Thank you for joining the ATTA Webinar: Tropical Forest Tourism A Practical Guide to Good Practice for Tropical Forest-Based Tours With Christina Heyniger September 6, 10am PDT Webinar Audio: 866-414-2828 (US & Canada) or +1 973-528-0000 Participant Code: 885891# Welcome

This presentation is based on Conservation International’s Practical Guide to Good Practices for Tropical Forest-Based Tours, written by Tony Charters and Elizabeth Saxon. The guide was developed by Conservation International in partnership with Rainforest Alliance and UNEP. For a copy of the complete guide go to: http://www.ecotour.org Htttp://www.conservation.org http://www.adventuretravel.biz Acknowledgments

This presentation is based on Conservation International’s

Practical Guide to Good Practices for Tropical Forest-Based Tours, written by Tony Charters and Elizabeth Saxon.

The guide was developed by Conservation International in partnership with Rainforest Alliance and UNEP.

For a copy of the complete guide go to:

http://www.ecotour.org

Htttp://www.conservation.org

http://www.adventuretravel.biz

Agenda Tropical Forest Tourism Why Bother? Benefits of Good Practices Key Impacts of Tropical Forest-based Tourism Good Business Practices Good Environmental Practices Specific Practices for Tour Activities: Nature Walks Archaeological Activities Land-based Adventure Freshwater-based Activities Performance Monitoring Self Assessment Sustainability Checklist

Tropical Forest Tourism

Why Bother? Benefits of Good Practices

Key Impacts of Tropical Forest-based Tourism

Good Business Practices

Good Environmental Practices

Specific Practices for Tour Activities:

Nature Walks

Archaeological Activities

Land-based Adventure

Freshwater-based Activities

Performance Monitoring

Self Assessment Sustainability Checklist

Earth’s Tropical Forests Amazon Basin Southeast Asia Congo Basin Mountain tropical forests, mangrove tropical forests, coniferous tropical forests of Central America Dry Tropical Forest Southern Mexico Southeastern Africa The Lesser Sundas Central India Indochina Madagascar New Caledonia Eastern Bolivia Central Brazil Caribbean Valleys of northern Andes Coasts of Ecuador and Peru Moist Tropical Forest includes lowland broadleaf tropical forests:

Amazon Basin

Southeast Asia

Congo Basin

Mountain tropical forests, mangrove tropical forests, coniferous tropical forests of Central America

Dry Tropical Forest

Southern Mexico

Southeastern Africa

The Lesser Sundas

Central India

Indochina

Madagascar

New Caledonia

Eastern Bolivia

Central Brazil

Caribbean

Valleys of northern Andes

Coasts of Ecuador and Peru

In 2004, for example, Brazil had 4.7 million visitors who generated US$1.8 billion Indonesia’s 5.3 million visitors generated nearly US$4.8 billion Tropical forest-based tourism is big business

In 2004, for example, Brazil had 4.7 million visitors who generated US$1.8 billion

Indonesia’s 5.3 million visitors generated nearly US$4.8 billion

Tropical forest communities 500 million people live in or on the edges of the world’s tropical forests. In developing countries, people are under significant pressure to use these areas to generate national and local economic benefits.

500 million people live in or on the edges of the world’s tropical forests.

In developing countries, people are under significant pressure to use these areas to generate national and local economic benefits.

Types of tropical forest tours Common tropical forest tour activities: Birdwatching Wildlife viewing Hiking Camping and nature walks Horseback riding Cycling Freshwater fishing Canoeing Kayaking Rafting and river tours

Common tropical forest tour activities:

Birdwatching

Wildlife viewing

Hiking

Camping and nature walks

Horseback riding

Cycling

Freshwater fishing

Canoeing

Kayaking

Rafting and river tours

What Is Sustainability? Ability to be maintained Use of natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of the area

Ability to be maintained

Use of natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of the area

Why Adopt Good Practices? Protect integrity of tourism resources Facilitate high quality visitor experiences Meet product demand Support to positive relationships with suppliers Provide employment Adopting the practices in this guide can support your business in multiple ways:

