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International: Two new natural wetland areas on the borders of Poland and Ukraine were added by UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves, at the close of its biannual Council meeting in Paris. The two reserves are: the West Polesie B.R., Poland and the Shatskiyi B.R., Ukraine. The UNESCO Council, in relation to the International Year of Ecotourism, noted that "ecotourism, as practiced, at times, did not meet sustainability criteria or provide net benefits to local communities". (Unesco) In an article "industry puts spin on
ecotourism" CNN decided to explore ecotourism: In the article we learn of the following exciting findings: "But
(ecotourism) it's not just about diving with dolphins. In hotels around the
world, thousands of towels and sheets are washed every day. And it's at this
level that the giants of the hotel industry claim they can make a difference. At
the Berlin Hilton, showers are outfitted with water-saving devices, and guests
can decide whether to have their towels changed every day or every other
day." The World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment
Programme are organising an online Conference between 1-26 April,
2002, moderated by Ron Mader. The discussions
during this web-conference will be organised around the four main themes defined
for the World Ecotourism Summit, and its results will be presented at the Summit
(Quebec City, Canada, 19-22 May 2002). The prime objective of this
web-conference is "to provide an easy access forum for a wide range of
stakeholders involved in ecotourism to exchange experiences and voice comments,
especially for those who have not been able to attend regional preparatory
conferences that have taken place between March 2001 and March 2002". "The typical Mediterranean holiday can have an environmental impact equivalent to
spending up to 50 per cent of a holidaymaker's entire annual income in two
weeks", a new report commissioned by WWF has
found. Using a new method, "Holiday Footprinting", consultants claimed
to be able to take details of two summer holiday packages to Majorca and Cyprus
and evaluate their environmental impact, or "ecological footprint", in
terms of the resources they used, based on data provided by Thomson Holidays, a
large Tour Operator. "Footprinting" quantifies the Earth's resources into "area units". Each
person on the planet can use up to two area units a year for all their
activities without damaging the environment. Africa & M.East Zambia: To allegedly protect their premises from constant break-ins - (according to others to prevent locals from mixing with foreign guests), some lodge owners near the Zambezi River and the Victoria Falls have built fences around their premises. This action has annoyed the Zambia Wildlife Authority and the National Heritage Conservation Commission who contend that the fencing of properties situated in Mosi-O-Tunya Zoological Park prevents the free movement of animals. (ENS) S. Arabia: A six-day international symposium on ecotourism at the King Fahd Cultural Center took place. The symposium, held to mark the International Year of Ecotourism, was co-organised by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development and the Supreme Commission for Tourism. Kenya: Costas Christ, seasoned conservationist, and senior director for Ecotourism at Conservation International gave an interesting personal account of ecotourism in Kenya in Grist magazine Asia & Pacific Pakistan: Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) has posted a new page for promotion of the "integrated tourism concept". The page includes the following papers: "Sustainable Tourism or Ecotourism: Does Reality Substantiate the Myth?", "Role of communities in Ecotourism Role of information Technology in sustainable tourism Pakistan", "Tourism Master Plan-A critical review", "Mega Tourism", "Mountaineering, mountain tourism and sustainable development in mountain regions". Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation has launched Eco Net a free email information service, with a view to provide updates on the activities, news, events, features published in media on ecotourism in Sri Lanka and other countries in the South Asian Region. India: Conservationists in India allege that dolphin watching is killing off a rare inland population. Thousands of tourists travel to the Chilka lagoon to see the Irrawaddy dolphins which are only one of two lagoon dolphin populations anywhere in the world. Conservationists say propellers injure the animals and create noise which disrupts their breeding. Over 20 dolphins were killed this way last year according to the newspaper Navyug (Ananova) Nepal: Studies by GEM Nepal, show that the harvest of pine resin without cutting down the pines, in the area around Kathmandu valley can produce enough "bio-fuel" oil to power 20 factories. (Clean Energy Nepal) Japan: The Japanese branch of WWF announced for the first time it would support the partial lifting of an international ban on commercial whaling on condition that all catches are closely monitored. WWF International did not endorse or condemn this announcement. Whale meat from so-called "scientific" whaling, an allowed practice, regularly finds its way to exclusive Tokyo restaurants. Norway is the only country