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Ecosystem Good Practice Guides

 
Good practices for Tropical Forest ecosystems are now available!  Please see the box at the bottom of this page for the downloads. 

This guide was one of the main outcomes from a joint project with the GEF, CI and Rainforest Alliance.  Key private sector players in Belize and Ecuador on both the supply and demand side were engaged in the development and implementation of best practices.The project has a special emphasis on globally significant tropical forest and coastal/marine ecosystems and, therefore, seeks to create demonstrable benefits in Belize and Ecuador, in addition to addressing these ecosystem needs at an international level.  By tailoring internationally applicable sustainable tourism best practices to the national context of Belize and Ecuador and engaging stakeholders from the travel and tourism industry, governments, NGOs, communities and academia in the creation of an enabling environment for sustained best practice implementation, the project seeks to positively influence the practices and conduct of tourism service providers in Belize and Ecuador.

CI trained over 20 tour operators on the importance of best practices adoption.  Assessments were also conducted to monitor performance of the participating tour operators.  The good practice guides will be disseminated to 2000 tourism stakeholders in 20 countries and 400 tourism stakeholders (including local and indigenous communities) are trained in best practices.

A key component of this GEF supported project, which CI is working with Rainforest Alliance, Program for Belize (Belize) and ASEC (Ecuador), in the development and adoption of Best Practices for tour operators in rainforest ecosystems.  A Practical Guide to Good Practice for Tropical Forest-Based Tours along with a self-assessment checklist is available for download below. Through CI's partnership with UNEP, we have also created A Practical Guide to Managing the Environmental and Social Impacts of Mountain Tours and checklist. This guide and checklist can be found below in both English and French.  CI is currently working on the completion of the marine ecosystem guide.

CI partnered with the Adventure Travel Trade Association to host a series of webinars to present these guides to ATTA members.  These webinars may be viewed at http://www.adventuretravel.biz/newsevents.asp