Protect integrity of tourism resources

Facilitate high quality visitor experiences

Meet product demand

Support to positive relationships with suppliers

Provide employment

Tropical Forests and Global Biodiversity Why should I care? Humans can easily upset a delicate balance: affecting one aspect of the ecosystem (such as water quality or breeding patterns) often has ripple effects throughout the entire environment Tropical forest value: Rainforests, which have rainfall of more than 80 inches per year - are home to many plant and animal species Produce much of the world’s oxygen Potentially contain many undiscovered medicinal and commercial products Tropical forest ecosystems are important to global biodiversity!

Why should I care?

Humans can easily upset a delicate balance: affecting one aspect of the ecosystem (such as water quality or breeding patterns) often has ripple effects throughout the entire environment

Tropical forest value:

Rainforests, which have rainfall of more than 80 inches per year - are home to many plant and animal species

Produce much of the world’s oxygen

Potentially contain many undiscovered medicinal and commercial products

Tropical Forests and Global Biodiversity Poorly managed tropical forest tourism can have disastrous effects over time, greatly diminishing biodiversity: Eroded and unattractive landscapes Poor habitat results in fewer animals and birds Sparse vegetation Polluted rivers and springs Disrupts local communities, cultural sites and activities

Eroded and unattractive landscapes

Poor habitat results in fewer animals and birds

Sparse vegetation

Polluted rivers and springs

Disrupts local communities, cultural sites and activities

Tour Operators’ Contribution to Conservation Contributing to conservation efforts can help protect the assets that attract visitors and add to the value of visitor experiences: Clean tropical forest environments make a destination more competitive, with unique flora and fauna Participating in conservation activities can enhance your corporate reputation Conservation is important for the health and well being of local communities

Clean tropical forest environments make a destination more competitive, with unique flora and fauna

Participating in conservation activities can enhance your corporate reputation

Conservation is important for the health and well being of local communities

Tour Operators’ Contribution to Conservation Specific contributions to conservation that tour operators can make: Adopt good practices Communicate good practices to customers Encourage visitor participation in local conservation activities Directly support large-scale conservation projects Engage in small scale conservation such as recycling Choose responsible business partners and suppliers

Adopt good practices

Communicate good practices to customers

Encourage visitor participation in local conservation activities

Directly support large-scale conservation projects

Engage in small scale conservation such as recycling

Choose responsible business partners and suppliers

Tropical Forests and Climate Change Deforestation and land-use changes such as cattle grazing expansion and mechanized agriculture Slash and burn farming Soil degradation Drainage of wetlands Road building Urban sprawl 1/4 of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Result From Mismanagement of Tropical Forest Resources:

Deforestation and land-use changes such as cattle grazing expansion and mechanized agriculture

Slash and burn farming

Soil degradation

Drainage of wetlands

Road building

Urban sprawl

Tropical Forests and Climate Change Why Should I Care? Tropical forests help regulate global climatic conditions: Amazon basin in particular is crucial for global cooling, releasing 20 billion tons of water into the atmosphere daily! Tropical forests provide essential ecosystem services: water regulation, soil stabilization, pest control What Tour Operators Can Do: Educate visitors Offset carbon cost of tours Develop and implement sustainable purchasing guidelines Improve operational efficiencies Support tropical forest monitoring and research programs Support reforestation programs

Why Should I Care?

Tropical forests help regulate global climatic conditions:

Amazon basin in particular is crucial for global cooling, releasing 20 billion tons of water into the atmosphere daily!

Tropical forests provide essential ecosystem services: water regulation, soil stabilization, pest control

What Tour Operators Can Do:

Educate visitors

Offset carbon cost of tours

Develop and implement sustainable purchasing guidelines

Improve operational efficiencies

Support tropical forest monitoring and research programs

Support reforestation programs

Visitor Education and Messaging Use the tour to share information about: Different tropical forest environments Wildlife Interdependence of animals and nature Evolutionary history of the region Use naturalist guides Why interpretation is important: Adds value to the tour experience Promotes thoughtful visitor behavior Differentiates your product in the market Enhances corporate reputation as a knowledgeable, professional operator Attracts higher yield customers Learning is a key aspect of adventure tours; make interpretation a priority.

