Retired sections:
Biological diversity and tourism: draft guidelines for activities
related to sustainable tourism development and biological diversity
and case-studies on the implementation of the guidelines
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
having endorsed
the revised guidelines contained in the annex to the present recommendation,
recommends
that the Conference of the Parties:
1.
Adopts
the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development annexed to the
present note;
2.
Recognizing
that sustainable tourism can provide significant benefits to biodiversity
conservation,
note
s that the Guidelines are voluntary and represent a range of opportunities
for local, regional, national governments, indigenous and local communities
and other stakeholders to manage tourism activities in an ecological,
economic and socially sustainable manner;
3.
Recognizing
that these international guidelines have a broad application and audience,
request
the Executive Secretary, in order to increase clarity and facilitate the
detailed understanding of the guidelines and the implementation by Parties
and to identify and address specific stakeholders, to:
(a) Develop a user's manual, checklists and on the basis of experience
gained produce and make available a streamlined and user-friendly
core set of voluntary guidelines;
(b) Prepare a glossary and definitions of terms used in the Guidelines;
(c) Promote the use of the clearing-house mechanism to collect and
disseminate information on:
(i) Specific case-studies on the implementation of the Guidelines
that make clearer reference to the use and application of specific
analytical management tools; and
(ii) Best practices, lessons learned and case-studies on the involvement
of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles
in sustainable-tourism and ecotourism activities and projects;
4.
Invites
Parties, the Governments and relevant organizations to implement pilot
projects, also through public-private partnerships as outlined in the
World Summit on Sustainable Development, to test the applicability of
the Guidelines, understand their practical implications and provide feedback
on their effectiveness (e.g. through the clearing-house mechanism);
5.
Encourages
Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to establish monitoring
and reporting systems based on relevant indicators to assess the applicability
and status of implementation of the Guidelines;
6.
Invites
Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to provide indigenous
and local communities with capacity-building and financial resources to
ensure their active participation in all the stages of the policy-making,
development planning, product development and management indicated by
the Guidelines and
invites
non-governmental organizations to continue and increase their involvement
in fostering effective policy-making for sustainable tourism development;
7. In light of the collaboration between the Convention on Biological
Diversity, the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
invites
the World Tourism Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank,
World Trade Organization, regional development banks and other relevant
international organizations, to:
(a) Take these Guidelines into account in undertaking their activities;
(b) Provide technical and financial assistance in the implementation
of the Guidelines and pay due regard to the Guidelines when preparing,
approving and funding tourism development projects having potential implications
on biological diversity, as also recommended in the report of the Workshop
on Tourism and Biodiversity, held in Santo Domingo in June 2001. To this
end, recommends that the Conference of the Parties forward the endorsed
guidelines to financing agencies, regional development banks and developers;
8.
Invites
all Governments to integrate these Guidelines in the development or review
of their strategies and plans for tourism development, national biodiversity
strategies and action plans, and other related sectoral strategies, at
appropriate levels in consultation with interested stakeholders including
tourism operators;
9.
Calls for
additional efforts to increase awareness and training
on the Guidelines and their applicability among the tourism sector and
other stakeholders.
Annex
(DRAFT) GUIDELINES ON BIODIVERSITY AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
(Draft) international guidelines for activities related to sustainable
tourism development in vulnerable terrestrial, marine and coastal
ecosystems and habitats of major importance for biological diversity
and protected areas, including fragile riparian and mountain ecosystems
A. Scope
2. The Guidelines are voluntary and represent a range of opportunities
for local, regional, national governments, indigenous and local communities
and other stakeholders to manage tourism activities in an ecological,
economic and socially sustainable manner.
3. The present Guidelines will assist Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity, public authorities and stakeholders at all levels, to apply
the provisions of the Convention to the sustainable development and management
of tourism policies, strategies, projects and activities. They will provide
technical guidance to policy makers, decision makers and managers with
responsibilities covering tourism and/or biodiversity, whether in national
or local government, the private sector, indigenous and local communities,
8
/ non-governmental organizations or other organizations, on a process
for working together with key stakeholders involved in tourism and biodiversity.
4. The Guidelines cover all forms and activities of tourism. These activities
should be consistent with the principles of conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity. These include, but are not limited to, conventional
mass tourism, ecotourism, nature- and culture-based tourism, heritage
tourism, cruise tourism, leisure and sports tourism. Although the primary
focus of the Guidelines is vulnerable ecosystems and habitats, they are
also appropriate for tourism and biological diversity in all geographical
locations and tourist destinations. Furthermore the Guidelines recognize
the need for collaboration between originating and receiving countries
and should be used to address situations of conflict between local interests
and national, regional and international policies.
B. The policy-making, development planning and management process
5. The main elements considered in developing the Guidelines are:
(a) Framework for management of tourism and biodiversity;
(b) Notification process in relation to such a management framework;
(c) Public education, capacity-building and awareness-raising concerning
tourism and biodiversity.
6. Policy-making, development planning and the management process need
to be undertaken through a multi-stakeholder process. Governments will
normally coordinate this process at national level. This process may also
be undertaken at more local levels by local government, and should ensure
strong involvement of indigenous and local communities throughout the
management and decision-making process. In addition, those responsible
for tourism development and activities are encouraged to consult with
and involve all relevant stakeholders, and especially those who are or
may be affected by such developments and activities. The process applies
to both new tourism development and the management of the existing tourism
operations.
Institutions
7. In order to ensure coordination between the levels of decision-making
in government departments and agencies concerned with management of biological
diversity and tourism, inter- and intra-departmental and inter-organizational
structures and processes should be established, if they do not already
exist, to guide policy development and implementation.
