The challenge of conservation travel in the Congo

The challenge of conservation travel in the Congo Basin Praveen Moman Volcanoes Safaris

Congo Basin: potential world class products Mountain Gorilla - Parc des Virungas, DRC Eastern Lowland Gorilla - Kahuzi Biega, DRC Western lowland gorilla -Gabon, ROC, CAR, Cameroon Bonobo - DRC Chimpanzees - diverse forests Bais /Habituated & Wild Gorillas Forest elephants Culture: Ba-aka

Baseline for conservation travel World class products /experiences Functioning supply chain/logistics/infrastructure/services/tour operators/accommodation/security International marketing and PR Supportive policies Capacity, capacity

Volcanoes definition of world class conservation travel products Unique experience/activity that can compete with adventure/safari/ecotourism products in the global marketplace in terms of quality, hospitality, accommodation, guiding, logistics, accessibility, security and price

USING CONSERVATION TO CREATE INVESTMENT Conservation must pay if extractive industries are not to take over Profit generates economic sustainability Communities need food on the table

NEW APPROACHES: PPP • 1 Separate profitable activities from non-profitable • 2 Long term Public-Private Partnership linking business, conservation non-profits, communities, governments, donors • 3 Requires unconventional investment models as business on it’s own cannot be profitable • 4 Benefit to community safeguards habitat and apes

Public Private Partnership Managed by Private Co International Management Service Delivery Commercially Driven Private Co. Government Conservation Orgs Donors Community Activities Non Profit • • Conservation Park Management Park Infrastructure Community Projects Profit Making • Ecolodges • Tourism