Use the tour to share information about:

Different tropical forest environments

Wildlife

Interdependence of animals and nature

Evolutionary history of the region

Use naturalist guides

Why interpretation is important:

Adds value to the tour experience

Promotes thoughtful visitor behavior

Differentiates your product in the market

Enhances corporate reputation as a knowledgeable, professional operator

Attracts higher yield customers

Visitor Education and Messaging 1. Identify key messages 2. Conduct research Environmental, cultural, historical points of interest How guests should behave in the environment and with communities Health and safety risks What tour operators can do: Provide visitors with accurate information, not just anecdotes Backing up your messages with facts can be more effective than just telling people how you want them to behave, for example - explain why!

Environmental, cultural, historical points of interest

How guests should behave in the environment and with communities

Health and safety risks

Provide visitors with accurate information, not just anecdotes

Backing up your messages with facts can be more effective than just telling people how you want them to behave, for example - explain why!

Visitor Education and Messaging 3. Understand your audience Ask about their interests, knowledge, professional skills and try to make interpretation relevant to their experience Consider how to cater to non-English speakers, children, elderly, people with disabilities Always ask for feedback! What tour operators can do: 4. Keep tour numbers to a manageable size, 15 or fewer is recommended for non-vehicle based tours 5. Develop materials to support education and interpretation

Ask about their interests, knowledge, professional skills and try to make interpretation relevant to their experience

Consider how to cater to non-English speakers, children, elderly, people with disabilities

Always ask for feedback!

Spotlight: Horizontes Nature Tours Costa Rican tour operator provides visitors with a high level of environmental education and interpretation. Established partnership with Rainforest Alliance to sponsor workshops for local hotel owners and tour operators about good practices: Recycling Waste reduction Promoting tourism benefits in local communities

Recycling

Waste reduction

Promoting tourism benefits in local communities

Built Infrastructure Examples of tropical forest infrastructure for tourists: Paths Boardwalks Fences Bird hides Viewing platforms Suspended walkways Bridges Signage Toilet facilities Vehicle parks Information centers Challenges associated with Built Infrastructure: Raised walkways for example prevent erosion, however, if improperly designed and placed they may: Interfere with wildlife Block natural waterflows Encourage invasive weed growth Create over-shaded areas

Examples of tropical forest infrastructure for tourists:

Paths

Boardwalks

Fences

Bird hides

Viewing platforms

Suspended walkways

Bridges

Signage

Toilet facilities

Vehicle parks

Information centers

Challenges associated with Built Infrastructure:

Raised walkways for example prevent erosion, however, if improperly designed and placed they may:

Interfere with wildlife

Block natural waterflows

Encourage invasive weed growth

Create over-shaded areas

Built Infrastructure What tour operators can do: Identify sites with the greatest need, cooperate with other operators to minimize footprint Identify suitable infrastructure, avoid overuse of local wood if it is scarce Share labor and other costs Encourage the establishment of tourism and tourism buffer zones (100m to 40m depending on sensitivity) Always comply with safety requirements Well-planned and constructed Built Infrastructure can reduce the impacts of visitors to tropical forest environments.

What tour operators can do:

Identify sites with the greatest need, cooperate with other operators to minimize footprint

Identify suitable infrastructure, avoid overuse of local wood if it is scarce

Share labor and other costs

Encourage the establishment of tourism and tourism buffer zones (100m to 40m depending on sensitivity)

Always comply with safety requirements

Spotlight: Inkaterra Canopy Walkway In Tambopata, Peru, the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway is 344m long, spanning two towers it includes eight platforms and seven bridges. Conservation-minded features: Designed to be camouflaged in the tree tops Builders used bolts rather than brackets or clamps to avoid affecting natural tree growth Ensured trees had strong defense mechanisms against fungi or bacteria so bolts would not compromise health