8. There is a need to improve awareness and exchange of knowledge between
those responsible for and affected by tourism and nature conservation
at a national, subnational and local level. In addition, national biodiversity
strategies and action plans should include consideration of tourism issues,
and tourism plans should likewise include full consideration of biodiversity
issues. Existing documents, strategies and plans should be coherent or
revised and amended to that effect as applicable.
9. A consultative process should be established to ensure ongoing and
effective dialogue and information-sharing with stakeholders, as well
as to resolve conflicts that might arise in relation to tourism and biological
diversity and build consensus. To assist in this process, a multi-stakeholder
body should be established including government departments, the tourism
sector, non-governmental organizations, indigenous and local communities
and other stakeholders, to ensure their engagement and full participation
in the whole process, and encourage the establishment of partnerships.
10. The institutional arrangements should provide for the comprehensive
involvement of stakeholders in the management process described in these
Guidelines.
11. Authorities and managers of protected areas have a special role for
the management of tourism and biodiversity. To this end, there is a need
for government support and resources for managers, including training
to perform their role effectively. In addition, it is necessary to establish
and review mechanisms and funding policies to ensure the availability
of adequate resources for maintaining biodiversity and promoting sustainable
tourism. International institutions and development agencies should be
involved as appropriate.
12. To be sustainable, tourism development in any destination requires
coordinated policy-making, development planning and management. The policy-making,
development planning and management process comprises the following steps:
(a) Baseline information and review;
(b) Vision and goals;
(c) Objectives;
(d) Review of legislation and control measures;
(e) Impact assessment;
(f) Impact management and mitigation;
(g) Decision making;
(h) Implementation;
(i) Monitoring and reporting;
(j) Adaptive management.
1. Baseline information
13. Baseline information is necessary to enable informed decisions to
be taken on any issue. A minimum of baseline information is needed to
enable impact assessment and decision-making and it is recommended that
its compilation follow the ecosystem approach.
14. For tourism and biodiversity, the baseline information should include
information, as appropriate, on:
(a) Current economic, social and environmental conditions at national
and local level, including current and planned tourism development
and activities and their overall positive and negative impacts, as
well as development and activities in other sectors;
(b) Structure and trends within the tourism sector, tourism policy
and tourism markets and trends, at national, regional and international
level, including information based on market research as necessary;
(c) Environmental and biodiversity resources and processes, including
any special features and sites of particular importance and protected
areas, and identifying those resources that may be off bounds to development
due to their particular fragility and those resources identified by
existing analysis of threats;
(d) Culturally sensitive areas;
(e) Benefits from, and costs of, tourism to indigenous and local
communities;
(f) Information on damage done to the environment in the past;
(g) National biodiversity strategies, action plans and reports and
other sectoral plans and policies relevant for tourism development
and biodiversity;
(h) National, subnational and local sustainable-development plans.
15. Baseline information should take into consideration all sources of
knowledge. The adequacy of the baseline information available will need
to be reviewed, and where necessary, further research and information-gathering
can be undertaken to fill gaps that may be identified.
16. All stakeholders may contribute relevant information to this process,
including indigenous and local communities. To this end, there is a need
for capacity-building and training to assist stakeholders in documenting,
accessing, analysing and interpreting baseline information.
17. Collation and synthesis of information provided will need to be undertaken
by an appropriately qualified team, drawing on a range of expertise, including
expertise in tourism and in biodiversity issues, and in traditional knowledge
and innovation systems.
18. In order to ensure that all relevant information, its credibility
and reliability, are considered, all stakeholders should be involved in
review of the collated baseline information available, and in the synthesis
of this information.
19. Baseline information should include maps, geographical information
systems and other visual tools, including already identified zoning schemes.
20. The baseline information-gathering and review process should make
full use of the clearing-house mechanism under the Convention on Biological
Diversity, as well as other relevant networks such as the World Network
of Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites and Ramsar sites.
21. Requirements for site-specific information in relation to proposals
for tourism development and activities at particular locations are set
out in the notification process, and its compilation should follow the
ecosystem approach. To enable impact assessment and decision making, the
basic information required includes:
(a)
Site-specific aspects
:
(i) The various laws and regulations and plans that may be applicable
to the specific site, including overviews of:
a. Existing laws at local, subnational and national levels;
b. Existing uses, customs and traditions;
c. Relevant regional and international conventions or agreements
and their status, and cross-boundary agreements or memoranda
of understanding (MoUs);
(ii) Identification of various stakeholders involved in or potentially
affected by the proposed project - including stakeholders in governmental,
non-governmental, and private sectors (particularly those from
the tourism sector), and indigenous and local communities - along
with details concerning their participation in and/or consultation
on the proposed project during its design, planning, construction
and operation;
(b)
Ecological aspects
:
(iii) Detailed indication of the protected and biodiversity significant
areas;
(iv) Specifications on the ecosystems, habitats, species;
(v) Quantitative and qualitative information on the loss of habitats
and species (main reasons, trends);
(vi) Indexing of species;
(vii) Identified threats;
(viii) Existing zones, ecological zones and existing tourism zones
within the ecological zones;
(ix) Ecologically sensitive zones and zones where ecological disasters
have or will most likely take place;
(c)
Development aspects
:
(x) Summary of the proposed project, why and by whom it is proposed,
estimated outcomes and possible impacts (including impacts on
the surrounding areas and transboundary impacts), and quantitative
and qualitative data on these aspects;
(xi) Description of the stages of development and the various
structures and stakeholders that may be involved at each stage;
(xii) Description of current land-uses, infrastructures, tourism
facilities and services and their interaction with proposed operations.
