Vision Board
Vision: Global Wildlife Fair (GWF) focuses on developing a community that values, respects, and protects animals.
To secure a healthy and sustainable future, it is necessary to recognize the interconnectedness of all living things and cooperation among individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to protect them.
Mission: The mission of GWF is to connect people with nature and inspire them to take action to protect wildlife and their habitats.
Core Values: Global Wildlife Fair is committed to protecting wildlife and their habitats, and promoting sustainable practices to ensure their survival.
My love and admiration for Nature grew and got an official stamp when I joined TRAFFIC-India which was then a part of IUCN and was housed in the Indian headquarters of WWF-India. My colleagues Mr. Ashok Kumar and Mr. Vivek Menon helped me learn a lot and made me unravel several lesser-touched dimensions. Ashok has been my guru and Vivek is a true pal. The year 1994 was highly eventful and brought a turning point in my life. I started Asian Adventures, a concept to bring school children closer to nature. In due course of time, the concept became wider and better in scope and reached and established camps and lodges in some of the most pristine and lesser-touched locations of the country. Jungle Lore Birding Lodge at Pangot near Nainital is the first birding lodge in India and one of many establishments managed and manned by us. Each place has its uniqueness and saga to narrate. Recently, after completing of GSTC training and being inducted as a board member of the Asian Ecotourism Network, I see a huge possibility of bringing ‘green ecotourism’ concepts and methods to the country.
The work I do focuses mainly on expanding ecotours and ecotourism to every part of the world. I place value on finding models for tourism that don’t just give visitors a generalized view of the place they’re visiting but also allow them to get closer to communities and ensure that everyone involved benefits. It’s critically important that we think about the word “ecotour,” which is used all the time, and ask ourselves what a real ecotour is. I believe we must keep pace with the global tourism industry while at the same time meeting international standards as we expand.
Vivek Menon is a wildlife conservationist, environmental commentator, author and photographer with a passion for elephants. He has been part of the founding of five environmental & nature conservation organizations in India. The winner of the 2001 Rufford Award for International Conservation for his work to save the Asian elephant, Menon is the Founder and Executive Director of the Wildlife Trust of India as well as Senior Advisor to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
