What:
During its Adventure Travel World Summit, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) announced that it has launched a nonprofit. The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) will “directly fund local organizations engaged in the conservation of natural and cultural resources of adventure travel destinations,” according to Shannon Stowell, president of ATTA.
Why It Matters:
We don’t always consider how travel has an impact on the world’s natural resources and local communities. While many tour operators, hotels and other travel companies conduct conservation and give-back projects of their own, ATCF will be the first to provide funding to international grassroots projects that help secure the future of adventure travel destinations. This is good news for those who love selling interactions with our Earth’s precious places and people.
Fast Facts:
- ATCF will primarily focus on providing funding to organizations and projects outside of the U.S. and Canada, working with existing organizations when it’s a good option.
- Funding will be available to nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Conservation groups, indigenous groups, accommodations and tour operators will all be eligible to apply for funding.
- ATCF will mainly provide funding, believing that funds will be most efficiently used by groups with the most knowledge of the projects.
- Funding amounts will range from $10,000 to $30,000.
- In addition to ATTA, founding members, who donated $25,000 each in order to launch the fund, include REI Adventures, Eagle Creek, UnCruise Adventures and Exofficio.
What They Are Saying:
“I’m thrilled this new fund is taking our collective power to the next level — to have an organization for all of us that can be a powerful platform for conserving and protecting the best places on the planet in collaboration with the locals who live there,” said Shannon Stowell, president of ATTA.
The Details
Adventure Travel Conservation Fundwww.adventuretravelconservationfund.org
