Keith Vincent, Wilderness CEO, says the nature conservation financing provided by Standard Bank contributes to the ethos of the organisation, whose strategy is to ensure the world, through sustainable conservation tourism, will always have a version of its iconic wild places that are unfenced, untamed and unpredictable.
“Our shared African vision and commitment to contributing to a sustainable continent (and ultimately planet) made Standard Bank the right partner for us. At Wilderness, our mission is to double the amount of land we help conserve in the next decade. We believe that, with the support of our guests, partners and greater collective, it is achievable. A vision we’ll never stop striving to achieve”, said Vincent.
Brydone Graham, Head of Corporate Financing Solutions at Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) division, noted, “Wilderness presents a particularly unique opportunity for Standard Bank to support a key partner in the conservation of our continent and drive its growth in a sustainable, inclusive manner”.
“Africa houses significant examples of the globe’s most valuable biodiversity. Protecting this biodiversity in a sustainable and inclusive manner for local communities is a cornerstone for a prosperous future for Africa as a whole”, he added.
In conclusion, Standard Bank’s Graham said, “Our unique and vast African footprint allows us to efficiently provide long-term, flexible funding across the continent, and when Wilderness approached us, we were ready to provide a solution to support its conservation ambitions. It’s part of our vision to not only encourage sustainable use of the environment, but to create intra-African business and economic integration too”.
