Introduction

At Lark Journeys Namibia, we believe that tourism can be a force for good. As a company with a strong background in community-based tourism, we understand the importance of ensuring that tourism dollars directly benefit local communities and the amazing environments where we operate. We are committed to continually improving our sustainability practices, maximizing the positive impacts of our tours, and minimizing any negative effects. We also strive to inspire our clients and partners to join us on this journey.

Recognizing that the needs of today may differ from the needs of tomorrow, we embrace a dynamic approach to sustainability. This guidebook server as the first version (V1) of our sustainability policy, provides clear guidelines and is organized into the following key themes. We anticipate updating this document periodically to reflect our evolving understanding and best practices.

Sustainability Management & Legal Compliance

Lark Journeys Namibia is dedicated to effective sustainability management. We demonstrate this commitment through the following actions:

• Dedicated Sustainability Coordinator: We have appointed an employee responsible for overseeing and implementing our sustainability initiatives.
• Communicated Mission: Our sustainability mission statement is clearly communicated to our clients, partners, and suppliers.
• Written Policy: This accessible, written sustainability policy outlines our commitment to reducing the negative social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of our activities, including employee health and safety.
• Collaboration: We actively participate in external forums and working groups that promote sustainable tourism.
• Performance Assessment: We regularly assess our performance on sustainable practices to identify areas for improvement.
• Supplier Guidelines: We maintain sustainability guidelines and an assessment system to evaluate the sustainability performance of our key suppliers and partners.
• Action Plan: We have a detailed sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities, and timelines.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: We use documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of our sustainability policy, objectives, and targets.
• Transparency: We are committed to transparency in our sustainability efforts through public reporting and communication.
• Employee Awareness: All staff members are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

We are committed to complying with all national legislation, regulations, and codes of practice.

Internal Management: Social Policy & Human Rights

Lark Journeys Namibia values its employees and upholds their rights. Our internal social policy, which is clearly communicated to all employees, includes the following principles:

• Fair Employment: Employees have the freedom to terminate their employment with appropriate notice (ideally one month) and without penalty.
• Legal Contracts: Employment contracts include labor conditions in accordance with Namibian labor law.
• Fair Wages: Wage rates are clearly stated in contracts and meet or exceed the national legal wage framework.
• Overtime: Overtime work is determined and compensated based on mutual agreement.
• Insurance: We provide medical and liability insurance as required by national law.
• Leave: Employees are granted fixed paid annual leave, sick leave, and unpaid annual leave.
• Health and Safety: We maintain a health and safety policy for employees that complies with national legal standards.
• First Aid: First aid kits and trained staff are readily available.
• Minimum Age: We adhere to the national Minimum Age for Admission to Employment.
• Complaint Procedures: Documented and effective procedures are in place for employees to voice their complaints and expectations.
• Disciplinary Procedures: A clear disciplinary procedure is effectively communicated to all employees.
• Training: We provide regular guidance and training for employees on their roles, rights, and responsibilities regarding health and safety, including fire safety and responses to natural disasters.
• Opportunities: We create opportunities for students to participate in traineeships, internships, and apprenticeships.
• Inclusion: We encourage employment opportunities for persons with special needs.

Human Rights:

Lark Journeys Namibia respects and upholds human rights. We ensure the following practices:

• Freedom of Association: We do not hinder trade union membership, collective labor negotiations, or the representation of members by trade unions.
• Collective Bargaining: We participate and comply with (sector-wide) collective labor condition negotiation structures.
• Non-Discrimination: We prohibit discrimination in recruitment, employment conditions, access to training, senior positions, or promotion based on gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.
• Equal Opportunity: We ensure all employees have equal opportunities and access to resources for personal development through regular training and education.

