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A partnership agreement for a joint conservation venture has been formalised by South African-based conservation and hospitality group Mantis, and leading travel and lifestyle group, AccorHotels.
The Community Conservation Fund Africa (CCFA), a soon-to-be registered non-profit organisation, has been created to support the work of three internationally-renowned conservation organisations – Wilderness Foundation, Tusk Trust and African Parks. It was officially launched during the Conservation Lab conference brought together by We Are Africa and Beyond Luxury, which took place from May 11 to 13.
“Pilot seed-funding of $600 000 (€513 000) for year one has been donated by Mantis and AccorHotels,” says Andrew Muir, CEO of Wilderness Foundation Global and spokesperson for the CCFA. “This seed funding will be used to support projects across Africa through the three arms of the fund.”
The announcement of the CCFA comes on the heels of a partnership agreement between the two in April, which saw AccorHotels acquire a 50% stake in Mantis. “Mantis has well established credentials in the conservation and sustainability arena, given the commitment of Adrian Gardiner (Mantis Founder and Chairman) and his work with world-leading environmentalists throughout the years, including Dr. Andrew Muir from the Wilderness Foundation,” said Olivier Granet, CEO of AccorHotels Middle East and Africa. “Our partnership with Mantis will provide AccorHotels with a robust platform to expand Planet 21, the Group’s global conservation and sustainability program, throughout Africa. It is within the spirit of this unique collaboration that we have provided much needed funding to launch wildlife preservation initiatives and to be part of the transformation in Africa which we aim to do through the Community Conservation Fund.”
Gardiner concludes that the CCFA will amplify both brands’ commitment towards halting the accelerating decline of Africa’s wildlife, by bringing together the three internationally renowned conservation organisations.
Source: tourismupdate.co.za