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| More than just a forest! |
What’s the background?
Sustainability has been a buzz word for quite some time. But these days it means much more. It means developing a business model that will still be relevant several decades from now because it is based upon materials and approaches that are endlessly renewable. There are few businesses in this category in Trinidad and Tobago so this month we feature a few examples from around the world that reflect a changed focus in the way that businesses and conceived and managed to achieve long-term sustainability.
Seeing the wood from the trees
T&T has a strong sports cycling culture. Local entrepreneur, Michael Phillips, has long seen the potential of sports cycling as a niche tourism opportunity area which offers considerable value. The value could well be much greater than the value of some existing extractive industries. A study in New Zealand found that a production forest near the main tourist centre of Rotorua was actually generating between 200 and 500% more annual revenue from recreational mountain cycling uses than it was generating from timber harvesting! The forest has been used for some years as a combined wood production and recreational area, with mountain biking being the main in-forest recreational activity. It is promoted by several local specialist mountain biking tour and event companies that offer some innovative services for offshore visitors. This is an example of a type of eco-tourism built around using a natural asset for recreational purposes.
Look but don’t touch
Wilderness Safaris is a company jointly listed on the South African and Botswanan stock exchanges. It has developed a luxury eco-tourism safari business that focuses not only on attracting paying customers but also ensuring that it supports the strengthening of local communities and anti-poaching initiatives. By adopting such an approach the company is creating a win-win based eco-tourism model which benefits both the local people, through revenue sharing arrangements, as well as visitors who experience something far more personal than is on offer through the package tour sector. The company offers specialist eco-experiences in nine different African countries - Botswana, South Africa, Seychelles, Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Bio-shoes
This is a fascinating business development from a Spanish company called the Figtree Factory Studio. They have developed a foldable completely biodegradable shoe that was inspired by a practice of the indigenous people living in the Amazon basin. During the rainy season they would paint their feet with natural latex to protect their skin. The shoe developed by Figtree - called the 01M OneMoment shoe - is made of elastic and fully biodegradable materials and is only 1mm thick around most of the foot except for the sole which is 2mm thick. It’s almost like walking barefoot - but with a protective naturally derived ‘skin’ around your foot. The cost - €10 per pair.
Bite-less
As we all know, there are some mean sandflies at T&T beaches, such as Las Cuevas and Maracas, at certain times of the year. They are tiny, but their bites leave a lasting impression - often for days! Locals often mix citronella, a natural oil derived from citrus, with baby oil as a way of keeping these tiny critters at bay - and it seems to work well. In New Zealand a similar problem exists. The country also has some really mean sandflies. This has led to a business that has developed a 100% naturally formulated insect repellent which is highly effective against sandflies. It’s called ‘Goodbye Sandfly’. It has been a real hit and, by means of a smart marketing and distribution alliance, ‘Goodbye Sandfly’ is now sold through 700 retail outlets in New Zealand. Offshore interest has also grown and the company will soon be catering to overseas buyers through an online retail portal.
What might this mean for T&T?
All this month’s examples are highly relevant to T&T. They illustrate ways in which the natural heritage of the country can be preserved rather than destroyed by encouraging the development of sustainable businesses which encourage such preservation. This is exactly the type of sustainable business approach that Annette Arjoon-Martins has been promoting in Guyana - with considerable success. T&T needs to focus more strongly on promoting the development of sustainable businesses that also contribute towards preserving the remaining precious natural environment that the country still has.
Useful links:Wilderness Safari Wood and trees Bio-shoes Bite-less
Key question: How can we encourage the development of more sustainable businesses in T&T?
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