<p>In line with its mission to <em>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) in privately managed areas, </em>the Foundation has awarded 20,000USD per project, a sum that will be matched by each Long Run Destination carrying out the initiatives in Costa Rica, Indonesia and New Zealand. Lessons learnt from these projects will be shared at the local level and amongst the different Long Run Destinations to promote best practice and stimulate similar initiatives elsewhere.</p> <p> </p> <p>In Costa Rica, Monte Azul Long Run Destination will focus on wastewater treatment, building natural filtration systems for grey water through plant and gravel, and installing composting toilets for use in ecologically sensitive areas. By-products from these activities include safe, non-potable water for use in agriculture and domestically, and natural fertilizer. This project will pioneer efforts for community use of alternative technologies in the region. It also encompasses sport events for awareness-raising and local artists featuring environmental issues.</p> <p> </p> <p>In New Zealand, Tahi Long Run Destination will address the loss of native biodiversity through a weed control and planting programme, coupled with the reflooding of dried up wetlands. As New Zealand has more introduced plant species than native ones and has lost almost 95% of its wetlands, the project aims to restore biodiversity whilst empowering the local Maori to further their traditional role as ‘guardians of the local animals and plants’.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Indonesian Long Run Destination of Nihiwatu finds solutions to rapid deforestation. With the east half of the island of Sumba Island already virtually free of forest cover, the cooking units proposed in this programme will cut the demand for firewood, the driving force behind deforestation, whilst ensuring the cultural values associated with fires are left intact. The proposed alternative cooking methods also solve the health problems associated with smoky traditional fires.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Zeitz Foundation aims to contribute to sustainable ecosystem management in many ways, including by creating, strengthening and promoting a network of Long Run Destinations. These are locations around the world that provide and build sustainable, mostly tourism-driven enterprises, community development and cultural stewardship. Progress reports on these three projects will be posted on the Zeitz Foundation and Long Run Destination websites.</p> <p> </p>Funds raised during the first Zeitz Foundation fundraiser held this July have been assigned to three projects located within Long Run Destinations focusing on water purification; the reintroduction of native species; and the use of alternative cooking methods that reduce the need for firewood.
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