Breaking the Silence on Conservancy Conservation and Tourism vs Mining – cont’d. (Part 2 of 4)

Tristan Cowley founded Tou Safaris in 2003, specializing in naturalist guided safaris to Namibia. In 2008 it merged with a like-minded safari company, which is how the tour- and lodge-operating enterprise “Ultimate Safaris” was born. It is now one of Namibia’s most renowned naturalist and specialist guiding safari companies and has been very active in the northwest of Namibia, aiming to join the local population and find solutions that benefit conservancies’ human – as well as wildlife population.

After the recent awarding of mining rights in an established tourism destination, he decided to share his thoughts. The open letter was written before the elections and on account of its relevance, NMH brings it to you in four parts:



TRISTAN COWLEY WRITES:

There is a global movement that encourages companies to give back 1% of their revenue, and I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single company in Namibia that achieves that.

Beyond our business operations, we have operated alongside the Conservation Travel Foundation, a non-profit we began in 2006, channeling the equivalent of at least 2.5% of our revenue annually into community development and conservation. This support, amounting to millions annually, directly impacts landscapes across Namibia, even in areas without commercial tourism.

This year alone the Foundation has invested almost N$8 million into conservation and rural development across Namibia. In 2022, we took a bold step by making long-serving staff shareholders, reinforcing our commitment to shared success.

Several of our investments are rooted in communal land by choice, operating in partnership with conservancies that benefit entire communities. These ventures are not without challenges, unlike ventures on private land, that don’t have a broad-based benefit. Communal land development carries inherent risks: lack of title deeds, reliance on evolving conservancy committees, and the need to secure community trust.

Despite these hurdles, our operations have generated substantial financial and social benefits for the regions we work in – far exceeding the meagre promises of low value mining interests.



A CASE OF CONTRADICTIONS

Our ventures on communal land epitomize high-risk, high-reward investments that prioritize community benefit. Joint ventures with conservancies like Huab, Doro !Nawas, Twyfelfontein Uibasen and Sorris Sorris have created long-term value for local communities. These ventures generate substantial cash-flow for conservancies, employment opportunities and community development projects.

For example, our efforts in these regions are projected to generate over N$300 million in cash to three conservancies during our contracts' tenure of 25 years, benefiting thousands. This year alone, 2024, our operations which are set to be severely compromised by mining activities, have paid almost N$3 million in cash to conservancies, N$7.5 million in salaries and subsistence (for 40 staff members) and contributed another N$7 million to the value chain that supports camp operations, for a mere 15 low impact rooms.

Our Foundation investments into this area are almost N$2 million for 2024, with a total investment to date into the area now reaching almost N$70 million since we started operations here in 2020. We were set to build another 4-room establishment before being forced to engage in litigation, potentially adding further to the value we add to the area and its inhabitants. – To be continued



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