A Paradise is Threatened!
Central American countries draw in tourists with their dreamlike beaches and grandiose nature. More plants and animals are at home here than anywhere else in the world. Deforestation, gold mining, and poaching have already destroyed many species. The growing tourist industry and intensive agriculture have hurt other parts of this paradise.
Tourism – A Curse or a Blessing?
Tourists are attracted by exotic animals, coral reefs, and rain forests. The enormous land usage of hotels, airports, freeways, and the impacts of untreated wastewater, disastrous dumps, polluted and trashed beaches, and the intensive exploitation of the sea has had serious consequences for biodiversity.
Take the Opportunity!
According to the goals of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), we advise companies and motivate them to take measures to protect biodiversity. Tourist advisors and corporate leadership are trained, giving them the knowledge to implement actions and spread conservation practices throughout their own operations. Hotels, travel agencies, providers of recreational activities, and the food industry are our target groups.
Maintain Diversity of Species
Biodiversity in the oceans is just as fascinating as what we find on land. However, sea turtles, dolphins, wales, and manatees that live in coastal waters are especially vulnerable when killed by tourist activities like jet skiing, kite surfing, speed boating, and diving. A less impactful form of eco-tourism would offer an additional incentive for protecting these threatened animals.
Our Project Helps by:
- Working with the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to evaluate the negative impacts from resorts and recreational activities in the Dominican Republic and Honduras.
- Training tourism experts through biodiversity seminars and guiding them in advising hotel resorts and providers of recreational activities on activities they can take to better protect coastal and marine biodiversity.
- Providing large and small companies Biodiversity-Checks and guides combined with a training program to assist the tourist sector in reducing their negative impacts and motivate them to participate in biodiversity projects.
- Expanding this concept to the food industry in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Panama. Hotels and restaurants are motivated to purchase products from environmentally friendly farm operations. Farmers are encouraged to create and support biodiversity corridors.