2020 has been a challenging year for everyone but there are glimmers of hope. The sustainable travel movement gained momentum during the industry’s forced pause, and there’s a much greater and broader understanding of the importance of protecting and restoring biodiversity. Collaboration is also on the up as businesses and conservationists realise there’s no point going it alone when we are stronger together.

 

These rays of light are evident in our growing membership, which hasn’t slowed down in 2020. From roaming sustainable food experts to surprise 4C adventures, The Long Run was delighted to welcome twenty new members in 2020:

FELLOW MEMBERS

 

Lengishu, Kenya

 

Lengishu is an exclusive-use family home at the heart of the 32,000-acre Borana Conservancy, Kenya’s newest and most successful rhino sanctuary. The property opened in 2019 and sustainability has been front of mind from the outset (for example, electricity and hot water comes from a 74 KW solar farm). The locally crafted exposed Kenyan timber work, stone floors, and thatch roof blend seamlessly with the undulating Laikipia Plateau.

 

Read more here

 

Samara Private Game Reserve, South Africa 

 

Samara Private Game Reserve is a 67,000-acre conservation passion project located in the Great Karoo, South Africa’s vast heartland. Founded in 1997 by Mark and Sarah Tompkins, Samara has pioneered land-use change in the region, painstakingly restoring 11 former livestock farms into a born-again wilderness. Today, Samara is run by two generations of the Tompkins family, whose ultimate vision is to expand the conservation ethic beyond the reserve’s boundaries, working with local stakeholders to create a 3-million-acre conservation landscape.

 

Read more here

 

Batu Batu, Malaysia 

 

This island retreat set within Malaysia’s protected Johor Marine Park has a deep respect for nature. Batu Batu strongly believes that private sector tourism can act as a catalyst for positive change through the preservation and regeneration of the rich but fragile biodiversity around the Johor islands. As evidence of this conviction, Batu Batu founded and provides core funding for Tengah Island Conservation (TIC), a biodiversity management initiative dedicated to the research, rehabilitation and regeneration of the surrounding natural environment.

 

Read more here

 

Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa 

 

The word Tswalu means ‘a new beginning’ reflecting Tswalu Kalahari’s vision to restore and conserve its natural environment, and to empower and celebrate its community. The large-scale conservation project protects the region’s unique biodiversity, and safe-guards a number of rare and endangered species. Tswalu has created a model of conservation supported by ecotourism, so that it can be sustained indefinitely; its holistic approach corrects past mistakes, laying the groundwork for long-term ecological and economic viability. Tswalu is now poised to enter a new decade of progress, aspiring to even higher levels of sustainability.

 

Read more here

TRAVEL PARTNERS 

 

Blind Experiences, Italy 

 

Blind Experiences is a surprise travel agency, with trips revealed through 10 date-stamped envelopes, bit by bit. The premise removes the anxiety of choice, but also helps to take travellers on more transformative journeys with eyes wide open into the unexpected. By becoming part of The Long Run, Blind Experiences is committed to playing a positive role in tourism, using its platform to embed a deeper understanding of the 4Cs throughout trips. It hopes to guide clients to connect, to learn, to exchange and to grow.

 

Read more here

 

Blueflower, Hong Kong 

 

Blueflower is tailor-made agency based in Hong Kong lead by travel guru Andrea Oschetti. Trips are meaningful, transformative and off the beaten track. Genuine interactions and connections with local people and pristine natural environments tend to underpin each adventure, whether delivering medical supplies to nomadic communities in Mongolia or embarking on conservation expeditions through Kenya.

 

Read more here

 

Consciously Connected Travel, U.K.

 

Consciously Connected Travel focuses on impact travel and wellness that has a social or environmental purpose. Trips embed clients in diverse cultures, ancient practices, philosophies and the art of true well-being. Sustainable experiences are very immersive, and a percentage of profits from each trip are returned to local charities and environmental causes.

 

Read more here

 

Dolomite Mountains, Italy

 

Dolomite Mountains create unique, active outdoor experiences in Northern Italy’s Dolomites, whose craggy peaks and deep valleys run through the company’s heart and soul. A deep respect for the natural environment is what led Dolomite Mountains to The Long Run – to better understand how to curate exceptional experiences that leave a positive trace. As part of Dolomite Mountain’s partnership with The Long Run, it is offering a series of Sustainable Journeys; trips that offer lower impact ways to explore the Dolomites whether discovering well-known trails in a different way or heading to lesser-traversed routes.

 

Read more here

 

AFFILIATES 

 

Broadloom/ Highlands Diner Club, U.S.

