing travel tips.
(the park has open boundaries to the west and south to allow wildlife to migrate beyond the 12 600-hectare park onto over Namibia Nature Parks is a conservation initiative with environmental ratings.
for migration of animals) and lagging reproduction following 500 000 hectares outside of the Namib Naukluft National Park. book proceeds supporting community conservation.
the good rains. Next year, we should see a significant uptick The Gondwana Care Trust administers the funds. The
in game numbers as many juveniles were seen throughout the The 2021 Gondwana Namib Park annual game count showed a compilation of the book is a private-sector initiative This is testament to their
park during the August to October calving season. 29% decrease in the total population, with only gemsbok and made possible by Gondwana and the author, with
wildebeest numbers increasing by 15% and 75%, respectively. A the Capricorn excellent sustainability
The Gondwana Kalahari Park annual game count took place
in July 2021. This year, the Kalahari Park received excellent major decrease was recorded in the springbok numbers which Group
rainfall, as opposed to the last six years of below-par rainfall. decreased from 214 in 2020 to just 67 in 2021. This is due to funding the track record.
The 9 800-hectare enclosed park has recovered well. After the springbok migration out of the park. printing
of the first Eco Awards Namibia is a sustainable tourism certification
edition of programme. Tourism operators volunteer for independent
GNP game population vs Rainfall 2014 – 2021 2 000 copies. assessments. These verify that they apply a high standard of
The project
1 200 100 is also an environmental care and sustainable practices that benefit the
environment and communities.
Established population 800 40 mm to the We participate because the Eco Awards’ accreditation aligns with
1 000
extension
80
our environmental sustainability goals.
60
Ministry of
600
This process determines our lodge’s
Environment,
social and environmental impact
Forestry and
400
200
also understand where we can
information
improve our environmental
0 20 Tourism’s and underlying standards. We Our outlook for 2022
materials
0
for state- performance and standards. While the tourism industry may take time to recover to 2019 levels, Gondwana is committed to funding and executing its environmental
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Gemsbok Springbok Ostrich Wildebeest protected Like the star rating system for protection projects. In 2022, we will rebuild, expand and reorganise our Environmental and Social Impact Team. We will review and
Hartebeest Steenbok Average rainfall areas. tourism establishments, Eco renew the environmental management plans and environmental clearance certificates, where applicable, for our lodges and parks.
Awards Namibia gives up to We will finalise and launch our online Gondwana Environmental Impact database, which will provide detailed information about our
five flowers for environmental environmental footprint and get our guests and online community more involved. Our tree-planting campaign will continue in earnest
sustainability. with plans to expand our tree nurseries and reach our target of planting 2 000 trees in 2022. More emphasis will be put on our
environmental and social impact pillars and how these relate to the SDGs.
www.ecoawards-namibia.org
70 VALUE CREATION REPORT 2021 GONDWANA COLLECTION NAMIBIA 71