Conservation-minded features:

Designed to be camouflaged in the tree tops

Builders used bolts rather than brackets or clamps to avoid affecting natural tree growth

Ensured trees had strong defense mechanisms against fungi or bacteria so bolts would not compromise health

Engaging With Local Communities The key issues for tour operators in local community interactions are cross cultural awareness and the extent to which economic benefits of tourism reach communities. Where tour operators interact with locals: Through purchasing and supplier choices Viewing, photographing or talking to individuals engaged in work, social or cultural activities Visiting local businesses, markets Using shared infrastructure such as transport, communications, entertainment, food services

The key issues for tour operators in local community interactions are cross cultural awareness and the extent to which economic benefits of tourism reach communities.

Where tour operators interact with locals:

Through purchasing and supplier choices

Viewing, photographing or talking to individuals engaged in work, social or cultural activities

Visiting local businesses, markets

Using shared infrastructure such as transport, communications, entertainment, food services

Engaging With Local Communities What Tour Operators Can Do to Strengthen Community Relationships: Consult with local communities to avoid sensitive sites; tourists should not overcrowd areas central to daily life for locals Use local suppliers and labor to the greatest extent possible Encourage visitors to support local businesses Learn appropriate behavior and interpretation regarding heritage, culture and people Become involved in community development projects

What Tour Operators Can Do to Strengthen Community Relationships:

Consult with local communities to avoid sensitive sites; tourists should not overcrowd areas central to daily life for locals

Use local suppliers and labor to the greatest extent possible

Encourage visitors to support local businesses

Learn appropriate behavior and interpretation regarding heritage, culture and people

Become involved in community development projects

Spotlight: Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve Located in southern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, 70% of lodge staff are Achuar people; in 2011 it will transfer fully to local ownership. Established in 1993 as a joint initiative of the Canodros Foundation and the Federation of Achuar Indigenous People Lodge products and services are purchased from local communities Lodge presence has helped attract attention also of aid organizations who have brought health care, communication, transportation and education services to the area

Established in 1993 as a joint initiative of the Canodros Foundation and the Federation of Achuar Indigenous People

Lodge products and services are purchased from local communities

Lodge presence has helped attract attention also of aid organizations who have brought health care, communication, transportation and education services to the area

Wildlife Interactions The health, breeding, feeding patterns and overall population of wildlife are easily affected by humans. Be aware of direct (viewing, following activities) and indirect (loss of habitat, disruption or movement of prey) interactions. Why Should I Care? Wildlife is a significant tourist attraction Wildlife relocation and changes to breeding, nesting and feeding patterns reduce sightings for visitors

The health, breeding, feeding patterns and overall population of wildlife are easily affected by humans.

Be aware of direct (viewing, following activities) and indirect (loss of habitat, disruption or movement of prey) interactions.

Why Should I Care?

Wildlife is a significant tourist attraction

Wildlife relocation and changes to breeding, nesting and feeding patterns reduce sightings for visitors

Wildlife Interactions What Tour Operators Can Do to Protect Wildlife Inform and manage visitors by providing pre-tour information and keeping appropriate distances Avoid known breeding or nesting sites Avoid feeding and handling of wildlife Minimize disturbances from radios, phones, loud conversations Avoid nighttime wildlife viewing tours unless required in a conservation project

What Tour Operators Can Do to Protect Wildlife

Inform and manage visitors by providing pre-tour information and keeping appropriate distances

Avoid known breeding or nesting sites

Avoid feeding and handling of wildlife

Minimize disturbances from radios, phones, loud conversations

Avoid nighttime wildlife viewing tours unless required in a conservation project

Vehicles and Vessels Most tours involve some type of vehicle. They can be loud and introduce pollutants from fuels into tropical forest environments. Risks: Erosion and topography changes Transport organisms and plants from one destination to another Noise, speed and appearance can frighten wildlife Congestion detracts from natural setting’s unique atmosphere

Most tours involve some type of vehicle. They can be loud and introduce pollutants from fuels into tropical forest environments.

