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Opportunities of ecotourism in promoting sustainable land management in the Caribbean

April 2011

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Table of Contents

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 4

2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 5

3 ECOTOURISM TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT ......................... 6

3.1 DEFINING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND ECOTOURISM ............................................................. 6 3.2 ECOTOURISM IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT................................... 7 3.3 POSSIBLE PITFALLS OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT ........................................................... 10

4 TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN ............................................................................................ 11

4.1 THE STATUS OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY .............................................................................. 11 4.2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ............................................................................................... 12 4.3 THE ECOTOURISM POTENTIAL ............................................................................................... 12 4.4 POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR TOURISM ....................................................... 13 4.5 THE CASES OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND BARBADOS ................................................ 15

5 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................... 19

5.1 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO ECOTOURISM INITIATIVES FOR SLM ........................................ 19 5.2 SUGGESTED ACTIONS ........................................................................................................... 21 5.3 THE GLOBAL MECHANISM’S ROLE IN PROMOTING ECOTOURISM FOR SLM ......................... 22

ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................................ 23

ANNEX I: POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS .............................................................. 23 ANNEX II: EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICES IN ECOTOURISM ............................................................. 24 ANNEX III: INDEX OF CASE STUDIES OF GOOD PRACTICES ............................................................... 27

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING .................................................................................. 29

List of tables and boxes Table 1 Contribution of travel and tourism to overall GDP in Caribbean countries, 2002–

2007

Table 2 Potential niches for ecotourism in the Caribbean Box 1 Widely accepted principles of sustainable tourism

Box 2 Nature Conservancy recommendations for ecotourism Box 3 An example of a subsistence farm: Semilla Besada in Spain

Box 4 Las Terrazas de Coson Box 5 Adopt-a-beach Project

Box 6 Sustainable land management initiatives in the Caribbean

Box 7 Reducing poverty and land degradation in the Maya Golden Landscape of Southern Belize

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Acronyms CTO Caribbean Tourism Organization

GDP gross domestic product

GEF Global Environmental Facility GM Global Mechanism

MPAs marine protected areas NGO non-governmental organization

PISLM Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management

SIDS Small Island Development States SLM sustainable land management

UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

USAID United States Agency for International Development WTO World Trade Organization

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1 Executive summary

Tourism is beneficial for a nation’s overall economy, and an especially interesting source of income for developing countries, because it provides an effective transfer of income from

wealthy to poor nations. However, negative impacts of tourism are possible, especially in

terms of environmental degradation. Sustainable tourism can overcome this conflict because it provides for effective resource management so that income can be generated with less

negative impact to an area’s environmental and cultural integrity. Ecotourism, in particular, relies on travellers’ positive attitudes towards isolated landscapes, wildlife and cultures.

Travellers can enjoy the experiences and locals can benefit from empowerment and financial

revenues.

Sustainable land management (SLM) aims to combine satisfactory production levels with the preservation of resources over time. Ecotourism can play a key role in SLM by raising

travellers’ awareness about environment-related issues in order to minimize the impact of

their presence on the territory, and by creating additional job opportunities for local communities. Income from ecotourism also can provide local communities with incentives to

take up more SLM practices and shift their attention away from unsustainable practices. Ecotourism attracts positive attention from policy makers, which ensures small-scale

development and provides revenues for reinvestment.

However, there are potential concerns with ecotourism activities. From an environmental

point of view, it could be argued that tourism in certain areas is not truly sustainable, while from an economic standpoint, revenues must actually reach the local communities to make a

difference on a small-scale level.

In the Caribbean region, tourism represents a remarkable share of the economy and the

sector is expanding at a fast pace. Recently, large areas of this region have experienced mass tourism, which has led to rapid but unsustainable growth. The challenge is to invert

this negative trend by improving the quality of tourism activities. The Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework (2008) has been pushing governments and policy makers to

ensure that all stakeholders – governments, local authorities, communities and tourism operators – are equally represented in the tourism sector and that the key goal of

sustainability is met.

Sustainable tourism and ecotourism have the potential to provide effective solutions to

problems created by less responsible forms of tourism. They can contribute to SLM by generating direct revenues, sustainable production and the sale of local products and by

involving tourists in responsible agricultural activities. The State should be a reliable partner

in implementing these approaches, and context-specific policies are needed to regulate the sector, ensure that communities are involved and integrate tourism as much as possible into

existing economic activities, rather than using it as a substitute for them.

The Global Mechanism (GM) regards ecotourism as a valuable innovative financing strategy

to help with its mandate to mobilize financial resources to combat desertification and drought. Ecotourism also is an efficient trigger to South-South cooperation, as long as

success stories are adequately shared and serve as role models among countries.

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2 Introduction

The Caribbean is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With sun, sand and sea and more than 7 000 islands, islets, reefs and cays, it offers a perfect environment

for travellers. Tourism is one of the Caribbean’s main sources of income, employment, hard

currency earnings and economic growth. At the same time, recent research suggests that mass tourism in small Caribbean islands has sacrificed environmental stability for rapid

growth and prompted a call for more sustainable alternatives.

The Caribbean states, as islands, are especially vulnerable to environmental impacts such as

coastal erosion, fresh water shortages, marine pollution and loss of coral reefs and other habitats. Land degradation causes pollution of rivers and near-shore coastal waters, affecting

the very beaches and reefs that are centrepieces of the vacation attractions. Land degradation also affects terrestrial and coastal ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable on

small islands. Throughout the Caribbean, there is awareness that environmental degradation

can have negative impacts on the local livelihoods and economy.

Efforts to develop and promote sustainable practices and strategies are very important as part of the ongoing endeavours to tackle land degradation in the Caribbean Small Island

Development States (SIDS). In this context, ecotourism can play a role in the management of land resources.

This paper aims to explore the opportunities presented by ecotourism for promoting and increasing investments in sustainable land management (SLM) in the Caribbean region and

to promote discussions and information exchange. It also contributes to the GM’s work on establishing private sector cooperation, increased involvement and investment in SLM and to

the incentive and market-based mechanisms for SLM that the GM is developing.

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3 Ecotourism to promote sustainable land management

While tourism offers benefits for the overall economy and the local social environment, it heavily impacts the physical environment (e.g. urban sprawl, linear urbanization, pressure on

sensitive areas, the production of waste) and fragments habitats and the social environment

(e.g. a loss of social and cultural identity and values). Solutions to this problem have been developed in the region, supported by public and private initiatives. The concept of

sustainable tourism has been increasingly recognized and adopted by the tourism industry, and ecotourism is currently its fastest growing niche.

3.1 Defining sustainable tourism and ecotourism

While there is no universal definition for sustainable tourism or ecotourism, this section

describes some concepts that are widely recognized.

3.1.1 Sustainable tourism

The World Tourism Organization offers the most widely accepted definition for sustainable tourism: “Tourism that leads to the management of all resources in such a way that

economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems”.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and

consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process which requires constant monitoring of impacts and introduction of preventive and corrective measures

whenever necessary.

Sustainable tourism should provide meaningful experiences and a high level of satisfaction to

tourists, while raising their awareness about sustainability issues and sustainable tourism practices (WTO, 2004).

Box 1: Widely accepted principles of sustainable tourism 1. Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism

development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.

2. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to intercultural understanding and tolerance.

3. Ensure viable, long-term economic operations that provide and fairly distribute socio-economic benefits (e.g. stable employment, income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities) to all stakeholders, and contribute to poverty alleviation.

Source: UNEP (2010)

3.1.2 Ecotourism

Ecotourism is currently the fastest growing sector of the world's largest service industry. This

relatively new trend in tourism takes travellers to remote corners of the globe, exposing them to diverse wildlife and cultures that have been developing in isolation from the

modernized world. Although there are several competing definitions of ecotourism, a

commonly accepted explanation is "purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the

ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people" (Garen, 2000).

As a subset of sustainable tourism, ecotourism programmes minimize the adverse effects of

traditional tourism on the natural environment. Ecotourism builds a community to promote

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conservation and foster private conservation efforts that extend beyond the immediate

experience of the tourism venture. Ecotourists are more aware of and may advocate for conservation in the areas they visited as well as in their countries of origin.

The International Ecotourism Society suggests that ecotourism should be based upon the

following principles:

Minimize impact.

Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.

Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts. Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.

Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.

Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental and social climate.

Box 2: Nature Conservancy recommendations for ecotourism 1. Provide valuable financing for parks and conservation efforts. 2. Offer economic justification for the preservation of nature parks and wildlife. 3. Reduce exploitation of conservation areas by supplying local peoples with viable economic

alternatives. 4. Promote environmentalism and conservation. 5. Encourage private conservation efforts. Source: Lizano, 2001

3.2 Ecotourism in the context of sustainable land management

Sustainable land management ensures adequate levels of production while preserving the

lands’ resource base and development opportunities for future generations. Sustainable

agricultural practices and policies addressing water or forest use and area management can help protect land and water resources – especially in areas that are vulnerable and at risk of

becoming eroded and degraded.

Ecotourism's appeal as a conservation and development tool rests in its potential to provide

local economic benefits while maintaining ecological resource integrity through low-impact, non-consumptive resource use. Ecotourism could be a perfect channel to enhance and

improve best land management practices and improve or sustain livelihoods of local individuals.

Ecotourism has the potential to offer direct or indirect financial benefits and incentives for SLM practices and to bring valuable investments in sustainable ecosystem management.

Financial incentives can include compensation from the ecotourists or the tourism developers to the land users for using more sustainable practices. For example, there are often illegal

activities, such as wildlife poaching or logging, in or near the borders of protected areas. Ecotourism could bring job opportunities or income sources (in addition to increased

awareness about environmental problems and opportunities) that can potentially shift local

activities away from unsustainable practices.

Activities that can reduce exploitation and unsustainable land use by providing viable economic alternatives to local people include:

production and marketing of organic products. Ecotourism can be integrated into

dry land agriculture to provide business opportunities such as production and marketing of locally produced organic products (e.g. coffee and cocoa beans).

production and marketing of non-timber products. The creation of a market for

non-timber products (e.g. honey or berries) can provide incentives not to cut down forests.

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agro-tourism. Indigenous or local people may offer tours of their farms, and

sometimes may allow tourists to take part in growing, harvesting and processing locally

grown foods, such as coconuts, pineapple or sugar cane. The production methods should be sustainable; some countries require agro-tourism to produce only ecological products.

Often, the farmers provide a home-stay opportunity and education. This can provide additional income for households or communities, increased awareness of sustainable

production methods and a way to market sustainable products.

collection of conservation fees and taxes. Fees or taxes may be charged on visits to

protected areas (e.g. dry land areas or forests). Most ecotourists have above-average income and are willing to pay higher park entrance fees and make donations to

conservation efforts. This income can be used in the local community for conservation measures and sustainable practices.

In addition to providing financial incentives and empowering local communities and

indigenous groups to develop SLM practices, there are other positive effects of ecotourism:

Ecotourism provides private sector actors with economic incentives to invest in tourism

development and conservation efforts.

Ecotourism can promote and build knowledge about sustainable land and water-use

practices among tourists and the local community, taking into consideration cultural and traditional knowledge. It can also help raise awareness at local, national and

international levels about the value and importance of sustainable management of soil,

land and water resources.

Ecotourism brings employment opportunities to often previously disadvantaged rural

populations, and much of the industry exists in the form of small-scale projects that can be funded by local people and organizations.

Tourism is an excellent vehicle for transferring income from wealthy nations and people

to the poorer sectors of society. Ecotourism is especially effective in this transfer since it

has the potential to increase travel to the developing world and travellers often venture

into remote, economically-disadvantaged regions. Since tourism is a relatively barrier-free trade commodity, it can be a more effective means of transferring income from the

modernized world than other forms of foreign investment, such as export-processing zones, in which profits are largely repatriated.

Ecotourism can help raise awareness among policy makers about the importance of

conservation and land management and the opportunities that flow from that. They may be influenced by the interest and investments from the private sector and the tourism

industry into conservation and more sustainable ecosystem management. Decision makers may be encouraged to promote and invest in ecotourism when they see the

economic contributions it can make to the national economy.

Ecotourism also supports the conservation and management of sustainable ecosystems by:

providing an alternative to environmentally damaging industries;

encouraging small-scale infrastructure construction;

providing benefits to other related industries;

diversifying the economy;

providing employment opportunities to often previously disadvantaged rural populations;

adapting clean technologies for better sustainability of ecotourism destinations.

3.2.1 Ecotourism in different ecological zones

Dry lands exhibit unique landscape features that attract tourists. Many dry lands do not have

woodlands and dense vegetation and hence are free of obstructions to view wildlife. The growing interest in wildlife conservation, much of which takes place outside of national

protected areas, opens agro-tourism business opportunities in dry land agricultural, pastoral

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and urban areas. People who do not live in dry land areas are attracted to and admire these

settings. This adds value to farming and pastoral communities and constitutes an incentive for maintaining these rural livelihoods.

There are many examples of this. The soil conservation benefits of tree cover within India’s

forests have been calculated at US$100–240 per hectare per year. Other indirect use values

include watershed protection, flood control, soil erosion control and protection of fishing grounds, all with substantial values of up to US$80 per hectare per year (Gossling, 1999).

Rainforest tourism has a high direct-use value, if direct and indirect benefits are included in

the calculation. Gross values for popular areas can range from US$6.60 per hectare per year for the Reserva Cuyabeno (Ecuador) to US$666.70 per hectare per year for the unique

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (International Unit for the Conservation of Nature, 1990).

However, net values might be significantly lower, and direct income from admission fees often does not even cover the maintenance costs.

Small-scale development seems to be essential in ecotourism because it assures stability,

benefits income diversification schemes, allows for maximum local participation, mobilizes

local money reserves, reduces leakages and induces local reinvestment. Small-scale development has the advantage of adapting to seasonality and involving local residents in

protection issues, thereby establishing social control mechanisms and reducing open access regim

es. By providing a source of livelihood for local people, ecotourism can encourage communities to preserve the biodiversity of their local areas.

Box 3: An example of a subsistence farm: Semilla Besada in Spain1 Semilla Besada is a 16-hectare subsistence farm at the extreme western end of the Alpujarra, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern Spain. The farm offers a holistic approach towards dry land sustainability. Semilla Besada is the first location in Europe to develop dry land permaculture designs which are

appropriate for dry landscapes. As part of its ecotourism management strategy, Semilla Besada:

provides educational material on the impact of tourism, offering alternative tourism practices wherever possible;

provides sustainable infrastructure such as composting toilets, solar water heating, solar energy, solar cooking and biodegradable bodycare products;

introduces guests to local producers and suppliers. As part of the SLM strategic framework for income diversification, Semilla Besada focuses on the following: restoration of the existing landscape using planned regenerative grazing, as devised by Holistic

Management International, that increases gross annual income by 3 percent, development of a herd of 10 milking sheep for artisanal cheese production that increases

income up to 8 percent over four months of production; development of the environment to accommodate biological and agricultural diversity within a

landscape to support polyculture and climate change adaptation; educational material on the different initiatives of Semilla Besada for visitors;

construction of drying facilities to process local fruits that could increase annual income up to 4 percent;

development of a working model of a subsistence farm which counters the term’s pejorative connotations and associations with environmental degradation and poverty.

1 For more details on this initiative please refer to http://semillabesada.wordpress.com/

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3.3 Possible pitfalls of ecotourism development

Some environmentalists believe that the economic benefits of ecotourism are not sufficient

motivation for true environmental conservation. Further, some of the threats of ecotourism include:

visitor overcapacity;

negative spill over effects and or externalities;

inadequate enforcement of protected park areas because of a lack of funding, poor

management and uncertain government support; reliance on non-government funding in countries lacking investments;

reliance on one sector only; tourism is a luxury “good” which can be volatile and respond

easily to economic changes;

exploitation of the local work force;

culturally insensitive development projects.

A chief criticism of ecotourism projects is that most of them are neither economically nor

environmentally sustainable in the long run. Blame for this short-sightedness is often placed

on developers or government officials who become more focused on turning large profits than on conservation. Tourist infrastructure is another challenge, since it requires land which

is often made available by clearing forests, which causes soil erosion and land-use change. Successful ecotourism attracts more tourists who bring more traffic and increase negative

impacts. Every successful enterprise wants to grow, however ecotourism businesses need to

be aware that they need to stop at a certain point.

Some literature also suggests that ecotourism fails to provide widespread economic benefits. Many assert that few, if any, ecotourism revenues reach local people, and thus that host

communities do not have incentives for conservation.

Another potential problem with ecotourism is the concept of green washing. Green washing

refers to the marketing scheme of attaching a "green" label to travel services that do not technically qualify as ecotourism (Egan, 2001). As ecotourism has become more popular,

green washing of luxury hotels and tourist centres has become more common since the label attracts tourists and income. To be genuinely green requires an understanding of the bigger

issues, enthusiasm for change and a lot of effort. Some eco-tours and hotels are just

ordinary operations that brand themselves as “green” while doing little to act in an environmentally responsible manner. This has resulted in suspicion from the market and

makes it difficult for those businesses that are acting ethically.

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4 Tourism in the Caribbean

4.1 The status of the tourism industry

The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that from 1950–2005, the number of international arrivals increased from 35 million to 808 million, an average annual growth

rate of 6.5 percent. Even more strikingly, the inflation-adjusted income from tourism has

grown by an average of 11 percent per year since 1950. The expected further trebling of numbers of tourist arrivals within one generation, combined with strong population growth in

many of the popular tourist areas, will place considerable strain on the world’s tourist destinations.

The Caribbean is one of the regions in the world most dependent on tourism. While it accounts for a mere 3 percent of international tourist arrivals, the tourism sector in the

Caribbean contributes significantly to the region’s incomes, employment, foreign exchange and growth. Tourism is a major employer in the Caribbean states, providing an estimated 1.3

million jobs (Caribbean Tourism Organization, 2009). Caribbean governments have

developed their tourism industries in a strategic move to diversify their economies. In many Caribbean countries, the tourism sector now contributes up to 50 percent of the gross

domestic product (GDP), and tourism receipts are a major source of foreign currency.

The growth in Caribbean tourism in the last 15 years has been driven by destinations such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic and, to a far lesser extent, the Bahamas, Barbados and

Jamaica. Destinations that are relatively less developed, such as Belize, Dominica, Guyana

and Suriname, with predominantly nature-based tourism, continue to face problems in building their tourism industry. Table 1 shows the contribution of the tourism sector to

overall GDP from 2002-2007 in the Caribbean countries.

Table 1: Contribution of travel and tourism to overall GDP in Caribbean countries,

2002–2007

Countries

Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (%)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Caribbean 14.7 14.4 14.1 14.3 14.4 14.7 14.3 13.3

Anguilla 76.0 75.0 67.4 71.5 65.1 69.2 68.4 68.3

Antigua and Barbuda 82.1 79.6 80.8 79.6 81.0 79.2 82.2 78.8

Aruba 61.3 61.3 61.8 62.7 69.1 69.7 69.9 74.2

Bahamas 48.3 46.9 46.3 46.3 47.3 53.1 53.9 53.3

Barbados 46.6 44.9 44.4 45.1 46.1 49.2 53.6 56.2

Bermuda 14.0 14.2 15.2 10.5 14.0 12.9 13.3 13.8

Cayman Islands 43.7 46.4 44.7 37.9 36.1 25.3 26.7 24.4

Cuba 8.5 8.6 8.4 8.2 8.2 8.9 7.3 6.6

Dominica 23.6 22.7 22.9 24.6 26.4 24.3 28.0 27.0

Dominican Republic 20.1 19.2 19.0 22.5 21.4 17.2 18.8 17.3

Grenada 32.2 28.8 30.3 31.5 29.0 27.3 30.6 29.3

Guadeloupe 16.1 15.5 15.0 13.8 13.6 13.1 12.9 13.1

Haiti 7.5 7.1 7.5 7.6 6.7 6.5 7.4 7.2

Jamaica 27.5 27.0 26.6 27.5 28.9 28 29.4 28.1

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Martinique 11.0 10.2 10.1 9.3 9.8 10.3 10.1 9.6

Netherlands Antilles 21.9 20.8 23.3 25.1 24.5 23.9 23.8 22.7

Puerto Rico 5.5 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.5 6.1 5.6 4.8

St Kitts 27.5 29.7 28.9 34.0 39.5 42.0 40.7 38.1

St Lucia 47.4 42.6 39.9 47.5 50.4 53.9 42.3 42.0

St Vincent and the Grenadines

31.1 33.1 34.1 34.9 33.8 34.6 34.7 32.2

Trinidad & Tobago 53.1 38.1 38.1 40.4 51.2 58.0 48.9 39.1

UK Virgin Islands 46.4 45.7 47.6 63.4 51.4 50.4 46.6 44.6

US Virgin Islands 28.4 35.0 44.2 47.9 50.8 55.9 44.5 37.0

Source: World Bank

While the Caribbean tourism industry was originally founded on the “sun, sand and sea” formula that was derived from its tropical climate and beautiful beaches, the region offers a

much wider range of activities. It is rich in nature and environmental assets which provide a wealth of potential. However, the region is underfunded and has been negatively impacted

by mass tourism. Lesser developed islands remain largely unspoiled, and remote locations

have demanded sustainable practices to protect their natural habitats.

4.2 The environmental impact

Even though the tourism industry is the main income source for many Caribbean economies,

mass tourism has damaged their fragile and vulnerable environmental fabric by causing, for example, coral reef bleaching, coastal areas degradation, water management problems and

land degradation from poor agricultural practices. Research suggests mass tourism in small

Caribbean islands has sacrificed environmental stability for rapid growth and prompted a call for more sustainable alternatives.

However, even ecotourism development in small islands can create environmental and social

problems. For example, liquid and solid waste treatment systems must be developed whenever any ecotourism activity is created. Construction of hotels and road networks on

steep mountain slopes has damaged upland forests and watersheds and silted over streams

and wetlands. The resulting erosion has polluted lagoons and damaged reefs already weakened by sand mining, dredging and cruise ship and yacht anchoring. The placement of

large-scale beach resorts, marinas and infrastructure along delicate coastlines has altered shorelines and depleted endemic species and archaeological artifacts. As a result, nearly 30

percent of the Caribbean reefs are at high risk because of runoff and untreated hotel and

municipal sewage (UNEP, 1999).

It is critical to develop a prudent strategy of best practices that maintains the tourism industry as a long-term income source and that mitigates and prevents further environmental

damage to the islands’ natural resources, which are attractive to tourists.

4.3 The ecotourism potential

Caribbean ecotourism is a relatively new concept. Only in the last few decades have people

started to think in terms of the environment and visiting and enjoying nature. As interest in

Caribbean ecotourism grows, so does the need to preserve the area’s precious resources. The ecotourism development market is far from saturated and is an ideal arena for savvy

investors.

According to the 2005 report by the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development and

The International Ecotourism Society, many travellers seek to visit pristine environments, and most of them are concerned that their trip not damage local ecosystems. They are

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interested in patronizing hotels that are committed to protecting the local environment, and

increasingly view local environmental and social stewardship as a responsibility of the businesses they support. Industry forecasters predict that with increasing public sensitization

to environmental issues, tourism facilities that do not incorporate some ecologically beneficial standards will be left behind in the future.

Research conducted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has identified different tourism niches taking into account the primary characteristics of each island (see Table 2).

Some of these countries also face environmental pressures and need a well-defined resource management policy. For example, Small Island States like Bonaire and Barbados face serious

water and waste management problems that could end up affecting not only the tourism industry in these island countries but also their entire populations.

