Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.3.96.990317082907.12125A-100000@ux1.cyberenet.net> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:53:13 -0500 From: mailto:tuandbob@CYBERENET.NET Subject: Re: DEVEL-L Digest - 15 Mar 1999 to 16 Mar 1999 (#1999-10) To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
I thought eco-tourism was touring to learn about the environment and how to help it, while hurting it as little as possible.Silly me.
Bob ===============================================================================
On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> There are 10 messages totalling 787 lines in this issue.
=== > Topics of the day:
>
> 4. what is sustainable/ecotourism ? was Re: Question about South America (2)
> 5. what is sustainable/ecotourism ? (was Re: Question about South America)
> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 15:10:28 -0400
> From: Yacine Khelladi <mailto:yacine@AACR.NET>
> Subject: what is sustainable/ecotourism ? was Re: Question about South America
>
> Nicole, all
>
> > Is eco-tourism the same old thing with a new snappy name, and a different
> > advertising theme - drawing upon same tourists as before, just with new
> > brochure and ecologoical talk?
>
> To my knowledge there is still no general accepted definition o
> ecotourism, i m preparing a paper presenting a new projet to be launched
> soon on e-commerce and sustainable tourism.
>
> I've tried du set up a 2 definitions of sustainable/eco tourism on
> positive one negative here i paste them, wianting to hear you and othe
> deve-listers comments or corrections
>
> Positive definition:
>
> " the concept of sustainable tourism (as ecotourism) is still a much
> disputed topic. We hope this project will help develop a more systematic
> and in depth qualification tool. For now we use the following set of
> criterion to qualify a tourism project as sustainable if it:
>
> - Respects (does not degrade) and valorizes local social, cultural,
> human, and environmental background and values;
> - promotes involvement and direct participation by community members in
> the project, as well as empowering them for being actors of their own
> development process;
> - bring direct financial benefits to the community and/or bring
> resources for the community development (infrastructures, education,
> organization skills, etc.)
> - integrates monitoring mechanisms that ensure all of the above. "
>
> Negative definition:
>
> a tourism project is not sustainable when:
>
> - Environmentally: it produces degradation, serious threats on
> biological diversity, natural beauty, resources and landscapes, etc.;
> and does not participate in its protection or recovery with the
> development their infrastructures and operations;
> - Socially it breaks local structures and displaces people, creates
> shanty-towns behind resorts, does not encourage local empowerment or
> participation; produces economic over exploitation, most of the
> generated income or distribute it in very few local; the only exchange
> between the natives occurs during room service, at the beach
> (merchants), and/or with prostitution (Offering cheap children, men and
> women in Dominican Rep. is often used, and not always undercover, as a
> marketing asset by tour operators), ) it does not lead to a process
> where people are encouraged to empower themselves to develop their own
> path for social and individual well being;
> - Culturally it degrades local identity and values and/or does not value
> local cultural and traditional expressions (not included fusion or
> syncretism that are expression of cultural resistance), produces a
> social inferiority complex and indirectly illegal immigration - when
> what is left to local people is a feeling of inferiority, a desire to be
> like these "rich" people that travel and enjoy life, and an impetus to
> leave the miserable condition of their country by any means possible,
> (for instance, the most tourist developed shores in Dominican Republic
> are also the shores from which most of the boat people leave)
> "
>
> and a coment
> "
> We must be careful in these endeavors, for while some initiatives really
> look to encourage and develop
> environmental preservation, cultural re-valuation, community
> development, the limit between those initiatives and nature tourism
> activities (as rafting, horse riding, scuba diving), that are not
> necessarily socially sustainable, may be difficult to capture. Some
> operators try to benefit from the "ecotourism" label without seriously
> responding to the necessary criteria.
> "
>
> So, could you help better this definitions?
>
> Yacine Khelladi
> mailto:yacine@aacr.net
>
>
>
> mailto:AXEOXALA@AOL.COM wrote:
> >
> > In a message dated 3/15/1999 11:54:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> > mailto:wlg@IHERMES.COM writes:
> >
> > << eco-tourism in Central or South America. >>
> >
> > Is eco-tourism the same old thing with a new snappy name, and a different
> > advertising theme - drawing upon same tourists as before, just with new
> > brochure and ecologoical talk?
> >
> > Does it still turn the lands of people into indigenous disney lands for
> > foreign exoticism hunting tourists who like the idea of being able to say they
> > went on an "eco-tour" instead of just a tour? Does it mean that instead of
> > safari lodges there will be eco-safari lodges? Aside from tourists picking up
> > more trash, what is the substantive change for the indigenous people?
