Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has won the 2022 Resort Expense Meeting Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Lodge Award for Local weather Action.
In addition to local climate motion, there had been awards for setting up preservation/adaptive reuse, good neighborhood impression, and sustainable style. Submissions ended up assessed by seven judges, the majority from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Team, the organiser of the HICAP party, announced the winners on 12 Oct 2022.
The judges based the local weather motion choice on Cardamom Tented Camp’s potential to do the job with associates to protect 180 square kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor countrywide park in southwest Cambodia. On climate motion, it is estimated that the forest that the camp allows protect sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon per calendar year, according to Wildlife Works.
Because opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Stay Retains the Forest Standing.” It helps make the declare because income from the camp aid the monthly salaries of ten Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers guard the habitat from illegal poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.
Populations of elephant, leopard, python, sunshine bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are increasing owing to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have forced poachers to the perimeters or out of the park altogether.
“Despite setbacks all through the two Covid many years when tourism profits tremendously disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” stated Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures. “We are grateful to HICAP for recognising our staying ability and ability to operate with associates to keep the forest standing, with all the gains that bring.”
HICAP judges also regarded the camp’s substantial contribution to UN Sustainable Advancement Plans, such as lifestyle on land, thoroughly clean and reasonably priced power, first rate do the job, financial development, climate action, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Slight Hotel Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.
Outside of sequestering an estimated 108,652 tons of CO2 on a yearly basis, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s further environmental attempts, such as getting driven by 100 % onsite solar electrical power for its electrical energy, very low-effects heating and cooking, and all-natural wastewater filtration procedures. The assets recycles as a lot as feasible and utilizes 100 per cent organic own care products and solutions. Foreseeable future ideas incorporate:
- Powering its boat with an electrical battery.
- Increasing neighborhood and onsite food sourcing.
- Undertaking local community-based mostly conservation.
Aside from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental attempts, it also scores perfectly on hospitality and all-spherical guest experience metrics. The camp’s visitor gratification degrees are rated 5 stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for 3 several years.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, YAANA Ventures estimates Cardamom Tented Camp will close in 2022 with about 80 per cent of 2019’s occupancy and will return to worthwhile amounts in 2023. In parallel with this, YAANA Ventures will boost the forest rangers’ contributions.
