New Deals for Sustainable Tourism
The Rainforest Alliance is pleased to announce important steps forward in our efforts to strengthen sustainable tourism in Latin America. Several tour companies in Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ecuador have signed agreements that spell out commitments which will allow us to advance The Project for the Implementation of Best Management Practices and Certification Support for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises. As part of the agreement, the Rainforest Alliance will train and offer technical assistance to tour operators in best management practices and sustainable tourism certification; work that we carry out with strong support from Alianza Verde in Guatemala, Programme for Belize in Belize, and the Asociación Ecuatoriana de Ecoturismo in Ecuador.
Building Alliances for a Better Future
True to the second word in our name, the Rainforest Alliance firmly believes that networks and alliances can achieve better results with longer lasting impact by taking advantage of shared resources and acquired experiences. Our most recent alliance is an agreement with Eductrade, a Spanish group that specializes in education, health and social development and is working to help improve quality of life in Ecuador. This investment in the future should pay off by creating a cadre of trained entrepreneurs who understand the importance of conserving Ecuador’s natural and cultural resources. We hope the agreement with Eductrade will eventually cross borders and the materials will be used in other countries in the Americas.
This year at the Rainforest Alliance Gala, Santiago Dunn, President of Ecoventura, was presented with its prestigious Individual Sustainable Standard-Setter for making a significant contribution to environmental conservation and sustainability. The evening celebrated the biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods at the Rainforest Alliance Fifteenth Annual Gala on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
This unique evening recognized the accomplishments of leaders in the fields of sustainable agriculture, forestry and tourism while bringing together environmentalists, progressive companies, celebrities and leaders in the business and diplomatic communities. Santiago was awarded for his involvement as a pioneer in the first voluntary environmental certification programs in Galapagos known as SmartVoyager. In 2000, Ecoventura was one of the first companies to receive the green seal of approval that was developed by Corporacion y Desarollo from Ecuador with support from the Rainforest Alliance. Tourism traffic in the Galapagos has grown from 46,000 in 1994 to over 100,000 in 2004. More traffic usually means more pollution and erosion, more illegal fishing and the introduction of alien species. But SmartVoyager-certified boats like those of Ecoventura demonstrate how to vastly reduce environmental impact while contributing to sustainable economic development of tourist destinations.
The boats use only TBT- and lead-free paints and biodegradable soaps, recycle and treat their wastes, run on fuel-efficient engines, employ refueling safeguards, and manage supplies to guard against alien species. The crewmembers are provided with advanced training, better living quarters and healthcare. Ecoventura is a leader in a growing movement to make ecotourism accountable to strict standards and inspection regimes. As Ecoventura and the Galapagos Network play our small roles in the world's largest industry-tourism-we strive to minimize the effects of travel on the places we visit.
To that end, the SmartVoyager certification program initiated by Conservacion y Desarrollo with support from the Rainforest Alliance assures our clients that we actively support low-impact travel and conservation. From the onset, we have taken measures to provide tourists with the finest personal services while simultaneously protecting the environment. Now, for the first time, a "green seal of approval" acknowledges our efforts and underscores their importance. The SmartVoyager seal sends a message to our clients, our peers, and our staff, that we uphold the highest environmental standards in the Galapagos Archipelago.
Santiago Dunn, EcoVentura Owner
Read about our Profiles in Sustainable Development Partnerships
www.rainforestalliance.com
SMART VOYAGER Ecological Certification:
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