> >
> > Do they own more of their land - have more control over their lands, or are
> > they still dependent upon tourist leavings for survival? Are they still
> > marginalized - whether by colonizers, elites in their own countries (colonial
> > remnants usually), enviromental "saviours" or domineering tourists?
> >
> > No comment on any one's personal beliefs or activities, but just wondering if
> > anyone has any articles, experience on this? I saw the email, and my
> > perspective raised such questions for me. Force of habit and nuture.
> >
> > Nicole
>
> -----------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 14:30:04 -0500
> From: Blair Orr <mailto:bdorr@MTU.EDU>
> Subject: Re: what is sustainable/ecotourism ? was Re: Question about South
> America
>
> At 03:10 PM 3/16/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >Negative definition:
> >
> >a tourism project is not sustainable when:
> >
> >- Environmentally: it produces degradation, serious threats on
> >biological diversity, natural beauty, resources and landscapes, etc.;
> >and does not participate in its protection or recovery with the
> >development their infrastructures and operations;
> >- Socially it breaks local structures and displaces people, creates
> >shanty-towns behind resorts, does not encourage local empowerment or
> >participation; produces economic over exploitation, most of the
> >generated income or distribute it in very few local; the only exchange
> >between the natives occurs during room service, at the beach
> >(merchants), and/or with prostitution (Offering cheap children, men and
> >women in Dominican Rep. is often used, and not always undercover, as a
> >marketing asset by tour operators), ) it does not lead to a process
> >where people are encouraged to empower themselves to develop their own
> >path for social and individual well being;
> >- Culturally it degrades local identity and values and/or does not value
> >local cultural and traditional expressions (not included fusion or
> >syncretism that are expression of cultural resistance), produces a
> >social inferiority complex and indirectly illegal immigration - when
> >what is left to local people is a feeling of inferiority, a desire to be
> >like these "rich" people that travel and enjoy life, and an impetus to
> >leave the miserable condition of their country by any means possible,
> >(for instance, the most tourist developed shores in Dominican Republic
> >are also the shores from which most of the boat people leave)
> >"
>
> This is an excellent point. Many times it is hard to tell if something is
> sustainable, making it easy to use the word in a meaningless fashion. It
> is sometimes easier to look for indications that an activity is not
> sustainable, the negative definition.
>
> A good reference on the topic is:
>
> Eckman, K. 1994. Avoiding unsustainability in natural resources projects
> in developing countries: the precautionary monitoring approach. PhD
> dissertation. U. of Minnesota.
>
>
> Blair Orr
> Associate Professor of Forest Economics
> Coordinator of International Programs
> mailto:bdorr@mtu.edu
> ph: (906) 487-2291
> fax: (906) 487-2915
> http://forestry.mtu.edu/peacecorps
>
> Forestry Ecology and Management
> Michigan Technological University
> 1400 Townsend Drive
> Houghton, MI 49931 USA
>
> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 23:13:20 +0100
> From: mailto:alternativ@OEHSERV.BOKU.AC.AT
> Subject: Re: what is sustainable/ecotourism ? (was Re: Question about South
> America)
>
> >At 03:10 PM 3/16/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >>Negative definition:
> >>
> >>a tourism project is not sustainable when:
> >>
> >>- Environmentally: it produces degradation, serious threats on
> >>biological diversity, natural beauty, resources and landscapes, etc.;
> >>and does not participate in its protection or recovery with the
> >>development their infrastructures and operations;
> >>- Socially it breaks local structures and displaces people, creates
> >>shanty-towns behind resorts, does not encourage local empowerment or
> >>participation; produces economic over exploitation, most of the
> >>generated income or distribute it in very few local; the only exchange
> >>between the natives occurs during room service, at the beach
> >>(merchants), and/or with prostitution (Offering cheap children, men and
> >>women in Dominican Rep. is often used, and not always undercover, as a
> >>marketing asset by tour operators), ) it does not lead to a process
> >>where people are encouraged to empower themselves to develop their own
> >>path for social and individual well being;
> >>- Culturally it degrades local identity and values and/or does not value
> >>local cultural and traditional expressions (not included fusion or
> >>syncretism that are expression of cultural resistance), produces a
> >>social inferiority complex and indirectly illegal immigration - when
> >>what is left to local people is a feeling of inferiority, a desire to be
> >>like these "rich" people that travel and enjoy life, and an impetus to
> >>leave the miserable condition of their country by any means possible,
> >>(for instance, the most tourist developed shores in Dominican Republic
> >>are also the shores from which most of the boat people leave)
> >>"
> >
> >This is an excellent point. Many times it is hard to tell if something is
> >sustainable, making it easy to use the word in a meaningless fashion. It
> >is sometimes easier to look for indications that an activity is not
> >sustainable, the negative definition.
> >
> >A good reference on the topic is:
> >Eckman, K. 1994. Avoiding unsustainability in natural resources projects
> >in developing countries: the precautionary monitoring approach. PhD
> >dissertation. U. of Minnesota.
> >
> >Blair Orr
> > Associate Professor of Forest Economics
> > Coordinator of International Programs
> >mailto:bdorr@mtu.edu
> >ph: (906) 487-2291
> >fax: (906) 487-2915
> >http://forestry.mtu.edu/peacecorps
> >
> >Forestry Ecology and Management
> >Michigan Technological University
> >1400 Townsend Drive
> >Houghton, MI 49931 USA
>
>
>
>
> FYI / FWD
>
> ... illustration:
>
> --- begin forwarded message ---
>
> >From: mailto:remonde@gsilink.com
> >To: mailto:uk-anti-maif@iirc.net
> >Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 15:41:10 +0000
> >Subject: OFF TOPIC: ELF Protest
>
>
> OFF TOPIC: ELF Adventure in the Philippines
>
> Dear friends,
>
> Forgive me for posting this off-topic message on the UK Anti-MAI
> listserve. However, i believe that at least some of you would be
> interested to know what a European - in this case, a French - company
> is going to do in the Philippines in the name of fun and adventure.
>
> The first part contains an overview of the ELF Protest, while the
> latter part contains the specifics of the complaint.
>
> Warm regards,
> Marit
> ------
>
> A CALL TO SAVE SAMAR AND LEYTE'S BIODIVERSITY
> (PHILIPPINES)
>
> The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) together with a coalition
> of local government units (LGUs), officials, non-governmental organizations
> (NGO's) and people's organizations (PO's) protest the conduct of the ELF
> Aquitaine Authentic Adventure competition in the islands of Samar and Leyte.
>
> ELF Aquitaine is a French corporate group engaged in the development,
> marketing, and shipping of petrochemicals as well as mining of ores such as
> nickel and coal in France, North America, Africa and Australia. It has
> also diversified into industrial activities such as pharmaceuticals,
> cosmetics, plastics, energy and data gathering. While ELF sponsors
> automotive and sailing competitions, it has now organized the ELF Authentic
> Adventure.
>
> The ELF Authentic Adventure is envisioned as an expedition and competition
> through unexplored natural environments, independently and continuously for
> 2 weeks. 40 teams of 7 members each are to " hike in the jungle, climb
> mountains, descend rivers, sail on the sea and go deep underground to
> traverse caves." All the while the teams race against one another, cut new
> trails and take shortcuts along the way hoping to be the first to reach the
> finish line.
>
> The first ELF Adventure is planned to take place from the 15th of April
> until the 1st of May 1999. The participants will start in Catarman in
> Northern Samar, pass through the interior of Samar Island, and exit in
> Tacloban Leyte. The 40 teams will be bringing their own equipment and
> supplies and supported by a logistics team, whose number is unlimited.
> Accompanying the teams will be officials, jurors, media people, local
> military and police units, and spectators. All told, an estimated 500 to
> 600 persons are expected to be in the area.
>
> We raise the following concerns:
>
> 1) Impact on Samar and Leyte's Biodiversity
>
> The islands of Samar and Leyte contain the remaining extensive tracts of
> old growth forests in eastern Visayas. Dr. Lawrence R. Heaney reports that
> the old growth forests of Leyte harbor 15 species on native non-flying
> mammals. These include the Philippine Brown Deer, the Philippine Warty Pig
> and the Mindanao Shrew Mouse which are all endemic and in danger due to
> habitat destruction. The old growth and secondary forests of Samar, on the
> other hand represent one of the richest repositories of biodiversity in the
> Philippines. Samar Island has in fact been declared as an Endemic Bird
> Area (EBA) and a Center for Plant Diversity (CPD). Significantly, the
> forests of Samar harbor the Philippine Eagle or Monkey Eating Eagle,
> classified as critical due to habitat destruction and disturbance.
>
> The ELF Adventure will take no less than 500 people through the habitats of
> these vanishing treasures of the Philippine rain forest. Their
> uncontrolled activities will have a significant toll on Samar and Leyte's
> biodiversity. ELF competitors will likewise pass through rivers, caves and
> the coastal areas, all of which support ecosystems which may be irreparably
> harmed.
>
>
> 2) The Absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment
>
> Given the location and the nature of the activities to be conducted in the
> area, the ELF Adventure requires an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
> The EIA should study the ecological, geophysical and socio-economic impacts
> of the preparatory, operational and decommissioning phases of the activity.
> Aside from analyzing the cause and effect relationship between the
> proposed activity and the environment, the EIA should recommend actions to
> mitigate these impacts. This information should be presented in a manner
> that can be easily understood by planners and decision-makers in the area.
>
> The conduct of an EIA is a requirement under Philippine law. Section 4 of
> Presidential Decree No. 1151 provides that all agencies and
> instrumentalities of the national government, including government owned
> and controlled corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and
> entities shall prepare, file and include in every action, project or
> undertaking which significantly affects the quality of the environment, a
> detailed statement on:
>
> (a) the environmental impact of the proposed activity, project or undertaking;
> (b) any adverse environmental effect which cannot be avoided should the
> proposal be implemented;
> (c) alternative to the proposed action;
> (d) a determination that the short term uses of the resources of the
> environment are consistent with the maintenance and enhancement of the long
> term productivity of the same; and
> (e) whenever a proposal involves the use of depletable or non-renewable
> resources, a finding must be made that such use and commitment are warranted.
>
> Section 2 of Presidential Decree No. 1586 reiterates the above requirement
> for the conduct of an environmental impact assessment. Failure to conduct
> an EIA and to secure an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) is a bar
> to the commencement or operation of the project or undertaking.
>
> Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order
> No. 96-37 provides for guidelines and strengthens the implementation of the
> Philippine EIA system. DAO No. 96-37 provides that the EIA system covers
> projects or activities located in environmentally critical areas (ECA's).
> Environmentally critical areas include:
>
> (a) All areas declared by law as national parks, watershed reserves,
> wildlife preserves and sanctuaries.
> (b) Areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots.
> (c) Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened
> species of indigenous Philippine wildlife.
> (d) Areas with critical slopes
>
> Section 1of DENR Administrative Order No. 96-37 explicitly provides that no
> person shall undertake or operate any activity, undertaking or project
> within an ECA without first conducting the appropriate environmental impact
> assessment and securing an environmental compliance certificate.
>
>
> 3) Portions of the Activity will be Conducted in a Protected Area
>
> We note that part of the activity will be held in the interior of Samar
> Island where the Samar Forest Reservation, a declared protected area under
> Philippine law, is located. As such, the activity will also be governed by
> Republic Act No. 7586, the National Integrated Protected Areas System
> (NIPAS) Act.
>
> Section 20 of the NIPAS Act provides that except as may be allowed by the
> nature of their categories and pursuant to rules and regulations governing
> the same, the following acts are prohibited within protected areas:
>
> (a) Hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of any plants or
> animals or products derived therefrom without a permit from the protected
> area management board.
> (b) Dumping of any waste products detrimental to the protected area, or to
> the plants and animals or inhabitants therein.
> (c) Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure fences or enclosures,
> conducting any business enterprise without a permit.
>
> Section 12 of the NIPAS Act further provides that proposals for activities
> which are outside the scope of the management plan for protected areas
> shall be subject to an environmental impact assessment as required by law
> before they are adopted, and the results thereof shall be taken into
> consideration in the decision making process. No actual implementation of
> such activities shall be allowed without the required ECC under the
> Philippine EIA system.
>
>
> 4) Lack of an Ecotourism Management Plan
>
> The ELF Adventure is supposedly an ecotourism activity. As such, the
> activity should be governed by pertinent Philippine laws and policies on
> ecotourism. Joint Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
> and Department of Tourism (DOT) Memorandum Circular No. 98-02, entitled
> "Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the Philippines", defines
> ecotourism in the Philippine context as:
>
> "A low-impact, environmentally-sound and community-participatory tourism
> activity in a given natural environment that enhances the conservation of
> biophysical understanding and education and yields socio0-economic benefits
> to the concerned community."
>
> Section 6 of Joint DENR-DOT Memorandum Circular No. 98-02 provides for
> requirements and procedures for the development and implementation of
> ecotourism projects and activities. Proposals shall be submitted for
> review and evaluation to the National Ecotourism Committee (NEC) or
> Regional Ecotourism Committee (REC). Significantly, Section 6.1 requires
> the submission of, among others, an Initial Environmental Examination or
> and Environmental Impact Assessment. Once the proposal is accepted, the
> proponent shall submit a more detailed Ecotourism Management Plan (EMP).
> Such plan must be complementary with the Protected Area General Management
> Plan, if the site is within a protected area.
>
> The benefits of the ELF adventure being flouted may be considerable, but
> the adverse effects, which inevitably accompany the positive ones, need to
> be addressed by careful planning and effective management. The guiding
> principle for any tourism activity within protected areas is to manage the
> natural and human resources as to maximize visitor enjoyment while
> minimizing negative impacts of tourist activities. This requires an
> objective assessment of potential negative impacts and a thoughtful
> analysis of how this potential can be controlled. An EIA and an ecotourism
> management plan can meet the need for such assessment. Unfortunately, up
> until now, we have not seen a management plan for the activity, much less
> an environmental impact assessment.
>
>
> 5) No Genuine Consultations with Affected Communities
>
> As you may note in the protest letter attached hereto, the activity did not
> undergo genuine consultations with local government units (LGU's), affected
> communities and civil society based in the area. Based on the ELF
> Aquitaine website, the Philippine partners include the Ayala Mountaineers
> Club, Uplift, both NGOs based in Manila, and the Leyte Park Hotel, a hotel
> in Tacloban City. We have no information if the activity is supported by
> or endorsed by other area-based NGOs. We believe that the proponent of the
> ELF Adventure should at least conduct consultations at the local level.
> Better yet, public hearings and dialogues should be held. This would
> enable the proponent to inform the local government units, NGOs and other
> stakeholders of the nature and objectives of the ELF Adventure competition.
> Concurrently, the stakeholders can use such information to arrive at an
> informed decision.
>
> Based on the foregoing, we vigorously protest the proposed ELF Adventure.
> At the same time, we urge that ELF Aquitaine cease all preparatory
> activities pending a resolution of the above concerns, as well as the
> concerns of the Samar local government units and civil society. If ELF
> Aquitaine respects the environment, such respect should begin with
> adherence to Philippine environmental laws and the conduct of a genuine
> dialogue with all affected sectors. If ELF Aquitaine values ecological
> balance then it should place a premium on an objective assessment of the
> environmental impacts of the proposed activity and a sound environmental
> management plan. If ELF Aquitaine wants to promote genuine ecotourism, its
> should conform with Philippine ecotourism concepts and guidelines and
> conduct its activities in a low-impact, environmentally sound and
> community-participatory manner.
>
> The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), together with various
> local government units, non-governmental organizations, educational
> institutions, call on your good office to help us resolve this matter
> before it escalates. We urge you to respect our environmental laws, conduct
> dialogues with all affected sectors, value ecological balance, and promote
> genuine ecotourism. While the Filipino is known for his hospitality and
> friendliness, we do not take kindly to disrespect, and while we are known
> to be non-confrontational, we are not afraid to institute the appropriate
> legal actions and initiate advocacy campaigns in defense of the
environment > of the islands of Samar and Leyte.
>
>
> Atty. Jose Andres A. Canivel
> Visayas Coordinator
> Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC)
>
> Margarita de la Cruz
> Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. (GDFI)
> Guiuan, Eastern Samar
>
> Rosario N. Cabardo
> Executive Director
> Tandaya Foundation
>
> Mr. Efren C. Piczon
> Programme Director
> Western Samar Agricultural Resources Development Program
>
> Mayor Melchor F. Nacario
> Mayor, Municipality of Calbiga
> President, Mayor's League of Samar
>
> Rev. Fr. Cesar Aculan
> Director CARITAS
>
> Rev. Fr. Niceas Abejuela
> Multisectoral Forest Protection Committee
> Province of Samar
>
>
> Fellow environmental advocates,
>
> We ask for your help in preserving the precious biodiversity in Samar and
> Leyte. You can help us by signing you name above and/or by forwarding this
> letter to people or organizations that may be of assistance.
> Please send this message back to ELAC (<mailto:elaccebu@i-cebu.com.ph>) so that we
> can include your name in the letter we will send to ELF Aquitaine.
> You may also write to ELF, through their communications division email
> address:< mailto:marie-domitille.faron@elf-p.fr>
>
> Thank you very much.
>
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