Risks:

Erosion and topography changes

Transport organisms and plants from one destination to another

Noise, speed and appearance can frighten wildlife

Congestion detracts from natural setting’s unique atmosphere

Vehicles and Vessels What Tour Operators Can Do: Incorporate active, low-impact modes of transport: cycling, kayaking, horseback riding Avoid sensitive sites Stay on designated or defined roads Keep vehicles clean Use fuel efficient vehicles Consider fuel consumption when designing tour routes Sound proof vehicles Use low speeds Keep engines well maintained Keep vehicle colors neutral Minimize use of toxic chemicals

What Tour Operators Can Do:

Incorporate active, low-impact modes of transport: cycling, kayaking, horseback riding

Avoid sensitive sites

Stay on designated or defined roads

Keep vehicles clean

Use fuel efficient vehicles

Consider fuel consumption when designing tour routes

Sound proof vehicles

Use low speeds

Keep engines well maintained

Keep vehicle colors neutral

Minimize use of toxic chemicals

Nature Walks, Hiking and Camping What is the Issue? Fragile soils; in steep terrain they are especially susceptible to compaction and erosion Erosion affects the ability of native vegetation to regenerate and may result in sedimentation of waterways Vegetation is affected when visitors remove plants, break off flowers and fruits, take souvenirs, collect firewood, clear areas for campsites Why should I care? Conserving the quality of the forest helps maintain the future viability of tourism businesses Polluted and eroded environments are not attractive for visitors or local people Habitat degradation or conversion displaces and kills wildlife

What is the Issue?

Fragile soils; in steep terrain they are especially susceptible to compaction and erosion

Erosion affects the ability of native vegetation to regenerate and may result in sedimentation of waterways

Vegetation is affected when visitors remove plants, break off flowers and fruits, take souvenirs, collect firewood, clear areas for campsites

Why should I care?

Conserving the quality of the forest helps maintain the future viability of tourism businesses

Polluted and eroded environments are not attractive for visitors or local people

Habitat degradation or conversion displaces and kills wildlife

Nature Walks, Hiking and Camping What Tour Operators Can Do: Improve your knowledge Inform and manage customers Limit numbers of customers Use established tracks and sites Retain canopy cover Remove all waste Avoid open fires and smoking Use batteries and fuel stoves Clean all equipment and boots

Improve your knowledge

Inform and manage customers

Limit numbers of customers

Use established tracks and sites

Retain canopy cover

Remove all waste

Avoid open fires and smoking

Use batteries and fuel stoves

Clean all equipment and boots

Spotlight: FreeWay Brazilian operator established to introduce people of Sao Paulo to the natural beauty of their country: Limits group sizes to minimize impacts Groups stay on trails and rest only in sound areas such as rocks, sand or dry vegetation Packs out all trash Visitors educated not to touch rock formations, gather plants archaeological objects, shells or other natural products

Limits group sizes to minimize impacts

Groups stay on trails and rest only in sound areas such as rocks, sand or dry vegetation

Packs out all trash

Visitors educated not to touch rock formations, gather plants archaeological objects, shells or other natural products

Archaeological Activities Excursions to archaeological sites or ruins may include viewing artifacts or getting involved in excavation and field activities. Risks: Erosion and destabilization Destruction of remains and artifacts by poorly planned and managed excavation Once exposed, areas are susceptible to damage from exposure to wind, water, sand flows, flora and fauna Particularly sensitive to small changes in temp and humidity caused by perspiration, body heat

Risks:

Erosion and destabilization

Destruction of remains and artifacts by poorly planned and managed excavation

Once exposed, areas are susceptible to damage from exposure to wind, water, sand flows, flora and fauna

Particularly sensitive to small changes in temp and humidity caused by perspiration, body heat

Archaeological Activities Why Should I Care About the Risks? Valuable and unique tourism attractions: can provide historical, scientific and cultural points of interest When sites are damaged the opportunity to educate and inspire visitors is lost, diminishing the value of the area and local employment opportunities What Tour Operators Can Do: Work with local stakeholders when planning to incorporate archaeological sites into tours Establish codes of conduct for visitors Abide by established restrictions

Why Should I Care About the Risks?

