Sustainable Travel
Bushfunds for Wildlife and Community
Wildlife Conservation * Cultural Heritage * Energy Reduction
Bushtracks travelers are conscientious citizens of the world. They understand that traveling to remote places can provide rural communities with practical economic alternatives, and that well managed tourism can be an effective tool in promoting environmental sustainability, and preserving traditional lifestyles that are light on the land.
Bushtracks Expeditions was founded by the Tett family, whose members have lived in Africa for six generations. For years we have supported the concept of sustainable utilization of wild places that involve and benefit local communities. We care for the environments we work in. We acknowledge the value of biodiversity and healthy eco-systems, and we understand the need to support traditional people and their communities.
This commitment has led us to a core philosophy of giving back at a grass roots level. It also allows us to meet repeated requests of our travelers to give back directly to the regions and communities that inspired them during their travels.
On a Bushtracks expedition you stay at safari camps and lodges that adhere to sound conservation management plans – this includes reducing their energy consumption and their carbon foot print; packing out what they pack in; training guides in ecology and low impact game viewing techniques; fostering community pride through employment and entrepreneurial initiatives; and supporting AIDS education programs.
Traveling with Bushtracks fuels an economic engine that sustains communities and their cultural heritage, wildlife conservation, and far flung community projects.
Adventure Collection Responsible Tourism
As a Member of The Adventure Collection, Bushtracks fully supports and consciously attempts to exemplify in all its programs the essence of the Adventure Collection's Responsible Travel Statement. The Mission Statement of The Adventure Collection reads:
The companies of the Adventure Collection are professionally committed to the cultural and environmental well being of the places we visit and where we operate. We follow expertly designed on-the-ground practices. We seek to create inspirational experiences for guests and students, and we support a variety of institutions that further these ideals.
Bushtracks enthusiastically and wholeheartedly agrees to the Adventure Collection's five Strategic Principles of Responsible Travel and has integrated these principles into our workplace and our programs. This is an ongoing process which the Company takes very seriously. Bushtracks welcomes comments and suggestions for improvement through our guest evaluations and from anyone visiting this site. Email contact info@bushtracks.com, Attention: David Tett.
I. Bushtracks has specific ongoing projects that further the overall concept of Responsible Travel.
II. Bushtracks has a clearly defined strategy regarding accountability in Healdsburg, CA where its offices are located.
III. Bushtracks has a clearly defined strategy regarding accountability in the communities where Bushtracks trips take place.
IV. Responsible travel education guidelines are considered in developing all departures offered by Bushtracks.
V. Bushtracks is committed to a systematic review of its corporate performance regarding Responsible Travel.
Bushtracks - Adventure Collection Core Value for Responsible Tourism
Strategic Principle I – Bushtracks has ongoing projects that further the concept of Responsible Travel.
Bushtracks supports existing non-profit groups and individuals to help further Responsible Travel. Examples are:
- Generosity in Action
- Kapani School Project, Mfuwe, Zambia
- Ebenezer School Fund – Livingston, Zambia
- World Wildlife Fund
- African Wildlife Foundation
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- Louis Sarno and the BaAka Pygmy Communities of Bayanga, CAR
- Qantu Association, Cuzco, Peru
Return to 5 Values
Strategic Principle II - Bushtracks has a clearly defined strategy regarding accountability Healdsburg where our offices are located.
Bushtracks leads by example, and be good neighbors in our community. Our goal is to be profitable, hire locally, be environmentally responsible, and to achieve 100% participation of full-time Bushtracks staff in local community service and volunteerism.
Examples of our current efforts are:
- Supporting the local Healdsburg Boys and Girls Club with service on the Board, office equipment donations, and financial support
- Bushtracks Employee Policy states that full-time employees and trip leaders should be involved in at least one community service program
- Participating in local recycling programs
Return to 5 Values
Strategic Principle III - Bushtracks has a clearly defined strategy regarding accountability in the areas and communities where our trips take place.
Community Support:
Bushtracks was founded by the Tett family who has lived in Africa for six generations. For years we have actively supported sustainable utilization of wild areas that involve and benefit local communities. This practice works effectively on a continent where resources available for conservation are scarce to non-existent.