2. Vision and goals
Vision
22. An overall vision for sustainable tourism development in harmony
with the goals and objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity
and other related conventions, such as the World Heritage Convention,
is important for the effective management of tourism and biodiversity,
and for ensuring that this also contributes to income generation and poverty
reduction and a reduction of threats to biodiversity. The vision developed
at the local level, while reflecting local priorities and realities, should
take into account, as appropriate, national and regional tourism development
strategies, policies and plans for economic and social development and
for land-use, as well as the baseline information and review. It should
be based on a multi-stakeholder process including indigenous and local
communities that are or may be affected by tourism development.
Goals
23. The main goals are established to maximize the positive benefits
of tourism to biodiversity, ecosystems, and economic and social development,
and of biodiversity to tourism, while minimizing negative social and environmental
impacts from tourism, and can cover,
inter alia
:
(a) Maintenance of the structure and functioning of ecosystems;
(b) Sustainable tourism compatible with biodiversity conservation
and sustainable use;
(c) Fair and equitable sharing of benefits of tourism activities,
with emphasis on the specific needs of the indigenous and local communities
concerned;
(d) Integration and interrelation with other plans, developments
or activities in the same area;
(e) Information and capacity-building;
(f) Poverty reduction
,
through the generation of sufficient revenues and employment to effectively
reduce threats to biodiversity in indigenous and local communities;
(g) Protection of indigenous livelihoods, resources and of access
to those resources;
(h) Diversification of economic activities beyond tourism to reduce
dependency on tourism;
(i) Prevention of any lasting damage to biological diversity, ecosystems,
and natural resources, and of social and cultural damage, and restoration
of past damage;
(j) Ensuring the effective participation and involvement of representatives
of indigenous and local communities in all aspects of the development,
operation and monitoring of tourism activities;
(k) Zoning and control of tourism developments and activities, including
licensing and overall targets for and limits to the scale of tourism,
to provide a range of activities for user groups that meet overall
visions and goals;
(l) Empowerment through participation in decision-making;
(m) Access by indigenous and local communities to infrastructure,
transport, communications and healthcare provisions laid on for tourists;
(n) Increased safety for indigenous local communities
;
(o) Increased social pride;
(p) Control of tourism development and activities including licensing
and clear indication on the limits to the scale and type of tourism
development.
24. In relation to sharing of benefits arising from tourism and the conservation
of biodiversity with indigenous and local communities, it should be noted
that benefits may take various forms, including: job creation, fostering
local enterprises, participation in tourism enterprises and projects,
education, direct investment opportunities, economic linkages and ecological
services. Appropriate mechanisms need to be established/ evolved to capture
the benefits.
25. The vision and goals will form the basis of national strategies or
master plans for sustainable development of tourism in relation to biodiversity.
Such plans should also incorporate consideration of biodiversity strategies
and plans. In addition, biodiversity strategies and plans should include
consideration of tourism issues.
26. Governments will normally coordinate this process at national level.
This process may also be undertaken at more local levels by local government,
and by communities at community level. Where local and community level
vision and goals for tourism and biodiversity have been set, these may
be taken into account by governments when preparing the national level
vision and goals, for example through workshops at the local level.
3. Objectives
27. The objectives focus on actions to implement specific elements of
the overall vision and goals, and may include clear activities and the
time by which these will be achieved. Objectives should be performance-based
(e.g., construction of an interpretative trail to aid development of local
guide services) and process-based (e.g., establishment of an operational
management system for tourism and biodiversity). As with the vision and
goals, it is important to involve and consult with all relevant stakeholders,
and especially the tourism industry and indigenous and local communities
that are or may be affected by tourism development, in the process for
setting objectives.
28. Objectives should be specific and should include specific areas identified
in clearly delineated zones listing the types of activities and infrastructure
that would be acceptable and should be developed. It should also outline
the impact management measures that would be appropriate, and intended
markets (with greater detail, as set out in the notification process,
being required for proposals for tourism development or activities at
specific locations).
29. Governments may also wish to consider:
(a) Measures to ensure that sites designated at international level,
such as Ramsar or World Heritage sites or Biosphere Reserves, are
accorded appropriate legal recognition and government assistance at
the national level;
(b) Establishing reserves based on the biosphere reserve concept
and incorporating sustainable-development objectives, generating income
and employment opportunities for indigenous and local communities,
and promoting appropriate product development;
(c) Measures to ensure that sites, at the national level, such as
national parks, reserves and marine conservation areas are accorded
appropriate legal recognition, have management plans and are provided
necessary government support;
(d) Strengthening the protected area network and encouraging the
role of protected areas as key locations for good practices in the
management of sustainable tourism and biodiversity, taking into account
the full range of protected area categories;
(e) Use of economic policy tools to encourage the channelling of
part of total tourism revenues towards supporting the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity, such as conservation of protected
areas, education, research programmes, or local community development;
(f) Encouraging all stakeholders, as well as the private sector,
to actively support the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable
use of its components.
30. Governments will normally coordinate this process at national level.
This process may also be undertaken at more local levels by local government,
and by communities at community level. Where local- and community-level
objectives for tourism and biodiversity have been set, these may be taken
into account by governments when preparing national level objectives.
4. Legislation and control measures
31. Respect for existing national legislation and appropriate regulatory
mechanisms and tools, such as land-use planning, protected area management
plans, environmental assessment, building regulations and standards for
sustainable tourism, are essential for the effective implementation of
any overall vision, goals, and objectives. A review of legislation and
control measures could consider, as appropriate, the legislation and control
measures available for implementation of the overall vision, goals and
objectives for tourism and biodiversity, their effectiveness, including
enforcement, and any gaps that may need to be addressed for example, by
revision of-or the development of additional-legislation and control measures.