 

Broadloom is a creative agency whose capabilities range from architectural design to regenerative food systems design, design strategy, sustainable development and event curation. One project is the Highlands Dinner Club (HDC), which curates mobile social and culinary events. An ever-changing cast of chefs, farmers, foragers, designers and artists create food experiences entrenched in a sense of place.  Wielding spontaneous spirit and exceptional local ingredients, HDC has created food experiences across three continents and seen time and again the connections and joy that come when people gather at the table to share a meal.

 

Read more here

 

Canopy Power, Singapore

 

Canopy Power is a technology provider specialising in independent microgrids based on renewable energy (RE). They are a one-stop shop offering services for feasibility, design, engineering, procurement and construction, financing, operation and maintenance (O&M) of complete microgrids systems. Their systems are fully customised to minimise energy operational expenditure, carbon emissions and dependence on dirty fuel.

 

Read more here

 

Connecting Spaces, Nepal

 

Monika Schaffner, founder of connecting spaces, is an integrative geographer, born and raised in Nepal, with a background in international development, ecology and holistic healing methods. She sees tourism as a bridge between cultures, with the potential to spark and nourish appreciation both in the guests and their hosts, for the precious global value of our natural and cultural heritages. Connecting spaces currently implements an eco-village homestay concept in three villages of Madi Valley, in the bufferzone of Chitwan National Park (Terai flatlands, Nepal). This is a collaborative project with the local communities, supported by sustainable architects, climate-sensitive experts, innovative and socially conscious water and energy system designers and visionary hospitality experts.

 

Read more here

 

Earth Company, Singapore

 

Based in Tokyo and Bali, Earth Company is an impact-driven social enterprise that aims to create a world that can be passed onto future generations through the following four pillars: Impact Hero  — a social accelerator empowering social entrepreneurs; Impact Academy – an educational program on sustainability for students and professionals; Operation Green – an advisory service to accompany organizations along their sustainability shifts; Mana Earthly Paradise – a next generation eco-hotel in Ubud, Bali.

 

Read more here

 

Half-Earth Project, U.S.

 

The Half-Earth Project is a call to protect half of the planet’s land and sea in order to safeguard the bulk of biodiversity and ensure the enduring stability of earth. It is an initiative of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation that is:

• Enabling significant scientific innovation and leadership regarding the most effective path forward for protection of endangered species and endangered ecosystems.
• Fostering our connection with the natural world and the education of our next generation stewards.
• Providing the foundation for a revolutionary culture of action to achieve the goal of Half-Earth.

 

Read more here

 

Transformational Travel Council, U.S. 

 

The Transformational Travel Council is a collective of global tourism stakeholders who refuse to skirt the challenging issues — it’s on a mission to inspire change through transformational travel. They stand for the betterment of lives and livelihoods through mindful tourism and regenerative practices. TTC defines transformational travel as: intentionally traveling to stretch, learn and grow into new ways of being and engaging with the world. The word transform means to ‘undergo a change in form; to change not the appearance, but the very form of one’s existence’.

 

Read more here

 

Waterbear Network, U.K. 

 

WaterBear Network is the first streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet. It features inspirational, award-winning content; a coalition of over 75 global NGO’s and cutting-edge technology. WaterBear Network empowers its members to dive deeper, learn more and take action while watching, to shape a better future for our fragile planet.

 

Read more here

The Long Run Membership Categories

 

The Long Run brings together some of the world’s most inspiring nature-based travel businesses and privately protected areas. Our 40 members across 22 countries collectively help to conserve over 23.5 million acres of biodiversity, more than 30,000 plant and animal species, and improve the lives of 750,000 people through tourism. Since launching a new Travel Partner category in 2020, we have three types of membership:

 

Fellow Members: Travel destinations and lodges that own, manage or significantly influence areas of biodiversity. They are committed to a continuous journey of improvement towards excellence in sustainability and the 4Cs — Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Fellow Members receive onsite visits from The Long Run’s team of experts to brainstorm challenges and develop action plans. They also receive continuous remote support individually, and as part of our regular 4C Calls. Each Fellow Member works towards the prestigious and GSTC-recognised Global Ecosphere Retreats® (GER) standard and becomes a center of excellence.

 

Travel Partners: Tour operators, agents, travel designers and any business selling travel that actively aligns itself with The Long Run’s community and commitment to the 4Cs — Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Travel partners gain access to our experts, members, events and network, and can tap into a menu of ‘pay as you go’ services for those wanting further dedicated technical and strategic support. In 2021 we will launch our dedicated Travel Partner 4C Journey. In return, partners support and promote the work of The Long Run and Fellow and GER®.  Members.

 

Affiliates: Highly regarded, expert non-profits, academics, institutions and media platforms that align closely with our ethos and help The Long Run to collaborate, inspire and promote its mission. Affiliates are ambassadors of The Long Run and the 4Cs approach and provide vital in-kind support to assist our vision and mission.

 

Each member is selected for its commitment to continual improvement and to operating according to The 4Cs — a holistic balance of Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce.