WA L K I N G | S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
Photos: Bruno D'Amicis/Rewilding Europe
PUTTING NATURE FIRST REWILDING THE APENNINES
OUR NATURE FIRST COMMITMENT
RESTORE
We have always strived to minimise our environmental impact, but now we’ve set ourselves a goal to become Nature Net Positive by 2024, with our Nature First commitment. We're proud to be the first tour operator to set a goal of this kind, and it starts with rewilding the Apennines. he wild Italian landscapes in the Apennines are particularly close to our hearts as Italy remains one of our most popular destinations for our walking and cycling holidays. So this year we have partnered with leading biodiversity experts, Rewilding Europe, to help us work towards our Nature Net Positive goal and their aim of making Europe a wilder place. Rewilding helps to restore nature’s ecosystems and biodiversity, so that wildlife can return and thrive, while also combatting climate change by increasing
T
TR AVEL BY TR AIN Travelling by train is a great way to minimise your carbon footprint when going abroad. With Eurostar connections and onward high-speed trains many of our walking holidays can be reached by train in as little as eight hours. So if you’d like to make your journey part of your holiday experience, speak to our team who will be happy to make all the arrangements for you.
the land’s ability to absorb carbon. Our Nature and Carbon Corridors Project aims to help rewild 5,000 hectares of the Italian Apennines, and over the course of five years will capture an estimated 85,000 tonnes of carbon. These corridors will also help to increase the endangered Marsican bear population, and the recovery of the Apennine wolf, wildcat and other wildlife. We will work with local communities to show how peaceful coexistence with wildlife is possible. We’re supporting Rewilding Europe with their community carbon scheme that supports smallholders and landowners in rewilding their land, while mitigating any loss of agricultural income, so it is mutually beneficial for both nature and the local community. Through this partnership, we will be rewilding 100 square metres of land for each and every passenger who books a trip with us. This is just a first step in our aim to support biodiversity projects across Europe, by putting Nature First.
T
6 | FOR E X PERT GU I DA NCE A N D A DV ICE CA LL YOU R PER SONA L TR AV EL CONSU LTA N T ON 016 0 6 8 2 8 51 5
WE WILL REWILD 100 SQM OF LAND FOR EVERY PASSENGER, AND ENGAGE COMMUNITIES TO RESTORE BIODIVERSITY
REDUCE
WE AIM TO HALVE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT BY 2030 AND COMPENSATE FOR ALL TRIP AND FLIGHT CARBON EMISSIONS
REMOVE
WE WILL ENGAGE WITH SUPPLIERS TO STOP PRACTICES WHICH DEGRADE ECOSYSTEMS AND AVOID SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
Ensuring our holidays give back far more to nature than they take. Learn more at headwater.com/sustainability