Valuable and unique tourism attractions: can provide historical, scientific and cultural points of interest

When sites are damaged the opportunity to educate and inspire visitors is lost, diminishing the value of the area and local employment opportunities

What Tour Operators Can Do:

Work with local stakeholders when planning to incorporate archaeological sites into tours

Establish codes of conduct for visitors

Abide by established restrictions

Land Based Activities Common adventure activities: Cycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, caving. Wheels, hooves, ropes and hooks can damage creek beds, vegetation, rock and cave formations Impacts : Accelerated erosion Introduction of foreign seeds and organisms Climbing equipment can mar rock faces, over time wear away moss and other growth

Impacts :

Accelerated erosion

Introduction of foreign seeds and organisms

Climbing equipment can mar rock faces, over time wear away moss and other growth

Land-Based Activities Why Should I Care About the Risks? Conserving unique landscapes helps preserve their quality Sustainable use supports long term business development, enhancing the destination’s onging appeal and marketability What Tour Operators Can Do: Inform and manage visitors Focus adventure activities in non-sensitive sites Stay on designated tracks and roads Keep animals clean and controlled - water by bucket or trough to avoid creekbed erosion, for example Avoid intensive or constant use of an area Keep equipment clean Remove all waste

Why Should I Care About the Risks?

Conserving unique landscapes helps preserve their quality

Sustainable use supports long term business development, enhancing the destination’s onging appeal and marketability

What Tour Operators Can Do:

Inform and manage visitors

Focus adventure activities in non-sensitive sites

Stay on designated tracks and roads

Keep animals clean and controlled - water by bucket or trough to avoid creekbed erosion, for example

Avoid intensive or constant use of an area

Keep equipment clean

Remove all waste

Freshwater Recreation All can lead to: Over-fishing Pollution Erosion at put-in and take-out spots Injury or disturbance to wildlife from collisions with craft or increases in turbidity from paddling/ propellers Common activities: River tours, canoeing, tubing, kayaking, freshwater fishing, rafting -

All can lead to:

Over-fishing

Pollution

Erosion at put-in and take-out spots

Injury or disturbance to wildlife from collisions with craft or increases in turbidity from paddling/ propellers

Freshwater Recreation Conservation maintains the resource’s viability for tourism Healthy water systems maintain animal and human life in the forest Clean environments with healthy and vegetated landscapes add to the appeal for visitors Why Should I Care?

Conservation maintains the resource’s viability for tourism

Healthy water systems maintain animal and human life in the forest

Clean environments with healthy and vegetated landscapes add to the appeal for visitors

Freshwater Recreation What Tour Operators Can Do: Inform and manage visitors Be considerate of wildlife and know where your trips have the greatest likelihood of disturbing wildlife Fish humanely - barb-less hooks, catch and release, minimal handling only with wet hands Choose anchoring and mooring locations carefully Keep watercraft clean! Don’t clean with chemicals while in the water.

What Tour Operators Can Do:

Inform and manage visitors

Be considerate of wildlife and know where your trips have the greatest likelihood of disturbing wildlife

Fish humanely - barb-less hooks, catch and release, minimal handling only with wet hands

Choose anchoring and mooring locations carefully

Keep watercraft clean! Don’t clean with chemicals while in the water.

Spotlight: Hamansai Adventure Dive Resort Recognized as an environmental leader in the hotel industry of Belize. Located on 21 acres of rare coastal forest in Belize. Visitors travel inland on jungle river canoeing & kayaking tours to view green and orange iguanas, parrots, toucans, herons, egrets, stingrays, manatees, crocodiles. What They’re Doing: Reducing water consumption Reducing energy consumption Minimizing trash generation Improving waste and water treatment

Recognized as an environmental leader in the hotel industry of Belize.