"Paying travelers" are one of the most critical components of utilizing a wild area with minimal impact on a sustainable basis, Bushtracks and our guests together play an important role in effectively supporting these conservation efforts and lodges around the world.
When joining a Bushtracks expedition, the safari camps and lodges in the wilderness areas adhere to conservation management plans with strict requirements such as packing out what you pack in; guides trained in ecology and low impact game viewing techniques; and support of local communities. For example: on our private air adventure through Central Africa, you will likely track forest elephant and lowland gorillas with guides from a local BaAka (Pygmy) village.
By traveling with Bushtracks to these remote ecoregions, travelers contribute to their economic value and the employment of traditional communities, and thus help secure the future of these outstanding areas of biodiversity and the traditional ways of life.
On recent trips to this village travelers funded the construction of a basketball court and are currently funding a guide educational program for the benefit of the local people.
Financial Support:
Bushtracks operates in many third world countries and cities, and in some particularly remote destinations where traditional communities, the environment, and the wildlife is threatened. We place a high priority on working with our travelers, local suppliers, ground operators, and guides to develop and support community accountability in these destinations. Our mechanism that implements this strategy is Generosity in Action:
Generosity in Action
For years our travelers have asked us how they might make an effective donation to projects or causes they encounter during their Bushtracks expedition. To this end we have established a relationship with Generosity in Action (www.GenerosityInAction.org) , a US based charitable foundation that provides our travelers the opportunity to contribute to worthwhile projects abroad, and at the same time receive a confirmation that their donation is tax-deductible in the United States.
As part of our "Giving Back" philosophy, Bushtracks accepts the task of facilitating and working with our local suppliers, ground operators, and guides to ensure our travelers' contributions are delivered to the designated program or community. Through our close working relationships, we monitor the donations and make sure each project is successfully completed. In many cases we have been working with ground operators and guides long enough for them to become personal friends, and they are very supportive and eager to see local people and environments benefit.
Example: The Kapani School Project, Mfuwe, Zambia is visited by many Bushtracks travelers. Bushtracks continues to offer financial support for the education of the children in the community. Now, through Generosity in Action our travelers are also able to contribute and receive confirmation of a US tax deductible donation. In 2007 over $15,000 was contributed to the school. Bushtracks working directly with a safari camp in the area has insured that the funds are properly administered and that 100% of the benefit goes to the education of the children.
Strategic Principle IV - Responsible travel education is an important component in developing all departures offered by Bushtracks.
Bushtracks incorporates a strong environmental and community education component in all our guided expeditions. Following are some examples of where we implement this principle:
Our expedition leaders and faculty leaders are professional educators who routinely interpret the cultures, environment, and wildlife encountered on all programs
Expedition leaders and faculty leaders routinely make travelers aware of, and raise issues on, cultural integrity and preservation, conservation and the value of sustainable utilization, and local field projects worthy of support
Guest speakers and field researchers from the World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Biodiversity Foundation for Africa, and other active local organizations address our groups on each program
Tread lightly practices implemented by our expedition leaders on all programs
Use of local ground operators, guides, vendors, and markets
Bushtracks adheres to the following statement which is inserted on all newly printed literature "Educational Excursions - Your guides in Africa are regional experts, educators, naturalists and scientists. They share our respect for the environment, and they are dedicated to preserving nature and supporting local communities. They know that learning about exotic places, rare animals, and cultures inspires and deepens one's appreciation of the world. Guest speakers also offer extensive local knowledge. Their presentations include insights to conservation, archaeology, community life, and African politics, and provide a rich context for your journey."
Strategic Principle V - Each AC member is committed to a systematic review of its corporate performance regarding Responsible Travel.
As an initial step, Bushtracks will endeavor to establish evaluation criteria and standards for Responsible Travel. We will then ask a representative from another AC member company or an outside entity approved by the AC Executive Committee to do an internal review. These reviews will be done on an annual basis, and a summary of these reviews will be posted on this website by December 1st of each year.
Bushtracks is committed to working with our AC colleagues in developing this into a Responsible Travel program that will not only provide credibility, but transparency and continued improvement in our practices.
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