It is for these reasons and more, that our natural world needs ongoing protection. If we are to see increased community involvement, we must begin with increasing global education around the devastating impacts of climate change and over-tourism. It is important that people learn to co-exist in harmony with their natural environment, so as not to affect their own cultural heritage.
From active involvement comes community empowerment, which may be in the form of employment, role establishment, family support, or livelihood improvement. As a company with conservation and sustainability at the heart of everything we do, Pelorus believes the creation of roles and networks for local people to encourage empowerment of their natural world is fundamental.
There are many initiatives doing great work in bridging the gap between women and vital conservation, to resolve the issue of women being marginalised and giving them an opportunity for empowerment within their communities. Projects are empowering the women who participate, by giving them access to education which means their invaluable skills and knowledge play a crucial role in discussions and decision-making, allowing women to gain control within their communities and enrich the relationship between protected areas and local communities.
For real-world examples highlighting the empowerment of local communities through conservation, partners of the Pelorus Foundation are delivering change and making a real difference in the destinations they are positioned.