Félix’s aspiration with TOSCO was to create a platform that opened communication between conservation NGOs, the government, the local communities and the tourism industry. He also wanted to raise more awareness and promote education within the tourism industry about conservation matters. In the first year alone, 18 tourism companies joined TOSCO as paying members, reaching a peak of 42 members in the following years. With tourism funding it became possible to pay three Puros community members – Bertus, Kootie and Colin – to monitor lion movements and mitigate human-lion conflict. They were among the first lion rangers employed in Namibia.

Ultimate Safaris has been a TOSCO member from the very beginning. The company’s co-founder and managing director, Tristan Cowley, explains: “We believe in meaningful conservation partnerships, knowing that the more collaboration there is, the better for conservation. As a true conservation travel company, our partnership with TOSCO is just one of those meaningful partnerships that drive conservation for a greater good.” Elise van der Meij, director of Explore Namibia, says, “We all benefit from this beautiful country that sells itself, with its pristine nature, wildlife and ever-changing landscapes. It is worth protecting. Of course, we can contribute with the ‘normal’ things, like not littering, being aware of our actions and guiding our guests to do the same. However, within 10 years TOSCO has built a network and tutored ambassadors in a way which on an individual basis we would never have been able to do. So, we are also very happy that TOSCO takes on the responsibility and stands in for us when it comes to conservation and awareness.”

With no budget for operating expenses, TOSCO initially relied on a team of tourism professionals devoting their free time to their passion for conserving the natural environment. The conservation trust now supports external projects managed by various organisations and also implements its own projects that fill critical gaps in the absence of existing projects to fill such gaps. All TOSCO projects have so far been undertaken within four main programmes: Living with Wildlife, Awareness, Research and Clean Travel. The Living with Wildlife Programme supported several projects related to human-wildlife conflict in 10 conservancies and developed a Conservation Contribution scheme, which enables tour operators to pay a voluntary fee for their tourism activities on communal land. The Clean Travel Programme started in 2017 with a carbon offset scheme in collaboration with the Eloolo Permaculture Initiative, whereby tourism businesses offset their greenhouse gas emissions by supporting the planting and maintenance of trees at selected schools. As part of the Awareness Programme, TOSCO organised conservation- related workshops, established responsible travel guidelines and placed informative signboards in environmentally sensitive areas. Through the Research Programme, TOSCO supported researchers who focus on the long-term survival of threatened and endangered wildlife species, as well as annual game counts organised by conservancies.