Table 2: Potential niches for ecotourism in the Caribbean

Country Wildlife

Nature and

sports

Natural heritage

and culture

Antigua & Barbuda X X X

Bahamas X X X

Barbados X X X

Belize X X X

Bonaire X X

Cuba X X X

Dominica X X

Dominican Republic X X X

Jamaica X X X

Puerto Rico X X X

Guadalupe X X Source: Caribbean Tourism Organization

4.4 Policy and regulatory framework for tourism

It has long been recognized that the tourism industry must be sustainably developed, balancing its potential to contribute to national economic development goals with the need to

maintain the natural resources that attract tourists. However, regional and international

stakeholders have expressed concern that the steps being taken to sustain or improve the quality of the environment are inadequate, and that environmental considerations are not

sufficiently integrated into tourism planning at national levels.

Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all

forms of tourism in Caribbean destinations, from traditional tourism packages to the niche market segments. In particular, there is an urgent need for:

restoration of degraded ecosystems where feasible;

official recognition and conservation of remaining areas of natural integrity, both

terrestrial and marine; integration of water conservation and energy efficiency practices into all aspects of the

tourism value chain;

integration of solid waste and waste water treatment measures, according to established

good practices, into the management practices of tourism enterprises; innovative means to achieve sponsorship of conservation areas;

monitoring of threatened species and other activities necessary to determine whether

the carrying capacity of specific sites or destinations has been exceeded;

re-evaluation of public access to the beach and shoreline;

effective protection of marine environments; The levels of protection afforded by marine

protected areas (MPAs) varies considerably, with a 2004 study finding that only 6

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percent of MPAs in the Caribbean are effectively managed, while 13 percent are partially

effectively managed.

The CTO has developed the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework2 (2008) to guide the sustainable development of tourism. The objective of the Policy Framework is to

ensure the optimal use of social, natural, cultural and financial resources for national

development on an equitable and self-sustaining basis to provide a unique visitor experience and an improved quality of life through partnerships among government, the private sector

and communities.

The Policy Framework calls for broad policy guidelines to address the areas critical to the sustainable development of tourism at the national level. The CTO works with each country’s

national tourist organization which is responsible for adapting, developing, revising and

updating tourism policies and strategies according to national priorities. The policy framework also provides CTO and its partner organizations with a platform for planning,

implementing and monitoring measures to assess issues of regional significance for the sustainability of tourism. Governments are invited to benchmark their national state of affairs

against the Policy Framework and to take necessary action. The policy guidelines can be

used as a point of departure for the development of national policies.

The Policy Framework includes the following development goals for the tourism industry in the Caribbean:

Goal 1: Ensure adequate and appropriate national capacity to manage the sustainability of

the tourism sector.

Goal 2: Continuously improve the sustainability of the marketing mix in light of emerging global market trends.

Goal 3: Develop efficient and cost-effective transportation options to facilitate a sustainable level of destination accessibility.

Goal 4: Ensure the sustainable use of the natural environment and the cultural heritage for

the benefit of all. Goal 5: Develop and strengthen the links between tourism and other economic sectors

nationally and regionally to maximize the multiplier effect on the economy and reduce leakages.

Goal 6: Manage the health, safety and security issues that impact the sustainability of

tourism.

The Policy Framework urges the governments and their national and regional partners to consider the following policy guidelines in order to ensure effective planning, management

and monitoring of the environment:

Develop and implement national physical plans systematically that establish the

regulatory framework for land-use planning; protect the built and natural environment;

match infrastructure investments with sustainable development; and maintain and

enhance property values. Integrate the principles of sustainable tourism into specific environment-related national

policy, including national environmental action plans, energy policy and cultural policy.

Ensure that the positive and negative impacts that tourism may have on the environment are brought into environmental planning at the highest levels.

Ensure that tourism is represented in cross-ministerial departmental collaboration on

environmental issues, including regional and national environmental management

strategies and or action plans, to ensure that a more coherent, integrated and comprehensive approach is taken.

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Require that any new economic activity within the boundaries or environs of national

parks and reserves be compatible with the management objectives of that area for its

sustainability. Provide for wildlife corridors connecting nature areas and allowing the interaction of flora

and fauna populations.

Establish a coastal set-back requirement for all new developments with due

consideration for sea-level rise projections. Require special permission for constructions over a certain height.

Specify noise threshold values in key tourism zones. Licenses for nightclubs should

specify noise levels, and nightclubs should be air-conditioned and enclosed to contain

noise.

4.5 The cases of the Dominican Republic and Barbados

The Dominican Republic and Barbados have had a longstanding tourism industry. These

countries set the stage for analysis and potentially for developing ecotourism practices that might help to mitigate and combat the effects of land degradation. Each country has its

particular history, institutional frameworks and population dynamics.

4.5.1 The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic, which shares the same island – La Hispaniola – with Haiti, has a surface area of 49 000 square kilometres and a population of 10 million. Tourism accounts

for 20 percent of the country’s total GDP, generating over 150 000 jobs and bringing more

than twice as much foreign currency into the country as traditional exports.

Tourism in the Dominican Republic is largely unregulated, relies heavily upon foreign investment and lacks national coordination and supporting public services. The national

government has been slow to support the sector in practical ways, leading many tourism companies to take voluntary and often costly measures to improve the infrastructure and

quality they can offer to exacting international tourists. The government does not tend to

consider environmental and social impacts when seeking foreign investors. There is increasing interest in the tourist sector pursuing a strong environmental framework to tackle

past tourist practices that damaged the surrounding ecosystems of big resorts.

By offering all-inclusive packages, the tourism industry has traditionally appealed to middle-

income tourists. During the 1990s, the sun, sand and sea model grew at a formidable pace in the regions of Punta Cana and Bavaro; during the next decade, other destinations on the

southern coast (e.g. la Romana and Bayahibe) developed by basing their tourist offer on the ecological characteristics of the Parque Nacional del Este and Samana Peninsula – perhaps

the only sites where there are sustainable tourist practices.

Box 4: Las Terrazas de Coson In Las Terrazas de Coson on the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic, there is a pristine eco-chic resort that has little to no environmental impact but which provides the luxury and design that high-end travellers expect. Some of its environmental projects include: managing storm water run-off, using solar power, using cisterns to provide water and incorporating garden-tiled roofs. This project is directed to high-income tourist but it signifies that investments in ecotourism can also be very significant and pioneering by supporting the development of more environmental friendly construction

techniques as well as energy-saving technologies.

The Dominican Government promoted private investments in the tourism sector through a

framework of very generous exemptions and privileges; however, this framework has been detrimental because it led to environmental damage. Land degradation in the Dominican

Republic covers almost 70 percent of the country and most of the soil erosion is caused by excessive logging activities, for example, for agricultural terrains or the construction of

16

tourist infrastructure. Tourist hotel developments have defaced mountains, damaged

watersheds and caused erosion and lagoon pollution. Beach resort construction has destroyed mangroves and shoreline vegetation and filled in salt ponds. Tourism planning is

problematic because of overlapping jurisdictions (e.g. natural resource, wildlife and coastal zone management, cultural affairs, zoning legislation and tax incentives) and a lack of

interagency coordination. There is a lack of state policy and institutions to regulate the

industry or reinvest the resources to address poverty and sustainable practices.

Ecotourism could slow down the predatory trends by empowering local communities and sharing knowledge to promote best agricultural practices and diversify income sources in the

country. Given the country’s excellent natural resources, tourism capacities are not being fully developed. There are 16 national parks and 67 protected areas in the Dominican

Republic, covering about 16 percent of the country. The Dominican Republic has great

potential to further develop niches for ecotourism; it is a latent opportunity that must be developed before natural resources are exploited for agricultural lands, timber products and

the needs of the traditional tourist sector.

Because the Dominican Republic shares the same island with Haiti, the poorest country in

the Americas, it is imperative to promote stable income-generating activities that enhance livelihoods that do not depend only on mass tourism. Sustainable tourism, or ecotourism,

could reduce the pressure on surrounding ecosystems (e.g. by stopping the expansion of the agricultural frontier), and provide income diversification opportunities for those outside of

the traditional tourism industry.

