| The Dialogue on Linking
Tourism and Protected Areas builds on discussion from the May
2007 UNEP/GRID-Arendal discussion Linking
Tourism and Conservation which took place in Arendal, Norway,
with the support of the Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity. Dialogue moderators will provide
a weekly summary of the proposals.
YOUR TURN
If you are a professional working in tourism and protected areas,
you have two options for participating in this dialogue. One is
to register for the Planeta
Forum and to join us for one to two hours per week for an
interactive dialogue that contributes to strengthening the links
between tourism and protected areas. The second is to take a 15-minute
survey to share comments. Please answer the survey after you have
read the proposals.
BACKGROUND
The dialogue is hosted online by Planeta.com as a contribution
to global dialogue. Click here
to see the range of Planeta.com's capacity building workshops
for parks personnel, tour operators and others working toward
responsible travel and ecotourism.
The Dialogue on Linking Tourism and Protected Areas is Planeta.com's
19th formal e-conference (see index)
and will be moderated by Oliver Hillel and Chantal Robichaud,
officers of the CBD Secretariat.
OBJECTIVE
We ask participants in this dialogue to contribute their views,
suggestions and share news about specific commitments (see key
questions below). This dialogue will help foster creative partnerships
to make these proposals better and more feasible, so that the
tourism industry becomes more engaged in the long-term feasibility
of the world's protected areas, undoubtedly one of their greatest
assets and attractions.
From July 3-27, 2007, we'd like you to contribute, and propose
ways to collaborate. Aside from discussion results, the final
output will be a set of project proposals for which partners will
raise funds and commit to pursue its implementation.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Those who are registered on the Planeta
Forum and have a background in tourism and protected areas
are encouraged to participate in an active manner. For those who
are not already registered on the Planeta Forum, registration
requires two steps: 1) Send an email
to Planeta.com with a short message indicating your interest in
the dialogue and the ID you intend to register and 2) register
on the forum. Please send the introductory email first as
we require confirmation to prevent spammers gaining access to
the forum.
PROJECT PROPOSALS
We encourage you to submit your comments about the following
proposals:
Economic
valuation of park tourism
Tourism
Resort Investment
Best
Practices linking tourism and protected areas
Take the survey!
KEY QUESTIONS
Key questions for participants:
- Can you suggest ways to make these projects stronger and
more feasible? Are there other activities that would contribute
or other perspectives that need to be considered?
- Can you identify sources of information (documents, research
papers, websites) and/or expertise (specialists, institutions,
practitioners) that can contribute to the project?
- Would you, or your institution, be interested in contributing
to the project? If so, please identify the areas of expertise
and/or resources.
- Would you have any suggestion on possible contributors and/or
donors, institutions whose goals fit the project's objectives,
or that would benefit from its implementation?
ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE
Dialogue moderators cannot guarantee that all suggestions will
be incorporated in future versions of the proposal, and that projects
will ultimately be implemented.
BACKGROUND
How can tourism contribute to financing the management of a
global system of protected areas, as an essential part of a strategy
to make sure that biodiversity stays with us?
The Convention on Biological Diversity brings together 190 government
leaders, and was launched at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Based
on three objectives (conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,
and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the
use of biological resources), the Convention recognizes that biological
diversity is about more than plants, animals and micro organisms
and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for
food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a
clean and healthy environment in which to live. The Convention
has developed a programme of work on protected areas and guidelines
on sustainable tourism. The projects we'd like you to comment
on are aimed at optimizing the links between these two natural
partners. |