32. The review of legislation and control measures could include,
inter alia
, assessment of the effectiveness of any provisions for resource management,
access, and/or ownership by communities, especially indigenous and local
communities that are traditional use areas for their livelihoods and cultural
purposes; addressing existing collective rights of indigenous and local
communities; and for enabling these groups to make decisions about tourism
development and activities, amongst other forms of development and activities,
in these areas.
33. Legislation and control measures considered could include measures
for:
(a) Effective enforcement of existing laws, including the participation
of all stakeholders;
(b) Approval and licensing processes for tourism development and
activities;
(c) Controlling the planning, siting, design and construction of
tourism facilities and infrastructures;
(d) Management of tourism in relation to biodiversity and ecosystems,
including vulnerable areas;
(e) Application of environmental assessment, including assessment
of cumulative impacts and effects on biodiversity, to all proposed
tourism developments, and as a tool to develop policies and measure
their impacts;
(f) Setting national standards and/or criteria for tourism that are
consistent with overall national or regional plans for sustainable
development and national biodiversity strategies and action plans:
(a) Integrated land-use management;
(b) Ensuring inter-linkages between tourism and cross-cutting issues,
including agricultural development, coastal zone management, water
resources, etc.;
(c) Mechanisms to resolve any inconsistencies between policy objectives
and/or legislation in a manner that takes into account the interests
of all stakeholders;
(d) Application of econo
Biological diversity and tourism: draft guidelines for activities
related to sustainable tourism development and biological diversity
and case-studies on the implementation of the guidelines
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
having endorsed
the revised guidelines contained in the annex to the present recommendation,
recommends
that the Conference of the Parties:
1.
Adopts
the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development annexed to the
present note;
2.
Recognizing
that sustainable tourism can provide significant benefits to biodiversity
conservation,
note
s that the Guidelines are voluntary and represent a range of opportunities
for local, regional, national governments, indigenous and local communities
and other stakeholders to manage tourism activities in an ecological,
economic and socially sustainable manner;
3.
Recognizing
that these international guidelines have a broad application and audience,
request
the Executive Secretary, in order to increase clarity and facilitate the
detailed understanding of the guidelines and the implementation by Parties
and to identify and address specific stakeholders, to:
(a) Develop a user's manual, checklists and on the basis of experience
gained produce and make available a streamlined and user-friendly
core set of voluntary guidelines;
(b) Prepare a glossary and definitions of terms used in the Guidelines;
(c) Promote the use of the clearing-house mechanism to collect and
disseminate information on:
(i) Specific case-studies on the implementation of the Guidelines
that make clearer reference to the use and application of specific
analytical management tools; and
(ii) Best practices, lessons learned and case-studies on the involvement
of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles
in sustainable-tourism and ecotourism activities and projects;
4.
Invites
Parties, the Governments and relevant organizations to implement pilot
projects, also through public-private partnerships as outlined in the
World Summit on Sustainable Development, to test the applicability of
the Guidelines, understand their practical implications and provide feedback
on their effectiveness (e.g. through the clearing-house mechanism);
5.
Encourages
Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to establish monitoring
and reporting systems based on relevant indicators to assess the applicability
and status of implementation of the Guidelines;
6.
Invites
Parties, Governments and relevant organizations to provide indigenous
and local communities with capacity-building and financial resources to
ensure their active participation in all the stages of the policy-making,
development planning, product development and management indicated by
the Guidelines and
invites
non-governmental organizations to continue and increase their involvement
in fostering effective policy-making for sustainable tourism development;
7. In light of the collaboration between the Convention on Biological
Diversity, the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
invites
the World Tourism Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank,
World Trade Organization, regional development banks and other relevant
international organizations, to:
(a) Take these Guidelines into account in undertaking their activities;
(b) Provide technical and financial assistance in the implementation
of the Guidelines and pay due regard to the Guidelines when preparing,
approving and funding tourism development projects having potential implications
on biological diversity, as also recommended in the report of the Workshop
on Tourism and Biodiversity, held in Santo Domingo in June 2001. To this
end, recommends that the Conference of the Parties forward the endorsed
guidelines to financing agencies, regional development banks and developers;
8.
Invites
all Governments to integrate these Guidelines in the development or review
of their strategies and plans for tourism development, national biodiversity
strategies and action plans, and other related sectoral strategies, at
appropriate levels in consultation with interested stakeholders including
tourism operators;
9.
Calls for
additional efforts to increase awareness and training
on the Guidelines and their applicability among the tourism sector and
other stakeholders.
Annex
(DRAFT) GUIDELINES ON BIODIVERSITY AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
(Draft) international guidelines for activities related to sustainable
tourism development in vulnerable terrestrial, marine and coastal
ecosystems and habitats of major importance for biological diversity
and protected areas, including fragile riparian and mountain ecosystems
A. Scope
2. The Guidelines are voluntary and represent a range of opportunities
for local, regional, national governments, indigenous and local communities
and other stakeholders to manage tourism activities in an ecological,
economic and socially sustainable manner.
3. The present Guidelines will assist Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity, public authorities and stakeholders at all levels, to apply
the provisions of the Convention to the sustainable development and management
of tourism policies, strategies, projects and activities. They will provide
technical guidance to policy makers, decision makers and managers with
responsibilities covering tourism and/or biodiversity, whether in national
or local government, the private sector, indigenous and local communities,
8
/ non-governmental organizations or other organizations, on a process
for working together with key stakeholders involved in tourism and biodiversity.