4.5.2 Barbados

Barbados is the most easterly island in the Caribbean chain. It has an area of 431 square kilometres and a population of 268 000. Its principal economic activities include financial

services, tourism and the manufacture of products such as sugar and rum. The services

sector, the industrial sector and the combined agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector account, respectively, for 76 percent, 18 percent and 6 percent of GDP.

The Government of Barbados has stated its intention to develop sustainable tourism as a

means of diversifying the economic base beyond agriculture and industry. Barbados is a

relatively mature mass tourist destination where activities have been developed since the 1960s.

Tourism development in Barbados is located mainly within 800 metres of the coastline. The

concentration of large infrastructure and resort complexes along delicate coastlines has

destroyed mangroves and beaches and caused lagoon pollution from sand mining, dredging and sewage dumping. The construction of tourism facilities has impacted the mangrove,

wetland, sea grass and coral ecosystems. Traditionally, little importance was placed on mangrove forests. They were often cut down or dredged for the development of hotels or

marinas. Attention was not paid to the fact that these systems were interdependent and the destruction of one would lead to significant ecological degradation of the others. The clearing

of land for construction has led to slope instability, erosion and sedimentation. The St.

Lawrence Gap area in Barbados is a typical example of a wetland area that was sacrificed for hotel development.

Tourism and its supporting infrastructure pose threats to the environment, particularly

potable water resources and the marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. The major

impacts come from the improper management of liquid waste or waste water. Research has determined that package sewage treatment and waste water treatment plants are the major

perpetrators of this type of pollution. Seventy-five percent of these plants do not function efficiently enough to protect the environment. Consequently, marine water quality near the

shore has been significantly degraded and coral reefs have been severely impacted or destroyed.

17

Within the last decade, there has been increasing evidence of soil erosion. This phenomenon

is more apparent in the Scotland District, where land slippage is exacerbated by soft bedrock and soils. In the limestone regions, soil erosion occurs mainly as a result of human activities

(e.g. clearing land for construction and engaging in inappropriate agricultural practices). The major efforts to control soil erosion, especially in the Scotland District, include engineering

works such as bench terracing; slope reduction; installation of solid and perforated pipes at

various depths beneath the soil surface; and excavation of silt dams at strategic locations.

Environmental impacts from the tourism industry include physical damage to coral reefs from divers and boat anchors and sand compaction from the heavy use of beaches by tourists and

vehicles. Building tourism facilities in ecologically sensitive areas and using potable water are also concerns. Tourism also generates substantial amounts of solid waste and this has direct

and indirect impacts on the environment. Barbados has difficulty finding good locations for

solid waste disposal facilities and further, the facilities are too small to be able to support economically viable recycling programmes. Solid waste produced by the tourism sector only

adds to an overall waste disposal problem that needs to be addressed.

Building hotels mainly in the coastal belt has contributed significantly to the degradation of

coastal water quality and ecosystems. Studies conducted on water quality and the health of coral ecosystems in the Carlisle Bay area and the southern and western coasts were the

impetus behind the development of the Bridgetown sewage treatment plant and the ongoing development of sewage treatment facilities for these areas.

The pressure on land resources is reflected in a population density of approximately 620

people per square kilometre. Steady population growth and demand for land for housing and

commercial development are forcing small-scale agriculture and subsistence farming to shift to marginal lands. The major land concerns in Barbados include:

change in land use. Over the last three decades, land previously allocated to

agriculture has been converted to residential and other development. This removes

productive land from agriculture and increases the coverage of hard surfaces, resulting in

an increase of surface run-off and a greater potential for flooding.

shift in tax policies. As property values increase, so do property taxes; land sellers

then add the tax payable to the sale price, escalating the prices of properties. The land then becomes too expensive for agriculture to be profitable and alternate uses for the

land are sought.

lack of land conservation. Insufficient attention is given to the need to conserve

certain land ecosystems and features which may serve particular functions (e.g. sand

dunes that offer protection to coastline and inland areas). When these natural features are destroyed, the land becomes threatened.

Socio-cultural factors. Homeowners tend to design buildings which occupy more

horizontal space. This leaves less space for other uses and drives up the value of the

scarce amount of land that remains.

Barbados has begun a series of sectoral strategic plans, including inputs from a broad-based

consultative process, which will be used to incorporate social, economic and environmental issues into national planning. The Government promotes the use of agricultural lands for

agricultural activity and attempts to provide residential choices in urban, suburban and rural

areas, including by creating diverse, self-contained communities. Attention is also being given to the use of public infrastructure by directing the majority of new growth to a clearly

defined urban corridor and to rural villages. Further, in order to obtain approval of proposed land development, developers must submit plans outlining measures to be taken in respect

of preservation and conservation and detailing the management initiatives that will be applied to safeguard the land from degradation.

18

The government of Barbados, in an effort to devise better sustainable practices, has created a physical development plan to emphasize conservancy in the following areas:

protecting the natural environmental and cultural heritage resources;

attempting to contain the damage caused by scattered urban development;

protecting agricultural land forms that are incompatible with urban development;

maintaining Central Bridgetown as the financial and commercial centre of the State;

broadening the tourist experience and modernizing older beachfront properties;

diversifying the economy and establishing criteria and procedures for environmental

impact assessments.

Ecotourism in Barbados might help prevent deforestation and soil degradation, while fostering an enabling environment to develop other sustainable practices in the traditional

tourism industry. Barbados offers several spectacular locations for tourists, which could be

sites for ecotourism activities. There are hiking trips for guests who want to experience the natural beauty of the island. The ancient trees of Turners Hall Woods allow visitors to

experience the sights and sounds that met the settlers of 1627, in what is now one of the few areas of original woodland left on the island. Graeme Hall Nature Reserve gives visitors

the opportunity to view an ancient ecosystem of mangroves and tall trees, while following

trails that meander along the lake. While the island might not have the same natural assets as the Dominican Republic, stakeholders need to unite to reduce the environmental impacts

created by traditional tourist activities on the island’s resources.

3 For more information on this initiative visit http://www.coastal.gov.bb

Box 5: Adopt-a-beach Project 3 The Barbados Coastal Zone Management Unit, the National Conservation Commission, the Barbados National Trust and the Ministry of Tourism collaborated to create the Adopt-a-beach Project based on the belief that visitors and locals could help sustain the coastal and marine environment through a range of activities including:

regular beach and underwater clean ups; International Coastal Clean-up Day; certified first-aid courses; designing and providing creative and effective garbage receptacles, benches and tables; re-vegetation initiatives;

community awareness programmes for beach users.

19

5 Recommendations and conclusions

In the Caribbean region, land degradation and desertification pollute rivers and near-shore coastal waters, including beaches and reefs. This negatively impacts the tourist sector even

as the sector puts pressure on sensitive areas, enhancing the challenges of land

conservation.

As this paper has illustrated, sustainable tourism and, more specifically, ecotourism have the potential to provide incentives for more SLM practices and investments in land conservation,

while also improving the livelihoods of individuals who depend on the tourist industry. The

tourisms sector is, in other words, part of both the problem and the solution.

Ecotourism ventures in the Caribbean could ease pressure on the local ecosystems while welcoming local tourist activities that provide income diversification. Although this paper has

focused on ecotourism, sustainable tourism more generally should also be considered. The

broader concept of sustainable tourism can be positioned effectively within national policy and planning, and ecotourism can further help to set the standards for the protection of the

natural and cultural environment. The fragility of island ecosystems must be the cornerstone of any ecotourism plan, and any ecotourism activities must respect the island’s local, natural

and cultural environments.

Development of different activities should involve all relevant stakeholders. These could

include:

production and marketing of sustainable products such as coffee, bananas,

plantains, cassavas, sweet potatoes and other tropical products that foster sustainable

practices and minimize soil erosion. This would be an activity for peasants in vulnerable areas where sustainable tourism takes place.

generating cash flows from activities related to ecotourism, for example, by

charging conservation fees and taxes on visits to protected areas, where some of the income can be used in the local community for conservation measures and sustainable

practices. Ecotourism activities could employ local guides with expert knowledge of the region, and opportunities to visit the local flora and fauna could be an additional source

of income in these areas.

agro-tourism ventures where the production methods are sustainable and the

tourists can participate in farm activities. This can provide additional income for the

households or communities, increase awareness of sustainable production methods and provide a way to market the sustainable products.

