Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has received the 2022 Hotel Expenditure Convention Asia Pacific (HICAP) Sustainable Hotel Award for Local weather Action.
In addition to local climate action, there have been awards for creating preservation/adaptive reuse, optimistic local community affect, and sustainable design. Submissions ended up assessed by 7 judges, the greater part from institutional sustainability backgrounds. The BHN Team, the organiser of the HICAP celebration, declared the winners on 12 Oct 2022.
The judges based mostly the weather action selection on Cardamom Tented Camp’s capacity to operate with partners to protect 180 square kilometres of lowland rainforest in the Botum Sakor nationwide park in southwest Cambodia. On local weather action, it is approximated that the forest that the camp allows secure sequesters about 108,652 tons of carbon for every year, according to Wildlife Performs.
Because opening in 2017, the tented camp’s motto has been, “Your Remain Keeps the Forest Standing.” It will make the claim since income from the camp assistance the monthly salaries of 10 Wildlife Alliance forest rangers. The rangers protect the habitat from illegal poachers, loggers, riverbank sand dredgers and land encroachers.
Populations of elephant, leopard, python, sunlight bear, otter, pangolin and other wildlife are improving owing to camp-funded ranger patrols. The rangers have compelled poachers to the perimeters or out of the park entirely.
“Despite setbacks through the two Covid decades when tourism money drastically disappeared, Cardamom Tented Camp persevered in its environmental mission,” reported Willem Niemeijer, CEO of camp operator YAANA Ventures. “We are grateful to HICAP for recognising our staying power and ability to get the job done with companions to retain the forest standing, with all the advantages that bring.”
HICAP judges also deemed the camp’s substantial contribution to UN Sustainable Improvement Aims, these kinds of as life on land, thoroughly clean and inexpensive electricity, first rate function, economic expansion, climate motion, and partnerships. Cardamom Tented Camp is a partnership with Insignificant Lodge Group’s sustainability arm, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Basis, Wildlife Alliance, and YAANA Ventures.
Outside of sequestering an estimated 108,652 tons of CO2 annually, the judges also recognised Cardamom Tented Camp’s further environmental efforts, such as remaining run by 100 percent onsite solar vitality for its electrical energy, reduced-impact heating and cooking, and all-natural wastewater filtration procedures. The residence recycles as a great deal as feasible and uses 100 per cent natural private treatment goods. Long term ideas involve:
- Powering its boat with an electrical battery.
- Raising neighborhood and onsite foodstuff sourcing.
- Undertaking group-based mostly conservation.
Aside from Cardamom Tented Camp’s environmental endeavours, it also scores well on hospitality and all-spherical visitor knowledge metrics. The camp’s visitor fulfillment ranges are rated five stars by TripAdvisor and have been so for a few yrs.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, YAANA Ventures estimates Cardamom Tented Camp will near in 2022 with about 80 % of 2019’s occupancy and will return to profitable concentrations in 2023. In parallel with this, YAANA Ventures will increase the forest rangers’ contributions.