4. The Guidelines cover all forms and activities of tourism. These activities
should be consistent with the principles of conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity. These include, but are not limited to, conventional
mass tourism, ecotourism, nature- and culture-based tourism, heritage
tourism, cruise tourism, leisure and sports tourism. Although the primary
focus of the Guidelines is vulnerable ecosystems and habitats, they are
also appropriate for tourism and biological diversity in all geographical
locations and tourist destinations. Furthermore the Guidelines recognize
the need for collaboration between originating and receiving countries
and should be used to address situations of conflict between local interests
and national, regional and international policies.
B. The policy-making, development planning and management process
5. The main elements considered in developing the Guidelines are:
(a) Framework for management of tourism and biodiversity;
(b) Notification process in relation to such a management framework;
(c) Public education, capacity-building and awareness-raising concerning
tourism and biodiversity.
6. Policy-making, development planning and the management process need
to be undertaken through a multi-stakeholder process. Governments will
normally coordinate this process at national level. This process may also
be undertaken at more local levels by local government, and should ensure
strong involvement of indigenous and local communities throughout the
management and decision-making process. In addition, those responsible
for tourism development and activities are encouraged to consult with
and involve all relevant stakeholders, and especially those who are or
may be affected by such developments and activities. The process applies
to both new tourism development and the management of the existing tourism
operations.
Institutions
7. In order to ensure coordination between the levels of decision-making
in government departments and agencies concerned with management of biological
diversity and tourism, inter- and intra-departmental and inter-organizational
structures and processes should be established, if they do not already
exist, to guide policy development and implementation.
8. There is a need to improve awareness and exchange of knowledge between
those responsible for and affected by tourism and nature conservation
at a national, subnational and local level. In addition, national biodiversity
strategies and action plans should include consideration of tourism issues,
and tourism plans should likewise include full consideration of biodiversity
issues. Existing documents, strategies and plans should be coherent or
revised and amended to that effect as applicable.
9. A consultative process should be established to ensure ongoing and
effective dialogue and information-sharing with stakeholders, as well
as to resolve conflicts that might arise in relation to tourism and biological
diversity and build consensus. To assist in this process, a multi-stakeholder
body should be established including government departments, the tourism
sector, non-governmental organizations, indigenous and local communities
and other stakeholders, to ensure their engagement and full participation
in the whole process, and encourage the establishment of partnerships.
10. The institutional arrangements should provide for the comprehensive
involvement of stakeholders in the management process described in these
Guidelines.
11. Authorities and managers of protected areas have a special role for
the management of tourism and biodiversity. To this end, there is a need
for government support and resources for managers, including training
to perform their role effectively. In addition, it is necessary to establish
and review mechanisms and funding policies to ensure the availability
of adequate resources for maintaining biodiversity and promoting sustainable
tourism. International institutions and development agencies should be
involved as appropriate.
12. To be sustainable, tourism development in any destination requires
coordinated policy-making, development planning and management. The policy-making,
development planning and management process comprises the following steps:
(a) Baseline information and review;
(b) Vision and goals;
(c) Objectives;
(d) Review of legislation and control measures;
(e) Impact assessment;
(f) Impact management and mitigation;
(g) Decision making;
(h) Implementation;
(i) Monitoring and reporting;
(j) Adaptive management.
1. Baseline information
13. Baseline information is necessary to enable informed decisions to
be taken on any issue. A minimum of baseline information is needed to
enable impact assessment and decision-making and it is recommended that
its compilation follow the ecosystem approach.
14. For tourism and biodiversity, the baseline information should include
information, as appropriate, on:
(a) Current economic, social and environmental conditions at national
and local level, including current and planned tourism development
and activities and their overall positive and negative impacts, as
well as development and activities in other sectors;
(b) Structure and trends within the tourism sector, tourism policy
and tourism markets and trends, at national, regional and international
level, including information based on market research as necessary;
(c) Environmental and biodiversity resources and processes, including
any special features and sites of particular importance and protected
areas, and identifying those resources that may be off bounds to development
due to their particular fragility and those resources identified by
existing analysis of threats;
(d) Culturally sensitive areas;
(e) Benefits from, and costs of, tourism to indigenous and local
communities;
(f) Information on damage done to the environment in the past;
(g) National biodiversity strategies, action plans and reports and
other sectoral plans and policies relevant for tourism development
and biodiversity;
(h) National, subnational and local sustainable-development plans.
15. Baseline information should take into consideration all sources of
knowledge. The adequacy of the baseline information available will need
to be reviewed, and where necessary, further research and information-gathering
can be undertaken to fill gaps that may be identified.
16. All stakeholders may contribute relevant information to this process,
including indigenous and local communities. To this end, there is a need
for capacity-building and training to assist stakeholders in documenting,
accessing, analysing and interpreting baseline information.
17. Collation and synthesis of information provided will need to be undertaken
by an appropriately qualified team, drawing on a range of expertise, including
expertise in tourism and in biodiversity issues, and in traditional knowledge
and innovation systems.
18. In order to ensure that all relevant information, its credibility
and reliability, are considered, all stakeholders should be involved in
review of the collated baseline information available, and in the synthesis
of this information.
19. Baseline information should include maps, geographical information
systems and other visual tools, including already identified zoning schemes.
20. The baseline information-gathering and review process should make
full use of the clearing-house mechanism under the Convention on Biological
Diversity, as well as other relevant networks such as the World Network
of Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites and Ramsar sites.
