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Last Updated
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Urban Ecotourism
One of our most popular e-conferences examined the importance
of cities in developing an eco ethic for travelers. |
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QUESTIONS
How can we make urban spaces more livable while ensuring
protection of the natural resources and ecosystems that sustain
us?
What are the best examples of urban ecotourism?
What is the relationship between urban centers and rural
communities and wilderness areas?
What are recommended city guidebooks?
What are the best cities for walking?
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Urban Ecotourism Conference took place in September and
October 2004. The conference summary is available for download
as a Powerpoint
presentation.
The online event had more than 30 active participants
representing more than a dozen countries: Brazil, Canada, Ecuador,
England, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand,
South Africa, Spain and the United States.
DECLARATION
Participants agreed upon a declaration which sets the stage
for greening tourism in cities around the globe. The declaration
is a collective response to a common challenge -- making urban
spaces more liveable while protecting biodiversity.
We submitted the document to the organizers of World
Environment Day.
REQUEST -- Your support for the conference declaration
is appreciated! The document is translated into Spanish
and Greek.
Add your name here.
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LESSONS LEARNED
All this world is holy ground.
-
City Notebook
Participants shared lessons learned around the globe, including
examples of what to repeat and what to avoid.
We reviewed the ways in which urban tourism can be more ecological
and brainstorm about alternatives to urban sprawl. We also looked
at the role cities play as gateways to parks, protected areas
and rural communities.
As a reference tool, we developed an index
of city-specific websites spotlighting more than 50 cities
around the globe.
CO-SPONSORS
This event was Planeta's 14th online
event and co-sponsored by Balam
Consultores, ECOCLUB,
Ecotourism
Management,
Mexican Conservation Learning Network, The
Shores System, Rachel
Dodd's Sustainable Tourism Net and Sustainable
Sources.
SUPPORT THIS WORK
We welcome financial contributions.
CONTINUING THIS WORK
We are continuing the work by presenting lessons learned at
a Mexico City workshop, Ecoturismo
Urbano y Vias Verdes. We are also developing a seminar.
CALENDAR
January 2004: Conference Announced
September 7:
Ecoclub Chat
September 15: Conference Preview, Oaxaca
Options discussion
September 20: Conference Opens
September 21:
Ecoclub Chat
September 28:
Ecoclub Chat
October 8: Conference concludes, vote on declaration
begins
October 16: Publication of Declaration
2005: Presentation in Powerpoint
June 5, 2005: World
Environment Day: Greening Cities
July 2006: Ecoturismo
Urbano y Vias Verdes
2008: Development of online seminar
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THANK YOU!
For individual financial contributions, thanks to participants
Mary Finn, Elliot Helman, Carolina Garcia, Antonis Petropoulos,
Mike Robbins and Medicine Hat College.
For promoting the event, special thanks to our co-sponsors
as well as World
Tourism Organization, Development
Gateway, e-review
of Tourism Research, sustainable-tourism,
IMAC,
Italy
Indymedia, Fondo
Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Business
Mexico, URBANET,
Ecuador
Virtual, Girus.com.br,
TIES,
Thorn Tree,
ECOCLUB.com,
Green-Travel,
Mexicanwave,
WorldChanging
, e-review
of Tourism Research and the Society
of Environmental Journalists.
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ABOUT PLANETA
Planeta.com is an award-winning
website that presents articles and discussion about the environment
and travel. The site debuted in 1994. Travelers will find tips on choosing eco-friendly, people-friendly and place-friendly trips. Professionals
will find a number of helpful resources, including
the Exploring
Ecotourism Resource Guide. If you have questions about
our site, contact
us.
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SEMINARS
Learning never ends. See if one of our seminars
is right for you. |
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