Located on 21 acres of rare coastal forest in Belize.

Visitors travel inland on jungle river canoeing & kayaking tours to view green and orange iguanas, parrots, toucans, herons, egrets, stingrays, manatees, crocodiles.

What They’re Doing:

Reducing water consumption

Reducing energy consumption

Minimizing trash generation

Improving waste and water treatment

Performance Monitoring Why Bother? Performance monitoring allows you to track whether practices are improving your performance and helping you to progress towards achieving sustainability.

How Should I Monitor? 1. Impact/threat Water Pollution 2. Objective(s) Manage wastewater 3. Goal Achieve 100% field compliance with water management policies by 2008 4. Good Practices Inform visitors Train staff Monitor and record compliance 4. Refer to A Practical Guide to Good Practices for Tropical Forest Based Tour Operators to find recommendations for good practices 1. Identify Impacts/ Threats 2. Define objective(s 3. Assign specific Goals

4. Good Practices

Inform visitors

Train staff

Monitor and record compliance

Self Assessment Sustainability Checklist This is a sample from the complete checklist: Hiking, Nature Walks and Camping What actions do you take to help minimize erosion of landscapes and the removal of vegetation? Do you keep tour numbers to 15 people or less for adventure activities? Y/N Does your tour avoid highly sensitive sites? Y/N On your tour, do you: Utilize existing and defined roads, tracks, river and creek crossings and trails? Y/ N Avoid clearing new tracks and camping sites?Y/N Focus on using areas which have site-hardening infrastructure (e.g. boardwalks, graveled paths, bird hides, designated camp sites)? Y/N Do you discourage the removal of plants, animals or rock formations? Y/ N

This is a sample from the complete checklist:

Hiking, Nature Walks and Camping

What actions do you take to help minimize erosion of landscapes and the removal of vegetation?

Do you keep tour numbers to 15 people or less for adventure activities? Y/N

Does your tour avoid highly sensitive sites? Y/N

On your tour, do you:

Utilize existing and defined roads, tracks, river and creek crossings and trails? Y/ N

Avoid clearing new tracks and camping sites?Y/N

Focus on using areas which have site-hardening infrastructure (e.g. boardwalks, graveled paths, bird hides, designated camp sites)? Y/N

Do you discourage the removal of plants, animals or rock formations? Y/ N

Self Assessment Sustainability Checklist This is a sample from the complete checklist: Waste Management and Disposal What actions do you take to ensure proper waste management and disposal? Do you provide visitors with waste disposal facilities? Y/N Do you collect all waste generated during your tour and dispose of this waste outside of tropical forest areas? Y/N Do you bury human waste (where no facilities are available) at least 15cm deep and at least 100m from any natural water bodies? Y/N Do you purchase goods and supplies that generate minimum amounts of waste by: Having minimal packaging? Y/N Being reusable? Y/N Being recyclable? Y/N

This is a sample from the complete checklist:

Waste Management and Disposal

What actions do you take to ensure proper waste management and disposal?

Do you provide visitors with waste disposal facilities? Y/N

Do you collect all waste generated during your tour and dispose of this waste outside of tropical forest areas? Y/N

Do you bury human waste (where no facilities are available) at least 15cm deep and at least 100m from any natural water bodies? Y/N

Do you purchase goods and supplies that generate minimum amounts of waste by:

Having minimal packaging? Y/N

Being reusable? Y/N

Being recyclable? Y/N

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Thank you for taking part in the Tropical Forest-Based Tourism Webinar, brought to you by the ATTA. This presentation was sponsored by Conservation International. For suggestions or questions on Tropical Forest Practice Guide content, contact Conservation International (www.conservation.org): Neel Inamdar: n.inamdar@conservation.org Kathryn Kelly: [email_address] For more information on ATTA visit: www.adventuretravel.biz For more information on Christina Heyniger visit: www.xolaconsulting.com or www.travelofftheradar.com Photos in this document courtesy George McGuirk, Chris Doyle, Christina Heyniger Thank you!