5.1 Government support to ecotourism initiatives for SLM

If ecotourism is properly developed, it has the potential to support nature conservation and ensure sustainable income and development. However, ecotourism products are specific to

the context in which they are offered. Because they are not standardized, it is difficult to

provide strict guidelines for developing good ecotourism initiatives. Nevertheless, this paper offers some broad recommendations for governments on how to support ecotourism

initiatives for SLM, based on lessons learned from ecotourism initiatives worldwide.

1. The government can play an important role in providing the enabling policies and regulations to facilitate and support the development of ecotourism initiatives. The State

needs to have an active role in promoting ecotourism strategies.

2. Policies and plans for ecotourism should be separate from those for mainstream tourism

operations. The Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework provides a very good basis

20

for such policies. It is also important to integrate the principles of sustainable tourism and

ecotourism into other relevant national plans and policies (e.g. tourism, environment, agriculture, energy, financial or cultural plans) to ensure that the issues are brought to the

highest level. Sectoral integration, including all agencies and stakeholders, should be a foundation of all planning and policy development.

3. Initiatives like the SLM efforts in the Caribbean and the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) (see Box 6) serve as good starting points for pilot

activities, plans and policies supporting ecotourism activities. PISLM can be a good institution to ensure sectoral integration and cooperation among relevant stakeholders. Initiatives

related to ecotourism and SLM already are being promoted through PISLM in Belize, and these can be replicated in other Caribbean countries (see Box 7).

4. Regulation of ecotourism requires that stakeholders share a similar concept of ecotourism. Both certification and eco-labelling should consider social, economic, cultural and

environmental issues.

5. The government can promote good quality, viable ecotourism products which reflect

market demand. Only these kinds of ecotourism products will benefit conservation activities and communities.

6. Ecotourism should not be the predominant economic activity for a community, but rather

should enhance and complement existing economic activities, such as agriculture, livestock and forest non-timber products. Although tourism can be an important income source, it is

risky to rely on tourism alone as it is vulnerable to external shocks and global financial

downturns. It is important to increase the sustainability of all tourism products.

7. One of the criticisms of ecotourism is that initiatives have not always benefited local stakeholders. Local communities should take part in planning and managing ecotourism

products. This is particularly important when targeting improved land-use activities and SLM

since local farmers or users of the landscape/forest are involved in most cases. Local and national governments can help facilitate this.

8. Governments may need to provide financial support (e.g. financial guarantees and

subsidies) so that developers can access loans, credits and funds to initiate ecotourism

operations.

9. The commercial viability of ecotourism initiatives may require strengthening small- and medium-size enterprises, and particularly microenterprises, to enable them to successfully

engage with the tourism industry.

10. Most of the developing world shares precious ecosystems, and the traditional tourist

industry focuses on these pristine destinations. However, ecotourism practices are now emerging as a demand-driven market. Through South-South cooperation, successful stories

can be shared and activities can be implemented in vulnerable areas in the Caribbean, Africa and the Asian Pacific and Latin American regions. South-South cooperation also can assist in

implementing clean technologies and energy efficient mechanisms that conserve energy,

water and resources.

21

Box 6: Sustainable land management initiatives in the Caribbean

The Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Project is an initiative supported by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and jointly executed by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute and the Office of Sustainable Development and Environment of the Organization of American States based in Washington, D.C. The SLM project aims to build local and regional capacity to support SLM and develop pilot demonstration activities to address land degradation at the community level in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The project objectives include: building local and regional capacity to support SLM; developing pilot demonstration activities on SLM to address land degradation at the community

level in the participating countries; addressing the problems of land degradation, in particular deforestation and the loss of ecosystem

goods and services, especially for endemic species; promoting the improvement of land management practices, institutional arrangements, policies

and incentives aimed at mitigating land degradation and preserving the functioning of fragile and unique ecosystems of participating countries;

contributing to the harmonization of SLM priorities to combat desertification identified in the National Action Plans and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, pursuant to the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification and the Convention on Biological Diversity respectively.

The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) was developed as part of the Caribbean Small Islands Development States (SIDS) Programme and serves as the umbrella under which all initiatives related to SLM in the Caribbean should be implemented. Its role is to assist in addressing the issues of SLM, rural development and alternative livelihoods development through: the elaboration of integrated subregional action plans; the development of tools and methodologies for monitoring land degradation; and facilitation of South-South cooperation, in particular among Caribbean SIDS and between Caribbean SIDS and Latin American countries, as well as targeted GEF interventions.

Box 7: Reducing poverty and land degradation in the Maya Golden Landscape of Southern Belize

PISLM, through the Ya’axche Conservancy Trust, is supporting an ecotourism project that is part of Belize’s SLM strategy. The primary objective of this project is to introduce agricultural and land-use techniques that will sustain traditional livelihood practices and reverse the substantial land degradation caused by the slash and burn subsistence farming techniques used by the communities in the Village of Indian Creek. With a budget of US$120 000, the project engaged 23 community members over five months in various capacity-building exercises. In the agro-forestry component, there are 11 farmers who are involved in the apiary establishment. Another eight farmers will attend a tourism training course because they will be involved in the ecotourism component of the project. Ecotourism, which will operate on a small-scale, community-owned basis, will include visits to the unique landscape and its wildlife and activities revolving around indigenous traditions. The activity mix adopted by this project facilitates its sustainability.

5.2 Suggested actions

To implement these broad recommendations, the government or other relevant stakeholders

at the national level need to:

identify and analyse the challenges and opportunities for developing ecotourism business

initiatives. Based on the findings, concrete recommendations for improved policies,

22

regulations and government support should be developed to ensure that potential

ecotourism entrepreneurs are working within enabling conditions;

identify the key stakeholders and potential partners for public-private partnerships and

facilitate the development of such partnerships;

advocate for ecotourism’s possibilities to provide an alternative income source for local

communities and to improve land and water management biodiversity, and mainstream

these issues into national planning and budget cycles.

5.3 The Global Mechanism’s role in promoting ecotourism for SLM

The GM’s mandate is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial mechanisms and to mobilize and channel substantial financial resources to combat

desertification and land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. In the Caribbean, where the use of land resources is closely linked to the tourist industry, ecotourism could be

an entry point to boost financial flows aimed at supporting initiatives that are linked to SLM

practices.

Concern over the consequences of land degradation for agricultural productivity, food security and other development, poverty and environmental issues has led governments and

other development agencies to encourage land users to apply SLM practices. The GM

acknowledges the potential that ecotourism projects have to address these issues by incorporating activities that: support small-scale farms that grow organic products like coffee

and cocoa; preserve natural habitats, like forest and marshlands, to stop the advance of the agricultural frontier; generate income; create a sustainable livelihood environment; and

favour the preservation and rehabilitation of lands.

Diversification of production also has enabled new opportunities for sustainable production

and trade. If Caribbean products, such as sugar cane, coffee and other staple products were produced organically by small communities and households, their organic origin would

provide an alternate source of income that would decrease the pressure to rely solely on income from tourism activities.

Some partners, like the GEF, USAID and UNEP, are already supporting ecotourism initiatives in the Caribbean. The main actors in the region could be identified and engaged to promote

SLM practices through ecotourism projects.

23

Annexes

Annex I: Potential partners and key stakeholders

Partners in the region

Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Caribbean Development Bank

Conservation International

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Interamerican Development Bank

Organization of American States (OAS)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)

Possible partners in sustainable tourism

Caribbean Agro-tourism

Caribbean Tourism Organization

ECODIT

EplerWood International

Griffith University International Centre of Ecotourism Research

The Planeterra Foundation

Rainforest Alliance

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Dominican Republic

Dominican Sustainable Tourism Association, ODTS

Barbados

Natural Heritage Department

Land management NGO

Holistic Management International

24

Annex II: Examples of best practices in ecotourism

The main stakeholders involved in ecotourism are governments at all levels, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), multilateral and bilateral donors, tourists

and local communities. Ecotourism initiatives foster sustainable use of land and natural resources and embrace both collective responsibility and individual initiatives. Examples4 of

success stories are found all over the world.

