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Community-based Ecotourism
Benefiting Local Residents
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| Cofan guide and tourists, Ecuador © Andy Drumm/TNC |
One of the basic tenets of ecotourism is to engage local communities so they benefit from conservation, economic development and education. While nearby inhabitants are those most directly affected by the establishment of parks and protected areas, they also stand to profit the most by their conservation. By bringing residents into the business of ecotourism, not only can local people meet their economic needs, but they also can maintain and enhance the "sense of place" that is critical for guaranteeing long-term conservation.
The Conservancy works closely with indigenous and other local groups to establish community businesses, provide tourism training and marketing assistance, and develop compatible economic activities such as handicraft production and tour guiding. This focus on people reflects the Conservancy’s commitment to work across landscapes, incorporating a concern for human populations as well as for the natural world we inhabit.
Helping Communities Develop Ecotourism Businesses
Rural communities are often rich with local knowledge and a strong appreciation of their natural and cultural heritage. To help them earn income, we offered guide training programs in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Belize. In southern Belize, former gill net fishermen now share their intimate knowledge of life in the Caribbean with visiting anglers and marine enthusiasts. The lore and legends fascinate visitors, and fish populations are conserved in the process.
In Ecuador’s Condor BioReserve, we are working with residents of a traditional Andean community, Oyacachi, to encourage ecotourism business development. Perched at the gateway between the Andean highlands and the Amazon, the village hosts a variety of attractions including thermal springs, cloud forest habitats, spectacled bears and a tradition of wood carving. These assets, when managed with care, can become important attractions and provide additional income to residents.
More about the Conservancy's ecotourism strategy:
- Supporting community-based ecotourism
To find out other ways we share best-practices, click on sharing lessons learned. For a list of free, on-line ecotourism resources, visit our resources page.
