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COMMUNITY ECO-TOURISM DEVELOPMENT |
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Since 1996 The Nature Workshop has been
involved in the development of
community-based eco-tourism ventures
across southern Africa. Our ethos
focuses on the preservation of
wilderness regions and the expansion of
new conservation regions across Africa.
In most cases we find wilderness and
conservation regions are surrounded by
indigenous communities residing on land
that is at best marginal. As such the
demand for more land from communities is
always a factor that needs to be
balanced against the need to protect our
Natural Heritage. |
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Eco-Tourism development provides
opportunities to involve communities in
the long-term preservation and
conservation of our Natural Heritage,
without which there would be no reason
for the communities to see value in
conserving these wilderness regions. |
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The process and detail behind any
Community Eco-Tourism Development has to
be followed. There are no short cuts and
the process can be lengthy and time
consuming, but ultimately extremely
rewarding. The process will differ from
one project and development to the next
but they all follow a similar course.
The process The Nature Workshop takes is
as follows: |
- Introduction of The Nature
Workshop to community stakeholders;
- Formalisation of communities into
legal entities i.e. Community Trusts;
- Training of Trustees;
- Negotiation and discussion with
Wildlife, National Park, or Local
Government authorities;
- Community consultation and
briefing from community as to the
communities Eco-tourism objectives;
- Development of Concept for
Eco-Tourism development (as per Lodge
Concept, Design and Development);
- The Nature Workshop to conduct
full assessment of concept ideas and
feasibility;
- Presentation of Concept & Design
(Architects) to community;
- Costing of the development
(Quantity Surveyors, Interior
Decorators);
- Capital raising for development -
NGO and Other Development Funds;
Development Banks i.e. DBSA, IDC;
- Project Management along with
Architects, Quantity Surveyors and
Builders;
- Staffing and Training;
- Operational and Management
services;
- Marketing, Sales and Reservations;
- On-going community liaison and
support;
- Implementation of community based
projects, based on community skills
sets and possible lodges requirements
and support to the eco-tourism
venture.
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