| Zeitz Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Motto | For a better tomorrow, by balancing conservation, community, culture and commerce. |
| Formation | 2008 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose/focus | Conservation |
| Headquarters | Segera, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Location | Kenya, Germany, UK, US |
| Region served | Worldwide |
| Founder | Jochen Zeitz |
| Staff | approximately 10 (worldwide) |
| Website | www.zeitzfoundation.org |
The Zeitz Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Germany and headquartered in Kenya with representation in the United States and the United Kingdom. The goal of the Foundation is to maintain or improve the integrity of ecosystems through effective, sustainable management practices that ensure ecosystems continue to deliver services - such as clean water and air, carbon sequestration, and healthy soils - for the benefit of mankind.
Its full name is the Zeitz Foundation for Intercultural Ecosphere Safety. Ecosphere safety refers to Earth and all its life-sustaining properties and relates to the maintenance of the ecosphere in the interest of all future generations.
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The Zeitz Foundation wants to create and support sustainable, ecologically and socially responsible projects and destinations around the world to achieve long-lasting impact and sustainability through the holistic balance of conservation, community, culture and commerce (the 4Cs):
The Zeitz Foundation aims to contribute to sustainable ecosystem management by
Launched in 2009, The Long Run Initiative is the Zeitz Foundation’s flagship programme, built around Long Run Supporters; Long Run Alliance Members; and Long Run Destinations, but reaching out, into every aspect of our day to day life by putting the Long Run philosophy of acting today for a better tomorrow into practice. Find out more here.
These are organisations that share the Zeitz Foundation’s drive to support sustainable, ecologically and socially responsible projects around the world, and have demonstrated their commitment by signing the Long Run Charter.
These are institutions that directly manage or significantly influence the management of a natural area of conservation value with defined geographical boundaries that are committed to achieving sustainability through the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce).
There are currently nine Long Run Alliance Members worldwide, for instance Nirox Foundation in South Africa, Campi ya Kanzi in Kenya and Comrie Croft in Scotland.
Long Run Destinations - Global Ecosphere Retreat ® (GER) certified, are institutions that directly manage or significantly influence the management of a natural area of conservation value with defined geographical boundaries that have demonstrated their ability and commitment to achieve sustainability through the 4Cs (conservation, community, culture and commerce).
Long Run Destinations GER certified pursue a range of environmental goals such as biodiversity conservation or forest restoration. But most of the destinations generate income from sustainable tourism by providing a bundle of superior services including luxury accommodation in simple yet elegant surroundings (LRDs provide temporary accommodation), unique nature experiences guided by conservationists and the opportunity to understand local culture by engaging in an exchange with local communities. Guests get a chance to experience the local way of life, sampling culinary specialities (LRDs serve food and drinks), visiting nearby villages and schools, and generally enjoying a wide range of holiday activities. These sites have been carefully selected and assessed by the Zeitz Foundation.
There are currently nine Long Run Destinations worldwide, for instance in Lapa Rios, Costa Rica, Wolwedans, Namibia or Tahi, New Zealand.
The Zeitz Foundation focuses on sustainable ecosystem management by investing in initiatives that maintain or strengthen the integrity of ecosystems and their ability to deliver services, such as clean water and air, carbon sequestration, and healthy soils. Moreover, every two years, the Zeitz Foundation organizes the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup (LUC) football tournament. This event reaches out beyond sport, providing free medical health care to thousands of people in need, promoting environmental awareness and peace throughout the district, and putting the spotlight on the Laikipia region of Kenya.
These inspiring individuals help the Zeitz Foundation raise awareness and shape activities in their respective dimension: Chairman and CEO of PPR, Francois-Henri Pinault (Ambassador for Commerce); award-winning director, writer and producer, Stephen Hopkins (Ambassador for Conservation); Olympian and sprint superstar, Usain Bolt (Ambassador for Culture-Sport); and internationally acclaimed African musicians, Amadou & Mariam (Ambassadors for Culture-Art), to name but a few.
The Zeitz Foundation came into being in 2008. In 2009, the Foundation launched its flagship initiative, The Long Run.[1] Today, the Zeitz Foundation is focusing on nine Long Run Destinations, including Segera, where the Foundation is headquartered, and on introducing projects into these Destinations that strengthen their ability to sustainably manage the ecosystems in which they are located.