Internal Management: Environment and Community Relations

Lark Journeys Namibia is committed to protecting the environment and fostering positive relationships with local communities. We achieve this through the following practices:

• Reducing Consumption: We actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods.
• Sustainable Purchasing: We prioritize purchasing sustainable goods and services for our office, catering, giveaways, and merchandise.
• Bulk Purchasing: We purchase products in bulk to minimize packaging waste.
• Paper Conservation: We set copy and printing machines to double-sided printing by default and utilize other paper-saving modes.
• Eco-Friendly Cleaning: We use non-hazardous, non-eutrophic, and biodegradable cleaning materials with eco-labels, when locally available.
• Sustainable Printing: We print brochures on environmentally friendly paper from certified printing companies, when locally available and cost-effective.
• Digital Brochures: We promote an online digital brochure policy.
• Energy Efficiency: We are actively committed to measuring, monitoring, and reducing energy consumption.
• Carbon Footprint: We calculate and track our progress over time and aims to put in procedures to offset it
• Green Energy: We purchase green energy and energy-efficient lighting for all areas, when available.
• Energy Saving Practices: We switch off lights and equipment when not in use and set equipment to energy-saving mode by default, where feasible.
• Low-Energy Equipment: We prioritize low-energy equipment when making new purchases, considering cost and quality.
• Water Conservation: We have an active policy to reduce water consumption, which is implemented and monitored regularly.
• Water-Saving Equipment: We install water-saving equipment in toilets and explore options for reusing wastewater and collecting rainwater.
• Waste Management: We comply with national legislation concerning waste disposal.
• Packaging Reduction: We minimize the use of packaging materials and avoid non-recyclable or non-biodegradable packaging where possible.
• Plastic Reduction: We are taking action to reduce the use of non-refillable plastic water bottles in the office. We use reusable water bottles on all our guided tours.
• Recycling: We separate recyclable materials and organize their collection and proper disposal.
• Sustainable Ink and Toner: We implement waste-reducing methods for ink and toner cartridges, where possible.
• Battery Disposal: We recycle or properly dispose of batteries.
• Wastewater Treatment: We comply with national legislation regarding wastewater treatment, ensuring it is reused or released safely.
• Chemical Management: We minimize and substitute the use of harmful substances and manage the storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals properly.
• Pollution Control: We implement practices to minimize pollution from our buildings (to the extent controllable by the company).
• Vehicle Maintenance: We maintain and regularly check our company vehicles to reduce emissions and energy use, ensuring they comply with legal emission standards.
• Environmental Training: We provide regular guidance, training, and information to all staff on their roles and responsibilities related to internal environmental practices.
• Cultural Preservation: We contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, cultural, and spiritually important properties and sites, and do not impede access to them by local residents.

Partner Agency

Lark Journeys Namibia collaborates with key partner agencies and is committed to improving their sustainability practices. We strive to make sustainable development a reality for every partner within our business chain. We achieve this by:

• Partner Sustainability Inventory: We maintain a list of the sustainability practices of partner accommodations.
• Prioritizing Sustainable Partners: We prioritize working with organizations that are genuinely implementing sustainability in their tourism policies.
• Office Sustainability: We minimize the ecological footprint of our office by limiting the use of paper where possible, separating waste, and using certified recycled paper where possible.
• Local Benefits: We consider the local benefits to communities when selecting local accommodations and assess their social policies for employees.
• Awareness Campaigns: We raise awareness among key partners on sustainable consumption by organizing (online) campaigns and training.
• Policy Communication: We inform key partners about our sustainability policy and expect them to comply with it and/or communicate it to clients where relevant.
• Sustainability Training: We encourage partners to participate in sustainability training for accommodation establishments.
• Sustainable Contracts: We prioritize partner contracts that fulfill sustainability goals.
• Employee Rights: We work with partner companies that comply with all relevant national laws protecting the rights of employees.

Transport

Lark Journeys Namibia recognizes that transportation is a crucial aspect of sustainable tourism and strives to minimize its environmental impact. We achieve this by:

• Electric Vehicles: We primarily use an electric vehicle (EV) for our airport transfers and city trips.
• Sustainable Transport Options: We consider and prioritize more sustainable alternatives when selecting transport options for transfers and excursions, taking into account price, comfort, and practical considerations.
• Sustainable Holiday Packages: We integrate and/or promote sustainable holiday products/packages based on recognized methodologies, including sustainable transport, accommodations, and activities.