21. Requirements for site-specific information in relation to proposals
for tourism development and activities at particular locations are set
out in the notification process, and its compilation should follow the
ecosystem approach. To enable impact assessment and decision making, the
basic information required includes:
(a)
Site-specific aspects
:
(i) The various laws and regulations and plans that may be applicable
to the specific site, including overviews of:
a. Existing laws at local, subnational and national levels;
b. Existing uses, customs and traditions;
c. Relevant regional and international conventions or agreements
and their status, and cross-boundary agreements or memoranda
of understanding (MoUs);
(ii) Identification of various stakeholders involved in or potentially
affected by the proposed project - including stakeholders in governmental,
non-governmental, and private sectors (particularly those from
the tourism sector), and indigenous and local communities - along
with details concerning their participation in and/or consultation
on the proposed project during its design, planning, construction
and operation;
(b)
Ecological aspects
:
(iii) Detailed indication of the protected and biodiversity significant
areas;
(iv) Specifications on the ecosystems, habitats, species;
(v) Quantitative and qualitative information on the loss of habitats
and species (main reasons, trends);
(vi) Indexing of species;
(vii) Identified threats;
(viii) Existing zones, ecological zones and existing tourism zones
within the ecological zones;
(ix) Ecologically sensitive zones and zones where ecological disasters
have or will most likely take place;
(c)
Development aspects
:
(x) Summary of the proposed project, why and by whom it is proposed,
estimated outcomes and possible impacts (including impacts on
the surrounding areas and transboundary impacts), and quantitative
and qualitative data on these aspects;
(xi) Description of the stages of development and the various
structures and stakeholders that may be involved at each stage;
(xii) Description of current land-uses, infrastructures, tourism
facilities and services and their interaction with proposed operations.
2. Vision and goals
Vision
22. An overall vision for sustainable tourism development in harmony
with the goals and objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity
and other related conventions, such as the World Heritage Convention,
is important for the effective management of tourism and biodiversity,
and for ensuring that this also contributes to income generation and poverty
reduction and a reduction of threats to biodiversity. The vision developed
at the local level, while reflecting local priorities and realities, should
take into account, as appropriate, national and regional tourism development
strategies, policies and plans for economic and social development and
for land-use, as well as the baseline information and review. It should
be based on a multi-stakeholder process including indigenous and local
communities that are or may be affected by tourism development.
Goals
23. The main goals are established to maximize the positive benefits
of tourism to biodiversity, ecosystems, and economic and social development,
and of biodiversity to tourism, while minimizing negative social and environmental
impacts from tourism, and can cover,
inter alia
:
(a) Maintenance of the structure and functioning of ecosystems;
(b) Sustainable tourism compatible with biodiversity conservation
and sustainable use;
(c) Fair and equitable sharing of benefits of tourism activities,
with emphasis on the specific needs of the indigenous and local communities
concerned;
(d) Integration and interrelation with other plans, developments
or activities in the same area;
(e) Information and capacity-building;
(f) Poverty reduction
,
through the generation of sufficient revenues and employment to effectively
reduce threats to biodiversity in indigenous and local communities;
(g) Protection of indigenous livelihoods, resources and of access
to those resources;
(h) Diversification of economic activities beyond tourism to reduce
dependency on tourism;
(i) Prevention of any lasting damage to biological diversity, ecosystems,
and natural resources, and of social and cultural damage, and restoration
of past damage;
(j) Ensuring the effective participation and involvement of representatives
of indigenous and local communities in all aspects of the development,
operation and monitoring of tourism activities;
(k) Zoning and control of tourism developments and activities, including
licensing and overall targets for and limits to the scale of tourism,
to provide a range of activities for user groups that meet overall
visions and goals;
(l) Empowerment through participation in decision-making;
(m) Access by indigenous and local communities to infrastructure,
transport, communications and healthcare provisions laid on for tourists;
(n) Increased safety for indigenous local communities
;
(o) Increased social pride;
(p) Control of tourism development and activities including licensing
and clear indication on the limits to the scale and type of tourism
development.
24. In relation to sharing of benefits arising from tourism and the conservation
of biodiversity with indigenous and local communities, it should be noted
that benefits may take various forms, including: job creation, fostering
local enterprises, participation in tourism enterprises and projects,
education, direct investment opportunities, economic linkages and ecological
services. Appropriate mechanisms need to be established/ evolved to capture
the benefits.
25. The vision and goals will form the basis of national strategies or
master plans for sustainable development of tourism in relation to biodiversity.
Such plans should also incorporate consideration of biodiversity strategies
and plans. In addition, biodiversity strategies and plans should include
consideration of tourism issues.
26. Governments will normally coordinate this process at national level.
This process may also be undertaken at more local levels by local government,
and by communities at community level. Where local and community level
vision and goals for tourism and biodiversity have been set, these may
be taken into account by governments when preparing the national level
vision and goals, for example through workshops at the local level.
3. Objectives
27. The objectives focus on actions to implement specific elements of
the overall vision and goals, and may include clear activities and the
time by which these will be achieved. Objectives should be performance-based
(e.g., construction of an interpretative trail to aid development of local
guide services) and process-based (e.g., establishment of an operational
management system for tourism and biodiversity). As with the vision and
goals, it is important to involve and consult with all relevant stakeholders,
and especially the tourism industry and indigenous and local communities
that are or may be affected by tourism development, in the process for
setting objectives.
28. Objectives should be specific and should include specific areas identified
in clearly delineated zones listing the types of activities and infrastructure
that would be acceptable and should be developed. It should also outline
the impact management measures that would be appropriate, and intended
markets (with greater detail, as set out in the notification process,
being required for proposals for tourism development or activities at
specific locations).
