opened in 1981 and now has 50 cottages; Lagen Island Resort, which opened in 1998, has 51 rooms. A third resort in the same area, Pangulasian Island Resort, opened in January 2012 with 43 rooms. A fourth property, Apulit Island Resort, located in Taytay, Palawan, was acquired and re-opened in December 2010, and has 50 rooms. According to Mr. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, Vice Chairman and CEO of WWF-Philippines, “El Nido Resorts has embraced its responsibility for environmental stewardship, preserving the diversity and maintaining the ecological system of El Nido in Palawan.” TKDC upholds what is known as its Quadruple Bottomline of sustainable tourism: financial growth, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and organizational development. Operating in a Managed Resource Protected Area known for its high biodiversity, the resorts devote resources to conservation of the natural environment through guest participation, staff commitment, and community involvement. Success comes in the form of high environmental integrity in the areas where the resorts operate; high guest satisfaction with the quality of the natural environment; and the interpretation provided by trained guides, international recognition through awards, expanding community-based partnerships, and continued financial profitability. Key success factors include a highly trained workforce, high local employment ratio, good corporate governance, and an approach to conservation that is both scientific and socially pragmatic. The company’s conservation efforts is championed by a lean Environment Department that has been carrying out environmental programmes and activities at and around its resorts. Instilling Love for the Environment Among Employees The Be GREEN (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido) programme is one of the Environment Department’s biggest projects. Be GREEN is a series of environmental practices training seminars that educate staff in biodiversity conservation, environmental legislation, ecological solid waste management, water conservation, and energy conservation. Though the latter four topics may not be directly related to biodiversity conservation, the knowledge and skills gained by the staff from these seminars all contribute towards biodiversity conservation. Since the programme started in 2007, over 900 full-time and part-time individuals have successfully completed the training. In order to put the training into practice, El Nido Resorts conceived of “Pa-Berdehan: The El Nido Resorts Eco-Challenge”, where staff members form teams and implement a project that applies the principles learned during the Be GREEN seminars. Past winning entries include using used plastic water bottles as floats in fabricated kayaks and the scheduling of air conditioning in the guest rooms and restaurant to minimize energy usage while maintaining guest comfort. Be GREEN videos have been produced and shown at the airport lounge for departing guests, as well as donated to various groups such as schools, tour operators, travel agents, and enthusiastic resort guests. Whenever possible, employees also volunteer their off-duty hours to do coastal and underwater clean-ups. Involving Guests in Conservation Efforts Guests are also involved in environmental education activities. Tourists are provided with information on the natural surroundings of the resorts, including an introduction to the species found in El Nido. Every week, resort guests are treated to the Green Hour, hosted by the company’s Environmental Officers. Short presentations on biodiversity and conservation efforts entice guests to stay on and ask questions, mostly on how they can help in these conservation efforts. Wildlife Monitoring In February 2008, El Nido Resorts launched El Nido Biodiversity Online, a database of El Nido’s flora and fauna. The database includes information such as species profiles (common name, scientific name, habitat, distribution, etc.), photos, and sightings in El Nido. Guests and staff who spot these organisms as they go around El Nido are encouraged to report their sightings to the Environmental Officers, who then update the database. El Nido Biodiversity Online ENCOURAGING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY 79
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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