 Accommodations

Lark Journeys Namibia strives for a fully sustainable tourism supply chain, and our partner accommodations play a vital role. We encourage and motivate them to adopt sustainable practices through the following:

• Eco-Certified Accommodations: We give preferential treatment to accommodations that are Eco Award certified and comply with sustainability and quality standards, with a focus on:
  • Water conservation programs
  • Energy efficiency programs
  • Waste management programs
  • Energy reduction systems
  • Sustainable supply chains
  • Child protection policies
  • Corporate Social Responsibility activities
  • Employee health and safety training
• Encouraging Certification: We motivate and encourage partner accommodations to become Eco Award certified.
• Locally Owned and Managed: We prefer and select accommodations that are locally owned and managed.
• Local Employment: We select accommodations that employ local communities.
• Responsible Tourism Training: We encourage accommodations to follow best practices and participate in responsible tourism training.
• Communication: We clearly and actively communicate our sustainability objectives and requirements to contracted accommodations and other relevant accommodations.
• International Certifications: We give preference to accommodations that work with internationally acknowledged (e.g., GSTC recognized) and/or Travelife certifications.¹
• Contractual Clauses: We prioritize accommodation providers with standard sustainability clauses in their contracts, focusing on child labor, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management, and biodiversity protection.
• Child Protection: Our accommodation supply chain must ensure children’s rights are respected and safeguarded by:
  • Including a clause in all contracts stating a zero-tolerance policy for the sexual exploitation of children.
  • Including a clause in contracts that allows us to terminate the agreement prematurely if the accommodation supplier does not take adequate measures to prevent sexual exploitation of children.
  • Training employees on children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation, and how to report suspected cases.
  • Supporting, collaborating with, and engaging stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children.
• Local Culture: We work with accommodations and restaurants that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage while respecting the intellectual property rights⁴ of local communities.
• Essential Services: We will terminate cooperation with accommodations if there is clear evidence that they jeopardize the provision of essential services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to neighboring communities.

Excursions and Activities

Lark Journeys Namibia deeply values wildlife and community well-being. We offer tours that minimize our footprint and safeguard the authenticity of communities and the natural environment. We are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment. We achieve this by:

• Inventory of Sensitive Excursions: We maintain an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions offered in each destination.
• Guest Behavior: We advise guests on appropriate behavior during excursions and activities, emphasizing respect for local culture, nature, and the environment.
• Communication with Providers: We communicate our sustainability objectives to all relevant excursion providers through codes of conduct, representative agents, social media, email, discussions, and meetings to minimize negative visitor impact and maximize enjoyment.
• Ethical Excursions: We do not offer excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources (such as water and energy), or which are socially and culturally unacceptable.
• Wildlife Excursions: We do not offer excursions in which wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law.
• Sustainable Wildlife Practices: We are not involved with companies that harvest, consume, display, sell, or trade wildlife species unless it is part of a regulated activity that ensures sustainable utilization and complies with local, national, and international law.
• Qualified Guides: We use skilled and/or certified guides in sensitive cultural, heritage, or ecologically sensitive destinations.
• Supporting Local Communities: We promote and advise guests on excursions and activities that directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts, and local⁹ (food) production methods, or visiting social projects.¹⁰
• Supporting Biodiversity: We promote and advise guests on excursions and activities that support the local environment and biodiversity, such as visiting protected areas or environmental protection projects.¹¹

Tour Leaders, Local Representatives, and Guides

Lark Journeys Namibia aims to involve as many local people as possible in our tourism operations. We are committed to a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities. We achieve this by:

• Written Contracts: All employees have written employment contracts, including labor conditions and job descriptions, and fully understand the terms and conditions.
• Prioritizing Local Staff: We prefer to work with local tour leaders, representatives, guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff, provided they have equal ability, and provide training as needed.
• Compliance with Laws: We ensure that our local partners comply with all applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations, industry minimum standards, and¹² other relevant statutory requirements.
• Living Wage: We pay tour leaders, representatives, guides, porters, and other local staff at least a living wage that exceeds the legal minimum or relevant industry standard.
• Qualified Staff: We ensure that our tour guides, hosts, and other contracted employees are qualified and trained.
• Sustainability Training: We ensure our local employees are informed about relevant aspects of our sustainability policy and comply with it, through contract references, emails, or training and information sessions.
• Sustainable Travel Module: We offer a specialized sustainable travel module in our training program for local tour guides and hosts, focusing on responsible tourism aspects and their expected roles. This module also includes information about the destination and its relevant sustainability aspects.
• Client Information: Our tour leaders, representatives, and guides inform clients about relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g., protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g., tips, dress code, and photography), and human rights (e.g., sexual exploitation).