29. Governments may also wish to consider:
(a) Measures to ensure that sites designated at international level,
such as Ramsar or World Heritage sites or Biosphere Reserves, are
accorded appropriate legal recognition and government assistance at
the national level;
(b) Establishing reserves based on the biosphere reserve concept
and incorporating sustainable-development objectives, generating income
and employment opportunities for indigenous and local communities,
and promoting appropriate product development;
(c) Measures to ensure that sites, at the national level, such as
national parks, reserves and marine conservation areas are accorded
appropriate legal recognition, have management plans and are provided
necessary government support;
(d) Strengthening the protected area network and encouraging the
role of protected areas as key locations for good practices in the
management of sustainable tourism and biodiversity, taking into account
the full range of protected area categories;
(e) Use of economic policy tools to encourage the channelling of
part of total tourism revenues towards supporting the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity, such as conservation of protected
areas, education, research programmes, or local community development;
(f) Encouraging all stakeholders, as well as the private sector,
to actively support the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable
use of its components.
30. Governments will normally coordinate this process at national level.
This process may also be undertaken at more local levels by local government,
and by communities at community level. Where local- and community-level
objectives for tourism and biodiversity have been set, these may be taken
into account by governments when preparing national level objectives.
4. Legislation and control measures
31. Respect for existing national legislation and appropriate regulatory
mechanisms and tools, such as land-use planning, protected area management
plans, environmental assessment, building regulations and standards for
sustainable tourism, are essential for the effective implementation of
any overall vision, goals, and objectives. A review of legislation and
control measures could consider, as appropriate, the legislation and control
measures available for implementation of the overall vision, goals and
objectives for tourism and biodiversity, their effectiveness, including
enforcement, and any gaps that may need to be addressed for example, by
revision of-or the development of additional-legislation and control measures.
32. The review of legislation and control measures could include,
inter alia
, assessment of the effectiveness of any provisions for resource management,
access, and/or ownership by communities, especially indigenous and local
communities that are traditional use areas for their livelihoods and cultural
purposes; addressing existing collective rights of indigenous and local
communities; and for enabling these groups to make decisions about tourism
development and activities, amongst other forms of development and activities,
in these areas.
33. Legislation and control measures considered could include measures
for:
(a) Effective enforcement of existing laws, including the participation
of all stakeholders;
(b) Approval and licensing processes for tourism development and
activities;
(c) Controlling the planning, siting, design and construction of
tourism facilities and infrastructures;
(d) Management of tourism in relation to biodiversity and ecosystems,
including vulnerable areas;
(e) Application of environmental assessment, including assessment
of cumulative impacts and effects on biodiversity, to all proposed
tourism developments, and as a tool to develop policies and measure
their impacts;
(f) Setting national standards and/or criteria for tourism that are
consistent with overall national or regional plans for sustainable
development and national biodiversity strategies and action plans:
(a) Integrated land-use management;
(b) Ensuring inter-linkages between tourism and cross-cutting issues,
including agricultural development, coastal zone management, water
resources, etc.;
(c) Mechanisms to resolve any inconsistencies between policy objectives
and/or legislation in a manner that takes into account the interests
of all stakeholders;
(d) Application of economic instruments, including tiered user fees,
bonds, taxes or levies, for the management of tourism and biodiversity;
(e) Creating incentives for sustainable tourism development in line
with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity and
Agenda 21 through relevant economic mechanisms;
(f) Supporting private sector voluntary initiatives consistent with
these Guidelines, such as certification schemes and providing opportunities
for the private tourism sector to contribute to management initiatives
through direct donations, in-kind services, and other voluntary initiatives
consistent with these Guidelines, and relevant policies;
(g) Avoiding tourism development or activities outside those areas
set out in the objectives;
(h) Monitoring, control of and provision of information on activities
related to collection and trade of biological and related cultural
resources within tourism sites.
34. Governments will normally coordinate this process at the national
level. It is important to involve and consult with all relevant stakeholders,
and especially indigenous and local communities that are or may be affected
by tourism development, in the process for reviewing legislation and control
measures, assessing their adequacy and effectiveness, and proposing development
of new legislation and measures where necessary.
5. Impact assessment
35. Impact assessment for sustainable tourism development in ecosystems
should be based on the "Guidelines for incorporating biodiversity-related
issues into environmental impact assessment legislation and/or processes
and in strategic environmental assessment" developed by the Convention
on Biological Diversity and contained in the annex to decision VI/7 (paras
1-24).
36. At national level, Governments should normally undertake assessment
of impacts associated with the overall vision, goals and objectives for
tourism and biodiversity. In addition, this process may also be undertaken
at more local levels by local government, and by indigenous and local
communities.
37. Proposers of tourism developments or activities should assess the
potential impacts of their proposals and provide information on this through
a notification process.
38. Governments will normally undertake evaluations of the adequacy of
impact assessments submitted by proposers of tourism developments or activities.
These evaluations will need to be undertaken by an appropriately qualified
team, drawing on a range of expertise, including expertise in tourism
and in biodiversity management, and also involving those indigenous and
local communities that would be affected by the proposals. There should
be public access to the documentation.
39. If the information provided is not sufficient, or the impact assessment
inadequate, then further impact assessment studies may need to be undertaken.
The proposer may be requested to undertake such studies, or the Government
may decide to undertake these studies, and may request funds from the
proposer for this purpose, as appropriate. Other stakeholders, including
biodiversity managers and indigenous and local communities that may be
affected by a proposed development, may also provide their assessments
of impacts associated with specific proposals for tourism developments
or activities, and provisions may be needed to ensure that any such assessments
are taken into account by decision-makers.