that defies the international ban on commercial whaling. (Various) Hawaii: The largest area ever set aside for conservation purposes in the U.S., a proposed new marine sanctuary in the northwestern Hawaiian islands, will be the subject of nine public meetings in Hawaii. (ENS) Philippines: The Philippines' Hundred Islands National Park has been placed under 24 hour surveillance to prevent dynamite fishing activities. (Greenbase) Jamaica: Environmentalists in Jamaica and abroad are upbeat about the resurgence of coral reefs on the island's North Coast. A recent report in the Dallas Morning News quoted noted marine biologist, Nancy Knowlton, as saying that "this is the best development to come out of Caribbean reefs in nearly a decade". (Sidsnet) Barbados: The Barbados Government is spending over $300 000 to boost community-tourism projects in rural parishes, according to Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch. (Barbados Nation / Sidsnet). Bahamas: Director-General of Tourism in the Bahamas believes Caribbean nations ought to focus on developing "eco-nations" before promoting the concept of eco-tourism. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace said he is often criticised for saying there is no such thing as eco-tourism, but "you have to be an eco-nation first before you can talk about eco-tourism." (Sidsnet) Greece: A new interesting study by WWF Greece was received by ECOCLUB. It is titled "Planning and pilot projects for ecological tourism development." and it is edited by Ms. E. Svoronou who is WWF Greece's top Expert on Ecotourism. It examines literature and methodology for ecotourism in protected areas as well as international case studies. It then focuses on pilot projects for ecotourism development in the Western Zagori mountain area in Epirus and in Lake Kerkini, Macedonia. The report, unfortunately only in Greek at the moment, is available from WWF Greece. An English abstract is also available. WWF Greece is also organising an international two day conference titled "Measuring Carrying Capacity and Managing Visitors in Protected Areas", in Athens, on the 31st of May and 1st of June 2002. ECOCLUB plans to participate in this conference - full report on this Conference will be presented in the June or July ECOCLUB News issue. Greece: Modern scholarship long ago dismissed as false the explanation that the ancient Greeks gave for the Delphi Oracle's inspiration, the holiest ancient Greek religious centre going back to 1200 B.C., the explanation being vapors rising from the temple's floor. Archaeologists of the early 20th century found no underlying fissure or possible source of intoxicants and thus concluded that the vapors were a myth. Now, however, a geologist, an archaeologist, a chemist and a toxicologist produced evidence suggesting that a crack in the rocks allowed the emission of psychoactive ethylene. (NY Times) Poland / Ukraine: Ecuador: Reported by Shawna Luey, Canada: Costa Rica: The inhabitants of the northern zone of Costa Rica, gathered together in the Northern Front for Opposition to Mining (Frente Norte de Oposicion a la Mineria) are opposed to the Crucitas Mining project for open-cast gold mining and have organised a march in San Carlos, under the slogan of "Yes to life, No to Mining." They demand the suspension of mining projects and promotion of a sustainable, eco-touristic and agro-industrial development for the frontier communities that so far have been neglected. (World Rainforest Movement) Colombia: Parque Natural Nacional Alto Fragua-Indiwasi is a new 168,000 acres National Park just created following negotiations involving the Colombian government, the Association of Ingano Councils and the Amazon Conservation Team, a Virginia-based group. (MSNBC) Peru: A team of explorers led by writer
and adventure guide Peter Frost, and funded by National Geographic has discovered an ancient Inca settlement in the
south-eastern mountains of Peru that may hold an unparalleled record of the
Indian civilisation from beginning to end. As in the case of Machu Pichu, the local Indians have always known about it.
They call it Corihuayrachina, but it is only now that a team of explorers has
reached the site that its significance has become apparent. There is also evidence of some very early Inca civilisation that may force
scholars to rethink their ideas about when the Incas first expanded their
empire. USA: Ford Motor Co. unveiled a new zero-emissions version of its Ford Focus at the New York International Auto Show. [Associated Press] USA: 55 Million Americans Now
Classified As "Geotourists". The Travel Industry Association of
America (TIA) and National Geographic Traveler released results of the first,
large-scale study of the "consumer market for geotourism". 55 million
Americans are now classified as sustainable or "Geotourists," and
nearly 100 million traveling Americans are moving in that direction. The term
geotourism is apparently defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the
"geographical character" of the place being visited. (TIA / NGT) Canada: The city of Toronto has cut its green house discharges by 67 per cent since 1990, according to a new report. A large part of this huge reduction was achieved by improving the energy efficiency of city buildings and streetlights. (David Suzuki Foundation) |