 Destination

Lark Journeys Namibia aims to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at the destination level to ensure the sustainable development of the places where we operate. We achieve this by:

• Sustainable Destination Selection: We consider sustainability aspects in the selection process of new destinations and explore offering alternative, non-mainstream destinations.
• Avoiding Negative Impacts: We avoid selecting destinations where tourism leads to structural negative local effects (unless our involvement results in clear counterbalancing effects).
• Sustainable Transport Access: We consider the availability of more sustainable means of transport when selecting new destinations.
• Compliance with Regulations: We comply with legally based spatial planning, protected areas, and heritage regulations, as well as destination management strategies of local, regional, and national authorities.
• Supporting Local Producers: We support initiatives that improve relationships between accommodations and local producers.
• Influencing Local Government: We influence and support local government (when possible, together with other travel companies and stakeholders) concerning sustainability, destination planning and management, use of natural resources, and socio-cultural issues.¹⁵
• Biodiversity Conservation: We support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through financial contributions,¹⁶ political support, and integration¹⁷ in our product offerings.
• Sustainable Souvenirs: We do not promote souvenirs containing threatened flora and fauna species (as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’) or historic and archaeological artifacts (except as permitted by law).

Customer Communication and Protection

Lark Journeys Namibia highly values customer welfare and information. We ensure clear and constant communication and provide a high level of protection to our clients.

Prior to Booking:

• Privacy: We have mechanisms in place to ensure customer privacy is not compromised.
• Marketing Standards: We comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising, and do not promise more than we can deliver.
• Clear Information: We provide clear, complete, and accurate product and price information, including details about the company, its products and services, and sustainability claims.
• Destination Information: We provide factually correct, balanced, and complete destination information, including sustainability aspects.
• Sustainable Transport Options: We inform clients about the environmental impact of different transport options to reach the destination (if not included in the package) and offer sustainable alternatives where available.¹
• Promoting Sustainability: We promote (certified) sustainable accommodations, excursions, packages, and/or transport options with logos or other messages, clearly presenting them as the “better” option.
• Sustainability Commitments: We clearly inform (potential) direct clients about our sustainability commitments and actions.

After Booking and During Holidays:

• Destination Information: We provide information to clients about the natural surroundings, local culture, and cultural heritage in the holiday destination.²
• Sustainability Information: We inform clients about key sustainability aspects and issues in the destination and offer recommendations on how to make a positive contribution.
• Health and Safety: We inform clients about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the destination.
• Emergency Contact: We maintain a permanently available contact person and telephone number for emergencies.
• Emergency Procedures: We train personnel and maintain guidelines on how to handle emergency situations.
• Codes of Conduct: We provide clients with documented guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities to minimize negative visitor impact and maximize enjoyment.
• Exploitation and Harassment: We inform clients about commercial, sexual, or any other form of exploitation and harassment, particularly of children and adolescents.
• Cultural Artifacts: We inform clients about applicable legislation concerning the purchasing, sales, import, and export of historic or religious artifacts and articles containing materials of threatened flora and/or fauna in the destination.⁴
• Local Businesses: We encourage clients to use locally owned restaurants and shops (where appropriate).
• Sustainable Transport: We inform clients on sustainable transport options in destinations, when feasible.

After Holidays:

• Client Satisfaction: We systematically measure client satisfaction and use the results for service and product improvements.
• Sustainability Feedback: We include sustainability as an integral part of our research into client satisfaction.
• Complaint Procedures: We have clear procedures in place for handling client complaints.