Workshop Session One
Session One
Monday, May 14, 15:15 - 17:15
I.1. Local Partnerships for Community-Based Ecotourism
Key Issues: Empowering community members through local partnerships for ecotourism; Need for participatory planning & management of ecotourism development; Partnerships between local communities, businesses, NGOs, governments
- Karl Våtvik, Svalbard Villmarkssenter AS - “Development of Sustainable Tourism on Svalbard 78°N”
- Steven Schipani, Team Leader, Community-Based Tourism Component, LNTA-ADB Mekong Tourism Development Project - “The Use of Cooperative Agreements as a Tool to Underpin Community-Based Ecotourism Development and Conservation in the Lao PDR”
- Amos Sironka Tinnia, Manager, Basecamp Explorer Kenya - “Realistic partnerships for community involvement in local conservation and tourism development”
- James Hanrahan, Sligo Institute Ireland - “The Role & Experience of Local Partnership in Developing Ecotourism in Greenbox Ireland”
II.1. Ecotourism and Protected Areas
Key Issues: How ecotourism is being used effectively as a management tool for protected areas and nature conservation; Benefits and challenges of ecotourism for biodiversity conservation in protected areas
- Robyn Bushell, Vice Chair, Task Force on Tourism & Protected Areas, World Commission for Protected Areas (Organizer & Moderator)
- David Mabunda, Chief Executive, South African National Parks - “Tourism as Conservation and Public Enjoyment Strategy at South African National Park”
- Zoltan Kun, Executive Director, PAN Parks Foundation - “The PAN Parks Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy as a tool for nature based tourism development in and around protected areas”
- Lisha Mulqueeny, Director, Tourism & Recreation, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority & Tony Charters, Principal, Tony Charters and Associates / Vice Chair, TIES Board of Directors - “Conservation through Partnership - the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Ecotourism Australia experience”
- Hanne Haaland, Researcher, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research - “Ecotourism and national parks in Norway – possible benefits and challenges”
III.1. Training and Education in Ecotourism
Key Issues: The role of training and education in promoting ecotourism and responsible travel; Working with ecotourism stakeholders through educational programs; Effective training and educational programs as a tool for awareness raising and branding for ecotourism
- Kelly Bricker, Chair, TIES Board (Moderator)
- Christina Caveliere, Director of Training and Education, TIES - “Training and Education Programs and Research within The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)”
- Arturo Crosby, Executive Director and Advisor, ECOTUR and UNWTO Volunteers Program - “A Fundamental Tool for Integration of Local People: Strategy for International Cooperation”
- Aivar Ruukel, Chairman, ESTECAS (Estonian Ecotourism Association) - “Lifelong Learning in Ecotourism”
- Eduard Müller, President, University for International Cooperation - “Education in sustainable tourism and ecotourism in Latin America, current challenges”
IV.1. Standards, Certification and Labels for Ecotourism
Key Issues: Benefits of ecotourism certification and eco-labels for businesses and for communities; Marketing and financing certification programs
- Stefanos Fotiou, Tourism Programme Officer, UNEP-DTIE (Organizer & Moderator)
- Dan Jonasson, CEO, The Swedish Ecotourism Society - “Nature’s Best – 8 Years of Practical Ecotourism”
- Andrei Blumer, President, Association of Ecotourism in Romania (AER) - “Ecotourism Certification in Romania – a Tool for Nature Conservation and Responsible Marketing”
- Karen G. Lewis, Founder and Owner, Lapa Rios Ecolodge - “Sustainable Certification: A Key to Improving the Community and Guest Experience”
- Ronald Sanabria, Sustainable Tourism Director, Rainforest Alliance - “Quebec+5: Enhancing Benefits and Addressing Challenges of Sustainable Tourism Certification”
- FEATURED PROJECT: Jan Eriksen, President, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) - Blue Flag and Green Key Eco-Labels
