Lewa Standards

The Lewa Standard is Lewa’s ETHOS which establishes a set of guiding PRINCIPLES under which the management and stakeholders of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy will be directed in perpetuity.

This ETHOS and the attendant guiding PRINCIPLES will serve to ensure that the Conservancy is managed according to the highest standards within the context needed to ensure the following core principles are adhered to and that the human footprint within the Conservancy is minimized:

1. The conservation of diversity of species, ecosystems and habitat.
2. The maintenance of the aesthetic value of the Conservancy.  
3. The generation of a significant financial contribution to conservation and to the national economy.
4. The generation of demonstrable value for local communities serving to focus efforts beyond Lewa’s immediate boundaries.  

The Standard will strengthen the Conservancy in its efforts to achieve its stated Mission – ‘Working as a catalyst for the conservation of species and its habitat via the protection and management of species, the initiation and support of community conservation and development program and the education of neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife’.

NOTE: The Lewa Standard should be read in conjunction with the Lewa Code of Conduct

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LEWA STANDARD

•  As a leading private sector Conservation organisation within Kenya, LWC has the opportunity to set and maintain the highest possible conservation standards. This process and intent is quantified within the “Lewa Standard”.
• The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is an internationally recognized conservation organization and needs to ensure the highest possible environmental and tourism standards.
• The Lewa Standard has become particularly relevant in the context of the Conservancy’s increasing international profile.  The more dynamic the organization becomes, the more people are living and working on or visiting Lewa.  The better the Conservancy’s’ tourism operation becomes, the more people are visiting. This puts corresponding pressure on both the quality of the tourism experience and environmental standards.
• Conservation is not only about conserving isolated areas.  All conservation organizations have a responsibility to foster the extension of good conservation practice at regional and global level.  The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy therefore needs to set an example not only within the confines of its boundaries but also across its spheres of influence and beyond.  The Ethos and Guiding principles defined within the Lewa Standard will provide an effective platform from which to do this.
• The Lewa Standard serves as a powerful tool for stimulating effective teamwork, motivation and performance across the organization. In cases where difficult and potentially conflicting management decisions are required, the implementation process of the Lewa Standard removes the personal nature of such decisions and places them into a forum of independent professional assessment with Conservation being the lead factor.
• The Lewa Standard will create genuine comparative advantage for the Conservancy which in turn can be translated into a positive financial impact.
• With Conservation being the lead issue decision making will be an easier and more focused process:
• In conserving diversity of species, ecosystems, habitat and the aesthetic value of the Conservancy the tourism product will be improved and the ability of the Conservancy to attract more tourists – its principal self-generated revenue source – will be enhanced.
• The process of the Lewa Standard will help establish LWC as a leader in this field enhancing the LWC signature within the donor community and its corresponding ability to leverage funding.