Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) has defined a new category of tourism that directly supports on-the-ground conservation of wildlife, while providing increased opportunities to associated communities.

Wildlife Friendly™ Tourism is defined as “Tourism that maximizes opportunities for travelers, communities, and businesses not only to engage as partners but also to advance the on-the-ground conservation of Key Species* while minimizing negative impacts on wildlife.”

Wildlife Friendly™ Tourism uses cutting edge, expert-driven best practices to define guidelines for tourism and related impacts on threatened, endangered, or otherwise important species of wildlife. Enterprises that may be certified under this program include tour operators, hotels & lodges, and guides & drivers.

The Certified Wildlife Friendly™ Tourism standards (también disponible en español) were developed with input from members of the IUCN Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS) Biodiversity Working Group and other conservation tourism leaders around the world to ensure that travel enterprises within this category meet the intended goals: to inform and empower consumers, communities, companies, and organizations to be catalysts for change for the benefit of livelihoods, wildlife, and ecosystems.