Global Ecosphere Retreats®
A Long Run Standard
How did the Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard come about?
What is the Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard?
The Long Run was founded in 2009 as an initiative of the ZEITZ Foundation, established by entrepreneur and sustainability pioneer Jochen Zeitz. Its 4Cs framework was first set out by Jochen Zeitz at a workshop at Segera, where the work of transforming overgrazed cattle ranches into a thriving conservancy proved the model in practice.
To understand what excellence across the 4Cs looked like on the ground, The Long Run visited each founding member and built a framework based on its findings. Partnering with Preferred by Nature, that framework became the Global Ecosphere Retreat® (GER®) standard — a rigorous, independently verifiable certification focused not on ticking boxes but on real-world impact. Finalised in 2014, it remains the only certification of its kind, built on best practices on the ground, serving those working at the intersection of nature conservation and tourism.
It is a leading tourism sustainability certification, aligned to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and other global frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Biodiversity Framework. In 2024, it was recognised by Travalyst. In 2026, the GER® standard declared compliance with the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD) and is therefore included in Travalyst’s list of sustainability certification schemes for accommodation providers.
The purpose of the standard is to:
Inspire and support the uptake of a balanced and holistic approach to sustainability based on the 4Cs of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce.
Benchmark leading practices in sustainable tourism-based conservation.
Provide a framework to report on the impact of tourism.
“The Global Ecosphere Retreat’s standard is one of the world’s best standards for privately protected areas.”
Is more than just about compliance assessment; it is a way to support nature-based tourism businesses in continuous improvement.
It covers all the 4Cs — Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce — with equal weight.
The Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard is unique in that:
The recognition is earned rather than granted following rigorous assessment by experts and professionals.
It requires a business to be — or become — commercially profitable. This demonstrates how conserving nature yields economic benefits beyond the ethical arguments for protecting the planet.
Owning, directly managing, or influencing a significant land or seascape is an essential criterion that ensures focus remains on where tourism can have the greatest positive impact.
It awards nature-based tourism businesses that are motivated to be a force for the greater good and are, or aspire to be, the best of the best in sustainable tourism.
It is not only about businesses merely mitigating negative environmental impacts but positively impacting the well-being of both planet and people.
What is the standard benchmarked against?
The Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard is aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and other global frameworks.
Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations (GSTC-D) — Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Hotels and Tour Operators — Global Sustainable Tourism Council
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2030 — UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15, December 2022)
Principles of Fair Labour & Responsible Sourcing — Fair Labour Association
The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions
The IUCN Green List standard for Protected and Conserved Areas
To become a member of The Long Run, do you have to work towards the GER® standard?
Certification is not suitable for everyone, and we view it as a milestone rather than an end goal.
The standard underpins the rigour and transparency that the whole Long Run community is held to. To achieve Global Ecosphere Retreat® status, members must meet 125 criteria across the 4Cs (Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce). External auditors go onsite to verify that criteria are continuously met. Global Ecosphere Retreats® must submit annual data and undergo recertification every six years.
Our GER®-certified members
Borana
Caiman, Pantanal
Cottar's 1920s Camp
Grootbos
Lengishu
Nikoi Island
Sasaab
Segera
Sinal do Vale
TAHI
Tswalu
Wolwedans
How many GER®-certified properties are there in the world?
As of 2026, there are 12 GER®-certified tourism-related properties in the world. Each nature-based tourism business that has gained GER® status has shone in the areas of conservation, community, culture and commerce and is a centre of excellence in sustainable business practices.
To be eligible for evaluation and recognition as a GER®, the operation must first become an Accommodation and Site member of The Long Run.
“There are over 300 certifications in the travel industry alone, making it hard to know where to turn. Many involve ‘box ticking’ exercises with meaningless results. At Borana Conservancy, however, we aspire to the highest possible standards. So, we chose a certification partner that does the same.”
What is the structure of the standard, simply put?
The requirements of the Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard consist of four sections aligned to the 4C framework of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce.
A Global Ecosphere Retreat® must work to the highest standard of performance in each of the 4Cs in an integrated and balanced way, considering its impacts on them together and aiming to strengthen its performance in each C without making excessive compromises within others. It must strive to continuously improve its performance and expand its positive impact within its land- or seascape and beyond.
The certification process is a mighty achievement and a lot of meaningful work. Why do it?
As a Global Ecosphere Retreat®, members are recognised for excellence in sustainability and conservation, having demonstrated to external experts that their business practices meet or exceed best practices across the 4Cs of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce.
This standard, measuring performance against 125 indicators across the 4Cs, is unique, offering validation for the work being done by tourism operators in the protection, preservation and regeneration of biodiversity globally.
So, is the certification the endpoint?
This achievement is not an end goal or a tick-box exercise.
It is a commitment to a process of continuous improvement. The Global Ecosphere Retreat® is an embedded framework that guides members in every aspect of their operations. As part of the GER® assessment, each member is reassessed every three years with external assessors returning to audit compliance and progress every six years.
“Aiming for the prestigious Global Ecosphere Retreat® standard has driven positive change in every facet of the business.
It’s thorough; there’s no way anyone could greenwash their way through this because it involves on-site and off-site assessment with external assessors. This is the real deal. The focus of the five-day assessment was checking that we were doing what we had said we do.
We all feel elated; this is what we’ve been working towards, and now external assessors have acknowledged that what we’ve accomplished is outstanding. It’s a great feeling! Incredibly rewarding”