14
ECOCLUB, Issue 91
AROUND THE ECO WORLD
Africa
Kenya: Ecotourism Kenya holds specialist eco-seminars
The national body for ecotourism in Kenya, Ecotourism
workshops during the months of April and May, aimed at
increasing the sustainability of tourism enterprises. Four
workshops were held on the themes of Energy & Water
Efficiency, Ecotourism Business Practices and Eco-rating.
Energy & Water Efficiency Training: The Energy & Water
Efficiency Training workshop mainly targeted managers
and technicians of hotels, lodges and camps that aspired to
improve their energy and water management systems. The
two speakers, Leo J. Blyth, (the founder and managing
director of SolaPak Ltd) and Sarah de Mowbray, (a water
and sanitation engineer and the director of GreenWater
Environmental, Water & Sanitation Systems), discussed
waste water treatment systems and solar power in terms of
costs, benefits and opportunities. Ecotourism Business
Workshops: Two Ecotourism Business workshops (one
national and one regional) explored ideas for tourism
involvement and introduced steps for sound tourism
development planning. Participants from various national
Community Based Tourism (CBT) initiatives were trained
on the desirable elements of a successful tourism business.
One of the themes emerging was that the participants were
involved in doing business without understanding issues of
advance bookings, without utilising local channels for their
products, services and activities. Eco-Rating workshop:
Representatives from many of the main hotel-chains in
Kenya attended the Eco-rating workshop. The executive
director of Ecotourism Kenya introduced their own Eco-
Rating certification scheme, that evaluates efforts of tourist
accommodation facilities in the areas of waste
management, conservation, engagement with local
communities and education of tourists. Turtle Bay Beach
Club (a Silver Eco-rated facility) was presented as an
ecocertification case study, having its own wastewater
treatment plant, supporting turtle conservation, involving
guests, school children and locals in tree planting and
beach clean up activities and having weekly eco-policy
meetings. Participants also toured the case study area in
order to see practical implementations of these measures.
Americas
Canada: New Canadian cruise legislation 'lax' on
environment
In early May, Canada amended its Shipping Act, with the
intention of making Canada 'a leader in the prevention of
marine pollution' according to Transport Minister Cannon,
with 'zero tolerance' for pollution. However, TravelJust, an
NGO, alleges that the recent reforms have effectively
relaxed the laws relating to Cruise ship dumping
regulations, adopting earlier voluntary cruise industry
guidelines. In particular there is no provision to end sludge
discharging in Canadian marine protected areas while
garbage can now be discharged 3 miles from shore (used to
be 4). Currently it is legal and customary for cruise ships
worldwide to dump garbage in the ocean as long as they are
12 miles offshore. It has been estimated that every person
on a cruise generates about 3.5 kg of waste every day, with
adverse effects on marine wildlife, coral reefs and beaches.
Large fines are regularly imposed on cruise lines.
Ecuador: Government may preserve rainforest for
$3.5bn 'compensation'
On World Environment Day, Ecuador's President Correa is
asking for international compensation for not exploiting the
Ishpingo-Tiputini-Tambococha (ITT) oil-block concession
in the Amazonian jungle inhabited by the Yasuni people.
Under the proposal, if foreign state and private donations
reach USD 3.5 bn or half of the projected revenue for 10
years worth of oil extraction, the Ecuador government will
not allow drilling in the region. So far Spain and Norway
have reportedly expressed interest. Some environmental
NGOs have expressed scepticism over the feasibility of the
plan, while others point out that it would be an interesting
application of the Clean Development Mechanism. In an
unrelated development, indigenous groups in Ecuador are
suing oil giant Chevron Corp. for USD 6 bn over alleged
environmental damages.
Mexico: Controversial tourism mega-project in Chiapas
resuscitated
Mexico's La Jornada reported that the National Trust Fund
for Tourism Development (Fonatur) has announced that an
8000-room theme park and golf development to be build
around the Classic Maya ruins of Palenque may now be
completed by 2012. To be called "The Entrance to the
Maya World" this mega project had been frozen for 8 years
in the face of local opposition and armed unrest in Chiapas
state. It will cover 58,490 hectares including the
archaeological zone of Palenque, Lacandona Forest, the
Blue Water Cascades and the beaches of Catazajá, and
worryingly, it may require the relocation of local
communities.
Asia & Pacific
Malaysia: Aims for 3rd World
Heritage Site
Sukau Rainforest Lodge (Web:
government of Sabah State is working
towards getting Unesco to recognise
Maliau Basin Conservation Area as the
third world heritage site in Malaysia, a
move which would encourage
ecotourism development in Sabah. Both existing world
heritage sites in Malaysia are to be found on Borneo,
Mount Kinabalu in Sabah and Mulu Caves in Sarawak.
Dubbed Sabah's "Lost World", the 58,840-hectare Maliau
Basin Conservation Area was upgraded to a Protected
(Class One) Forest Reserve in 1997.
Thailand: NATR to pass the torch
The North Andaman Tsunami Relief, an NGO set up in the
aftermath of the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami, is preparing
to close its office with most of their projects haviny been
successfully completed. The official ceremony will take
place on Thursday June 28, at 4 pm. Over the past two and
a half years, since the Tsunami, NATR has proved
exemplary in providing relief and sustainable development
to communities in the Kuraburi area of Southern Thailand.
