Marit Miners

A firm believer in the power of private enterprise to lead conservation efforts, Marit Miners uses tourism to transform the planet through pioneering private resort Misool. The island destination has spearheaded the creation of a 300,000-acre private marine reserve in Indonesia, prohibiting fishing and helping fish stocks to more than double in a 6-year period, as well as protecting some of the most biodiverse reefs on earth. The sustainable hospitality project has proven a major draw for travellers wanting to be part of the conservation story while also empowering local communities and benefiting local fishermen.

FUELLING THE FUTURE: How Conservation and Tourism Drive Each Other

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we are witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago. For iconic species like jaguar, stingray and rhino, the threat is now so great that their fate sometimes lies in the hands of a few private landowners and tourism businesses. This talk will introduce the audience to pioneering individuals leading the conservation charge, from Raja Ampat’s pristine coral reefs to the world’s largest wetlands in Brazil’s Pantanal. Looking at successful examples from Africa, Brazil and Indonesia, you’ll learn how to use wildlife tourism to protect vital ecosystems while proving the economic value of conservation.