Responsible Travel

Sustainable Tourism – A Conversation with Greenpop

Written by  Julie Graham

Grand Africa Safaris > Blogs > Sustainable Tourism – A Conversation with Greenpop

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Why do you think it is important for the tourism industry to emphasise the importance of responsible travel to those traveling into Africa? (H2)

Sustainable tourism is all about giving back and being conscious of our role in the health and wellbeing of all living systems. From empowering local communities and conserving wildlife, to getting our hands into the dirt (literally), travelers are inundated with options to leave lasting legacies wherever they go. 

Trees are an integral part of our planet’s ecosystem and at the forefront of the important work being done by Greenpop. Founded in 2010, Greenpop is an award-winning forest restoration and urban greening NGO, working to restore ecosystems and empower environmental stewards across Sub-Saharan Africa.

As part of our ongoing effort to promote sustainable tourism and decrease our clients’ carbon footprint Ker & Downey® Africa partnered with Greenpop to create Trees for Africa in 2020. Each booking made with us includes an $8 donation to Greenpop and funds the planting of one tree in either Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia or South Africa.

Carla Wessels is the Partnerships and Communications Manager at Greenpop. She is also a tree-planting extraordinaire who was so inspired by the work, the people, and the cause during her internship at Greenpop in 2015, that she couldn’t stand to leave. 

We caught up with Carla to chat a bit about the importance of sustainable tourism and Greenpop’s involvement in making the world a greener place. 

What does sustainability mean to you? (H3)

Carla Wessels – Partnerships and Communications Manager at Greenpop – planting trees at Bhodi Khaya Nature Retreat in the Western Cape. Photo Credit | Juliette Bisset.

Sustainability is when we consider all the components of the whole – the environment, our community and ourselves. When we approach business and projects with a holistic view on sustainability the world is better off for it. It is so important to restore our planet, but it is equally as important to restore our relationship with nature and each other. Only then can we reach a true sustainable outcome.