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Sustainable Tourism Partners

TIES
Planeterra is a proud member of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES). As the world's oldest and largest international ecotourism association, TIES seeks to be the global source of knowledge and advocacy uniting communities, conservation, and sustainable travel.

TIES promotes ecotourism, which is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people," by:

√ Creating an international network of individuals, institutions and the tourism industry;
√ Educating tourists and tourism professionals; and

√ Influencing the tourism industry, public institutions and donors to integrate the principles of ecotourism into their operations and policies.

GSTC

The Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Partnership) is a coalition of 32 organizations working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. The Partnership was initiated by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).  Planeterra together with Gap Adventures is a steering committee partner, on industry implementation and education and training working groups with other industry and NGO partners.

travel industry Partners

Gap Adventures
As founding partner of Planeterra, Gap Adventures and its travelers provide the majority of financial support and infrastructure for Planeterra through travelers’ donations, the Gap head office in Toronto and its network of field offices, tour leaders and sales and administrative offices around the globe. As the largest independent adventure travel company in the world, Gap Adventures gives Planeterra a large audience of adventure travelers who are looking for real experiences in their travels. They avoid being tourists, or simple observers. They are travelers, knowing that meaning comes from sharing with others in other cultures who may have very different views of the world. Gap Adventures travellers understand the importance of sustainable community development and support environmental and cultural preservation, aware that giving back is a vital part of being a traveler.

STA Travel has been the leader in student and youth travel for 30 years creating opportunities for millions of travelers to make the most of their time and experience the world face-to-face, in any way they choose.  STA Travel believes that the opportunity to fully experience the world and all the wonders it has to offer allows travelers to connect with who they are and discover who they can be.   Not only is STA an experienced seller of travel, the company is full of knowledgeable travelers with a passion and commitment for authentic, responsible experiences.

international charity and ngo Partners

Adelante Foundation Adelante’s mission is to improve the standard of living of extremely poor women living in Honduras. Since 1999, Adelante has provided small loans to very poor women so they can start and grow their own small business. Over time, the women use their profits to buy better food for their families; improve their homes; buy medicine when necessary; send children school; and plan and save for the future. In addition to providing credit, Adelante also provides business, health and human rights education. The business education helps borrowers, who have an average fourth-grade education, learn the skills necessary to make their business successful. The health education provides vital, but difficult to find, basic health information for the whole family. Planeterra partners with Adelante Foundation through its Women’s Microcredit Project.

Happy Africa Foundation Happy Africa Foundation’s mission is to empower the African people through the support of community and conservation based initiatives that operate at grass roots level. The Happy Africa Foundation works together with local African communities to conserve and protect the environment, wildlife and cultures in areas where the Foundation is involvedand to initiate, facilitate and support community development projects that are sustainable. The Happy Africa Foundation gives travelers, volunteers and other donors the chance to give back to the communities and conservation areas they visit or volunteer in during their African journeys. Planeterra partners the Happy Africa Foundation through our Limuru Children’s Centre, the Mwandi Community Farm, and Red Hill Primary School projects.

Plan Canada Plan is one of the world’s largest development organizations, working in more than 65 countries worldwide on critical issues affecting millions of children. Plan believes that no child should have to endure poverty.  No child should be without food, clean water, shelter, education, basic health care, the opportunity to contribute to society. Plan works collaboratively with children, their families, grassroots organizations, local and national governments, and all members of a community to create and implement a long-term plan that improves living conditions. Planeterra partners with Plan Canada through our Bolivia Health Program.

Salaam Baalak Trust - Celebrating the Spirit of Survival… For children with no home, life is a fast train to nowhere, Salaam Baalak Trust works to restore them to the world of childhood, take them from a lonely dead end to bonding, learning and the joy of a professional life. In the last twenty years, the Trust has helped thousands of children come off the streets and into a safe and nurturing environment. Today SBT provides a holistic safety net of services catering to the individual needs of street children in Delhi and Mumbai, covering the entire area of child development from physical and medical needs to encompassing the educational, creative, cognitive, social and vocational needs of the children. Planeterra partners with Salaam Baalak Trust through our New Delhi Streetkids Project.

Seva Canada Society Seva Canada is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is the elimination of preventable and treatable blindness. Seva Canada Society was founded in 1982 to eliminate preventable blindness and restore sight. Seva provides funding and expertise to partners in 7 developing countries: Nepal, Tibet, India, Tanzania, Guatemala, Cambodia and Egypt - to deliver community and clinical eye care programs that reach the most vulnerable populations – women and children, the very poor and those living in rural areas. Seva (pronounced say-va) is a Sanskrit word for service; we believe in compassion in action. Through our partners, Seva is creating sustainable, economically viable, locally managed eye care programs that will continue to serve local populations long after Seva’s involvement is complete. Planeterra partners with Seva Canada through our Tibet Eye Camp Project.

Trees for the Future Since 1989, Trees for the Future has been helping communities around the world plant trees. Through seed distribution, agroforestry training, and country programs, TFTF has empowered rural groups to restore tree cover to their lands. Trees for the Future has helped thousands of communities in Central America, Africa, and Asia improve their livelihoods and their environment by planting nearly 65 million trees. We calculate that these trees remove over one and a half million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. Most communities around the world recognize that they need to plant trees on their degraded lands if they are to improve their lives. TFTF provide technical knowledge on agroforestry and sustainable development, along with planting materials so that communities can return their degraded lands and struggling farms back to sustainable production. Planeterra supports TFTF’s work in Brazil through our Community Reforestry Program.

Wells of Hope The Wells of Hope Group is a non-denominational group founded on Christian principles. We are committed to responding to the cry of the poor and to help them attain for themselves the life-giving necessities of clean water, education, and basic healthcare. We live this commitment through various projects that the Wells of Hope Group has embraced in the mountainous region of Santa Maria, Jalapa, Guatemala. Planeterra partners with Wells of Hope through our Water for Guatemala Project