Overview
How can we merge tourism and ocean conservation to drive sustainable business with positive impacts – both social and environmental? The discussion will highlight scalable projects in Asia, including Marine Protected areas management, and will touch on what can be done in the region.
Learnings
- Well managed MPAs protect essential habitats, vulnerable ecosystems (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves) and endangered species. 70% MPAs reported inadequate budgets for basic management, due to insufficient, and short-term public funding for MPAs.
- Market opportunities exist for some MPAs to generate revenues for their own management. Ecotourism can be a powerful tool to generate a positive impact into the environment and local communities and to make MPAs financially sustainable.
- There are existing success stories of self-financed “bankable” MPAs with revenues primarily based on MPA fees and nature-based tourism.
- Ecotourism requires private and public resources and close collaboration with local governments and NGOs (conservation focus) to reach potential in terms of impact.
Post Event Actions
- Assess appetite for potential collaboration and participation from the private sector (banks through their foundations, family offices, corporates, others) into ecotourism bankable projects.
- Understand the relevance of blended finance (grants and concessionary loans) into the ecotourism sector.
- Explore and visit destinations where ecotourism contributes to enhance food security and income for vulnerable coastal communities; create jobs; preserve vibrant coral reef ecosystems; and build resilience to climate change.
Speakers
MODERATOR
Charles Goddard
Editorial Director
The Economist Group
Charles Goddard
Editorial Director
The Economist Group
Charles Goddard imagines and builds The Economist Group’s flagship initiatives. He works closely with partners on themes ranging from ageing and longevity to climate change, global health security and the sustainable ocean economy. Based in Hong Kong, Charles was previously editorial director, Asia, at the Economist Intelligence Unit and managing director of the Economist Corporate Network, a peer network for senior executives. He is executive director of the Group’s World Ocean Initiative.
Natalie Chung
Sustainability Lead
DFI Retail Group
Natalie Chung
Sustainability Lead
DFI Retail Group
Natalie serves as a sustainability associate at DFI Retail Group. As part of the founding team of sustainability practices, Natalie formulated the overarching sustainability and ESG framework for the leading pan-Asia retail group, covering brands such as Wellcome, Mannings, 7-Eleven, Guardian.
Natalie coordinated to publish the group’s first Sustainability Report in 2022, showcasing multi-faceted sustainability initiatives across different geographies and businesses. There is continuous engagement and progress tracking with business units across North and Southeast Asia to steer positive action towards serving our communities, sustaining the planet and sourcing responsibly.
Outside of the day job, Natalie is a co-founder of environmental education organisation V’air Hong Kong, and serves as a member at the Council for Sustainable Development and the Green Tech Fund Assessment Committee of the HKSAR Government.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
My sustainability goal is to stimulate green recovery post COVID-19, ensuring that resources are dedicated to building more resilient socioeconomic systems that are equitable and stay within environmental thresholds. I also wish to contribute in constructing urban circular bioeconomy and enhancing climate adaptation plans for vulnerable communities.
Laurence McCook
Director of Oceans Conservation
WWF-Hong Kong
Laurence McCook
Director of Oceans Conservation
WWF-Hong Kong
Laurence works in science-based management and conservation of ocean ecosystems. He is particularly interested in using natural capital and ecosystem service accounting to correct mistaken perception that human development requires costs for nature conservation. He is passionate about engaging business and finance to take responsibility for preventing and reversing environmental degradation.
My Sustainability Goals for 2021:
Kickstart major increase in uptake of sustainable seafood by consumers, retailers and suppliers in HK; upscale transitions away from single use plastic; kickstart process of marine spatial planning in GBA.
Jose Luis Sanchez
Director - New Business Development
Blue Finance
Jose Luis Sanchez
Director - New Business Development
Blue Finance
Jose Luis – Blue Finance, Director Business Development. Previously, he worked as independent consultant in sustainability & ecotourism and also in the financial industry in HK, NY, Mexico for 19 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics (ITAM-Mexico), an MBA (Boston University), and Certifications in Sustainable Finance (Frankfurt School) and in Sustainable Tourism (GSTC).
My Sustainability Goals for 2021:
Jose Luis reoriented his career & skills towards sustainability with a mission of identifying and leading impactful projects that contribute to achieve 4 of the SDGs by 2030: SDG8; SDG13; SDG14; SDG15.
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