The Responsible Ecological Social Tours (REST) in Thailand. REST was

established in 1994 as an NGO by the local volunteering network Thailand Volunteer

Service. In 2002, this initiative was awarded the World Legacy Award for Destination Stewardship for a project in the Koh Yao Noi islands. The project works to assist local

Thai communities in developing their own small-scale sustainable tourism projects which aim to develop the skills and confidence of local community members, create an

opportunity for host communities and their guests to share their knowledge and

experiences, and develop their commitment to protect the natural environment. REST generates income through activities such as home and farm stays, travellers’ participation

in local activities and education programmes on how to reduce tourism-related environmental impact. The project also creates employment by only hiring local staff,

and the generated income goes towards the support of further environmental projects,

the promotion of capacity-building activities and the preservation of the organization itself. REST has been integrated into the Thailand Community- based Tourism Institute

since August 2007.

Himalayan Homestays is an innovative community-based ecotourism programme and

a winner of the Global Vision Awards 2005. The project began in 2002 in the Ladakh region, following an initiative from the Snow Leopard Conservancy organization, with

financial support from UNESCO and The Mountain Institute. The home stays serve as a

means to support local mountain communities and protect the endangered snow leopard, a species endemic to the region. The programme aims to ensure that hosts are

able to develop unique mountain experiences, obtain a fair return for their services and investment and contribute to conserving local cultural and natural heritage. The

revenues from the home stays are used to generate local employment and increase

household income in this remote area.

SNV is the Netherlands Development Organization which provides advisory services to governments and local organizations in developing countries. It was started in 1965 as

the Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers (SNV) of the Foundation of Netherlands

Volunteers. Originally operating within the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SNV is currently an independent organization working in partnership with and funded by the

Ministry. Other funding institutions include the Western Union Foundation, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and USAID. SNV currently works in 36 countries in

Africa, Asia, the Balkans area and Latin America. SNV Asia operates in eight countries:

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam. In 2001, SNV Vietnam launched the first community-based tourism initiative in Vietnam. This

sustainable tourism pilot project in Sapa aims to establish mechanisms for more equitable sharing of the benefits of tourism, to support the active participation of the community in

decision-making and implementation, and to increase the capacity of local stakeholders

in reducing the negative cultural and environmental impacts of tourism. The pilot project was successfully implemented, with enthusiastic support from the local stakeholders, and

served as an important lesson for the national and provincial authorities on the benefits of responsible tourism and its potential for poverty alleviation.

4 For more details, refer to www.ecotourism.org

25

Rainforest Ecolodge in Thailand. This community outreach programme is a long-

term sustainable development objective of the Ecolodge to develop and improve quality

of life of the neighbouring tea estate community with their participation. A new village with larger homes, areas for home gardens, a school crèche and clinic and programmes

for health, nutrition and hygiene is planned.

Maqui Pucuna Foundation in Ecuador. The Maquipucuna Reserve is a nature reserve

located in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador. The northern part of the reserve

offers world-class ecotourism facilities: the Maquipucuna Ecolodge and Research Station. It is the first organization in Ecuador that carried out land purchase for conservation in

Ecuador and also was the first to integrate local communities into ecotourism-related activities, which has subsequently proven to be one of the most effective means to

protect biodiversity and generate employment in forested areas. The Maquipucuna Ecolodge at the Maquipucuna Reserve and the two surrounding local community-based

ecotourism operations have received national and international awards such as the

Ecotourism Showcase Award in 2000, The Skål International Ecotourism Award for Best Practice in the category of Community and Government Projects in 2003, and

classification as a pilot Ecotourism Enterprise by the Ministry of Tourism, also in 2003. The Maquipucuna Reserve manages thousands of hectares of primary cloud forest,

extremely rich in epiphytes, many of which have not been identified. The total number of

plant species exceeds 2 200 or 13 percent of Ecuador's plant diversity. The Reserve harbours at least 350 species of birds or 4 percent of the earth's bird diversity. Forty-five

species of mammals and more than 250 species of butterflies also inhabit the reserve. Other groups have yet to be studied in detail. The mission of the programmes is to

enhance sustainable economic development in the area by enabling access to financial resources through tourism. Generated income is currently used to create local

employment and conduct wildlife preservation.

La Ruta del Café, Dominican Republic is based in the provinces of Hermanas Mirabal

and Monsenor Nouel and is inspired by the concept of a wine route in Tuscany, Italy.

Visitors (maximum group size is 14) to Loma de Salcedo stay in seven homesteads of coffee producers. Guided walks are offered on three routes to interpret the nature and

culture of the area. Tourists eat traditional foods at local restaurants, see demonstrations

of coffee roasting, purchase coffee and crafts and watch folk dance performances. The El Cafetal path leads to a coffee plantation and museum; the La Cueva path leads to a cove

with stalactites and stalagmites; and the La Confluencia path takes visitors by mule to a recreational bathing spot where the rivers Partido and Jamao meet. Tourists have mainly

been domestic (60 percent) but international visitors come from Italy (30 percent) and the USA (10 percent). The revenues from these activities are used mostly to increase

household income for small-scale coffee producers. A share of the revenues also go

towards the programmes to combat deforestation supported by the European Union and Unity and Cooperation for the Development of People (UCODEP).

Giraudel/Eggleston Flower Group Inc., Dominica is a community-based NGO

founded by farmers involved in growing and selling flowers. The neighbouring villages of

Giraudel and Eggleston are close to Roseau, high up beneath Morne Anglais, the third

highest mountain in Dominica. The communities are adjacent to the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, which was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. There was a

need to develop alternative income-generating activities because the designation of the conservation area conflicted with traditional livelihoods such as fishing, hunting, farming

and logging. Furthermore, the cultivation of bananas (previously the 'green gold' of the

Windward Islands) was declining because of the removal of protected markets. The Group secured support from the United Nations Development Programme/Small Grants

Programme in 2003, supplemented by the Community Tourism Foundation in Barbados and the EU-funded Ecotourism Development Programme, to develop community tourism

to conserve the area, diversify economic activity and reduce poverty. Community tourism in the area is based on home stays and the organization of guided tours and special

26

events. The associated revenues are to be directed towards increasing community

income and promoting further awareness about the ecotourism potential of the area.

Kakum Canopy Walkway and Visitors' Centre, Ghana. To combat the loss of

rainforest, Conservation International worked with a range of national and international partners and with financial support from USAID to create an effectively managed and

sustainable new national park: Kakum National Park, an evergreen virgin rainforest near

the city of Cape Coast, in central Ghana. The canopy walkway opened in 1995, followed two years later by the Visitor’s Centre. Tourism development was essential in creating a

financially viable protected area, and Conservation International worked with national institutions to develop the physical infrastructure to make the park an attractive tourist

destination. The Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust is in charge of managing the revenues, which are generated from entrance fees to the park and the sale of locally-

produced food and handicrafts. This helps to generate employment and revenues for

forest preservation and community development projects.

Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone. The small inland island in the River Moa is an important

wildlife sanctuary, home to hundreds of plant and animal species, including 11 types of primates (such as wild chimpanzees that use stones as hammers and tree roots as anvils

to crack open nuts), 135 species of birds and the endangered pygmy hippopotamus.

These species are threatened by the livelihood activities of neighbouring communities as they grapple with the medium- to long-term impacts of the civil war, especially the

growing poverty and economic and social deprivation. The local Community Conservation Initiative, however, finds tourism-related sources of income for the area, along with the

associated Community Development Fund and the support of the Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA). Funds raised through tourist accommodations and

handicraft-related activities go towards creating new jobs for locals. The initiative aims to

expand and upgrade its offer.

