Today, on World Environmental Health Day, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the collective impact we have on the health of our planet.
At Natural Selection, considering this impact is core to our ethos.
Not only do our lodges incorporate sustainable design principles and thinking to minimise our impact on the environment, but we strive to make a positive impact on the ~1.6 million hectares of wilderness that we are fortunate enough to be custodians of. At Natural Selection we take an ecosystem wide view on the protection and expansion of wild places. We take our responsibility to conserve and protect our planet very seriously.
We support numerous initiatives to ensure that our commitment to the planet, its people, and its places is both long-lasting and meaningful. These initiatives are supported by 1.5% of each guest’s stay, as well as generous donations from our travelers and supporters. We also have a per person per night conservation, community, and reserve fee which goes directly towards land preservation, community upliftment, and reserve management.
One initiative that we support which considers the health of the environment is our Impacts of Surface Water on Herbivore Ecology study, based in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans. This area is increasingly affected by climate change, and our researchers are working to understand how surface water availability influences large herbivores, vegetation, landscape connectivity, and human-wildlife conflict, particularly between humans and elephants.
In South Africa, we’re dedicated to preserving its natural beauty as well. At Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, located within the breathtaking De Hoop Nature Reserve, we run an Alien Clearing Project. This initiative targets invasive species like black wattle and rooikranz, which threaten the indigenous flora of the Cape Floral Kingdom. By removing these invasives, we protect and restore the native biodiversity, ensuring the long-term health of the ecosystem.
As Wendell Berry wisely said, “The Earth is what we all have in common.” Together, it’s our shared duty to safeguard its future. “