Chalalán Ecolodge, Bolivia. Nestled in the heart of Madidi National Park, which is

deep in the Bolivian Amazon, the area is a pristine tropical rainforest and a conservation priority because of its diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity. Several

endangered species live within the 300 000-hectare region surrounding the Ecolodge.

The initiative started in 1992 as a locally-owned organization for local development. Eager to improve their livelihood, community leaders sought out

Conservation International’s assistance in pursuing ecotourism. Conservation International was receptive to the idea of using ecotourism as a tool to link biodiversity

conservation with community development and helping the organization establish a connection with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to provide financial

support. All the activities directly and indirectly linked to ecotourism in the area are

generating income which will hopefully guarantee sustainable development and improved livelihoods for the local communities, also preserving the Quechua-Tacana

culture which had been heavily threatened by the typically strong emigration from this area.

27

Annex III: Index of case studies of good practices

(Source: Louise M. Dixey, Good Practices in Community-based Tourism in the Caribbean, CTO)

Critical factors: Market

access

Commercial

viability

Policy framework Implementation

Critical instruments:

Infr

ast

ruct

ure

develo

pm

ent

for

physi

cal

acc

ess

Non-g

rant

fundin

g

mech

anis

m(s

)

Pro

duct

develo

pm

ent

on

traditio

nal act

ivity

Support

of to

urism

com

pany o

r N

GO

Multi-st

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Case study:

1. Portsmouth Indian River Tour

Guides Association

X X X X X

2. Giraudel/ Eggleston Flower

Group Inc.

X X X X X X X

3. Three Rivers and Grand Fond

Village

X X X

4. La Ruta Del Café X X X X X X

5. St. Helena Women’s Group X X X

6. Walkerswood Country Tour X X X X X X X

28

7. Anse La Raye Seafood Friday X X X X X X X X X X X

8. Plas Kassav X X X X

9. Roxborough Estate Visitor

Services Cooperative

X X X X X

10. Nature Seekers X X X X X X X X

The Global Mechanism at IFAD

Via Paolo Di Dono, 44 00142 Rome, Italy

tel. +39 06 5459 2146 fax +39 06 5459 2135 www.global-mechanism.org

References and further reading

de Albuquerque, K. & J.L. McElroy, Caribbean small-island tourism styles and sustainable

strategies, Environmental Management Volume 16, Number 5, pp. 619-632.

American States, Department of Regional Development and Environment, Secretariat for

Economic and Social Affairs, The Out Islands of the Bahamas, A Sustainable Tourism Policy, Guidelines and Implementation Strategy, Nassau, Bahamas.

The Barbados Advocate, Disaster management plan for Barbados tourism sector, 6 February

2007.

Barbados National Action Programme to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation, and to

Mitigate against the Effects of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought.

Barke, Michael & John Towner. 2003. Learning from experience? Progress towards a sustainable future for tourism in the central and eastern Andalucian littoral. Journal of Sustainable Tourism,

pp. 162‐180.

Bascomb, B. & M. Taylor. Ecotourism and Sustainability in a Q'eqchi' Maya Community, Guatemala. Focus on Geography. New York: Winter 2008.

Buckley, R.C. 2000. NEAT trends: Current issues in nature, eco and adventure

tourism. International Journal of Tourism Research 2: pp. 437-444.

Buckley, R. 2007. Adventure tourism products: price, duration, size, skill, remoteness. Tourism

Management 28: pp. 1428-1433.

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)/Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development

Programme (CRSTDP), Caribbean Air Transport Study Synopsis of Findings and Recommendations, Bridgetown, Barbados, December 2006.

Caribbean Development Bank, Financing Growth and Development in the Caribbean -The Role of

the Caribbean Development Bank. June, 2004.

Chafe, Z. Consumer Demand and Operator Support for Socially and Environmentally Responsible

Tourism; Centre on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD); The International Ecotourism Society TIES. April, 2005.

Dilly, B. J. Gender, Culture, and Ecotourism: Development Policies and Practices in the Guyanese

Rainforest. Women's Studies Quarterly. New York: Fall 2003.

Dolnicar, S., G. Crouch & P. Long. Environmental-friendly tourists: What do we really know about

them? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2008.

Dominican Republic National Action Programme to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation,

and to Mitigate against the Effects of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought.

Edge, J. Sustainable dryland tourism: A case study from southern Spain. University of Arizona. June, 2008.

Egan, T. "Uneasy Being Green: Tourism Runs Wild." The New York Times, 20 May 2001.

30

Garen, Eva (2000). “Appraising Ecotourism in Conserving Biodiversity.” Foundations of

Natural Resources Policy and Management. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press:

Gössling S. Ecotourism: a means to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem functions? Ecological Economics Journal Volume 29, Issue 2, May 1999, Pages 303-320

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Case Study of Wolong Nature Reserve for Giant Pandas in China. Environmental Management.

New York: December 2008.

Hovardas, T. & K. Poirazidis. Environmental Policy Beliefs of Stakeholders in Protected Area Management. Environmental Management Volume 39, Number 4, pp. 515-525 (2006).

Langholz, J. & J. Lassoie. Combining Conservation and Development on Private Lands: Lessons from Costa Rica. Environment, Development and Sustainability. Dordrecht: 2001.

Lindeman, K. C., , J. Tripp B., D.J Whittle., Moulaert-Quiros, Stewart A. & E.. 2003. “Sustainable

Coastal Tourism in Cuba: Roles of Environmental Assessments, Certification Programs, and Protection Fees”, Tulane Environmental Law Journal, 16:591-618.

Lizano, R. Certification of Sustainable Tourism. 2 September 2001.

Mastny, L. Ecotourist trap. Foreign Policy. Washington: Nov/Dec 2002.

Medina, L. Ecotourism and certification: Confronting the principles and pragmatics of socially

responsible tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2005.

Ministry of Tourism, Green Paper on the Sustainable Development of Tourism in Barbados, A Policy Framework, August 2001.

Mohd Rusli Y. The Application of Choice Experiments in the Analysis of Visitors' Preferences for

Ecotourism Facilities and Services in Redang Island Marine Park. International Journal of Business

and Society, Vol. 10 Number 2, December 2009.

The Mohonk Agreement, A framework and principles for the certification of sustainable and ecotourism, 2000

Naidoo, R. & W. L Adamowicz. Biodiversity and nature-based tourism at forest reserves in Uganda. Environment and Development Economics. Cambridge: April 2005.

Parks, T.H., T. A Parks & C. Allen. The Development of a Framework for Studying Ecotourism.

International Journal of Management. Poole: April 2009.

Powell, R. & S. Ham. Can ecotourism interpretation really lead pro-conservation knowledge,

attitudes and behaviour? Evidence from the Galapagos Islands. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2008.

Poon, A. Tourism Intelligence International Trinidad & Germany. Challenges, Opportunities and

Key Success Factors in Developing Sustainable Ecotourism Products in Caribbean Economies.

October, 2002.

Self, R., D. Self & J. Bell-Haynes. Marketing Tourism in the Galapagos Islands: Ecotourism or Greenwashing?, International Business & Economic Research Journal. June, 2010.

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Stem, C., J. Lassoie, D. Lee & D. Deshler. How “eco”is ecotourism? A comparative case study of

ecotourism in Costa Rica. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2008.

Stewart, E. Sun, Sand, and Sustainability: Corporate Environmental and Social Practice in Caribbean Coastal Tourism. Environmental Defense and The International Ecotourism Society.

June, 2006.

VanWey K. Producing Knowledge, Protecting Forests: Rural Encounters with Gender, Ecotourism

and International Aid in the Dominican Republic Contemporary Sociology. Washington: May 2009.

World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), The Caribbean, The Impact of Travel & Tourism on Jobs and the Economy, data from Smiths Travel Research, p. 25, London, UK, 2004.

World Travel and Tourism Commission (2004) “Cuba; Travel and Tourism Forging Ahead” and “Dominican Republic; Travel and Tourism Forging Ahead”, The 2004 Travel and Tourism

Economic Research, London; World Travel and Tourism Council.

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