40. Indigenous and local communities concerned should be fully involved
in impact assessment. Their traditional knowledge should be acknowledged
and considered for impact assessment in particular tourism projects that
affect their sacred sites or lands and waters occupied or used by indigenous
and local communities.
41. Sufficient time should be allowed considering the different conditions
and circumstances to ensure that all stakeholders are able to participate
effectively in the decision-making process for any project using information
provided by the impact assessment. Such information should be provided
in forms that are accessible and comprehensible to all the various stakeholders
involved.
42. Impacts of tourism in relation to the environment and biological
diversity may include:
(a) Use of land and resources for accommodation, tourism facilities
and other infrastructure provision, including road networks, airports
and seaports;
(b) Extraction and use of building materials (e.g., use of sand from
beaches, reef limestone and wood);
(c) Damage to or destruction of ecosystems and habitats, including
deforestation, draining of wetlands, and intensified or unsustainable
use of land;
(d) Increased risk of erosion;
(e) Disturbance of wild species, disrupting normal behaviour and
potentially affecting mortality and reproductive success;
(f) Alterations to habitats and ecosystems;
(g) Increased risk of fires;
(h) Unsustainable consumption of flora and fauna by tourists (e.g.,
through picking of plants; or purchase of souvenirs manufactured from
wildlife, in particular such endangered species as corals and turtle
shells; or through unregulated hunting, shooting and fishing);
(i) Increased risk of introduction of alien species;
(j) Intensive water demand from tourism;
(k) Extraction of groundwater;
(l) Deterioration in water quality (freshwater, coastal waters) and
sewage pollution;
(m) Eutrophication of aquatic habitats;
(n) Introduction of pathogens;
(o) Generation, handling and disposal of sewage and waste-water;
(p) Chemical wastes, toxic substances and pollutants;
(q) Solid waste (garbage or rubbish);
(r) Contamination of land, freshwater and seawater resources;
(s) Pollution and production of greenhouse gases, resulting from
travel by air, road, rail, or sea, at local, national and global levels;
(t) Noise.
43. Socio-economic and cultural impacts related to tourism may include:
(a) Influx of people and social degradation (e.g. local prostitution,
drug abuse, etc.);
(b) Impacts on children and youth;
(c) Vulnerability to the changes in the flow of tourist arrivals
which may result in sudden loss of income and jobs in times of downturn;
(d) Impacts on indigenous and local communities and cultural values;
(e) Impacts on health and the integrity of local cultural systems;
(f) Intergenerational conflicts and changed gender relationships;
(g) Erosion of traditional practices and lifestyles;
(h) Loss of access by indigenous and local communities to their land
and resources as well as sacred sites, which are integral to the maintenance
of traditional knowledge systems and traditional lifestyles.
44. The potential benefits of tourism may include:
(a) Revenue creation for the maintenance of natural resources of
the
area;
(b) Contributions to economic and social development, for example:
6. Impact management and mitigation
45. Impact management is essential to avoid or minimize any potential
damage to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use that tourism development
or activities might cause. Proposals for tourism development or activities
may incorporate proposals for impact management, but these may not necessarily
be judged sufficient to deal with potential impacts on biodiversity. Therefore
all stakeholders, and especially Governments that exercise overall control
over tourism development and activities, will need to consider the various
impact management approaches that may be necessary in any given situation.
In particular, Governments should be aware that the tourism industry could
provide a direct impetus for conservation of vulnerable ecosystems by
supporting sustainable tourism activities that have a direct commercial
interest in maintaining the vulnerable ecosystem in a good condition.
46. Tourism should be planned and managed using the internationally accepted
planning methodologies (such as the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and
the Limits of Acceptable Change). In vulnerable ecosystems, based on these
methodologies and relevant background information, tourism should be restricted
and where necessary prevented.
47. Impact management can include,
inter alia
, measures for the siting of tourism development and activities, including
establishing appropriate activities in different designated zones, differentiation
between the impacts of different types of tourism, and measures to control
tourist flows in and around tourist destinations and key sites, to promote
appropriate behaviour by tourists so as to minimize their impacts, and
to establish limits to numbers of visitors and their impacts within Limits
of Acceptable Change at any site.
48. Impact management in relation to transboundary ecosystems and migratory
species requires regional cooperation.
49. There is a need to identify those who will be responsible for implementing
impact management and the resources that will be required for impact management.
50. Impact management for tourism development and activities can include
the adoption and effective implementation of policies, good practices
and lessons learned that cover,
inter alia
:
(a) Controlling impacts of major tourist flows including excursions,
cruise ships, etc., which can cause serious effects on destinations
even though they are visited for only short periods;
(b) Reducing impacts of activities outside tourism areas on adjacent
and other ecosystems of importance for tourism (e.g., pollution from
nearby farming activities or extractive industries may affect areas
of tourism development);
(c) Responsible use of natural resources (e.g., land, soil, energy,
water);
(d) Reducing, minimizing and preventing pollution and waste (e.g.
solid and liquid waste, emissions to air, transport);
(e) Promoting the design of facilities that are more eco-efficient,
which adopt the cleaner production approach, and use environmentally
sound technologies, in particular to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, as set
out in international agreements;
(f) Conserving flora, fauna and ecosystems;
(g) Preventing the introduction of alien species as a result of the
construction, landscaping and operating of tourism activities, including
for example from shipping associated with tourism;
(h) Conserving landscapes, cultural and natural heritage;
(i) Respecting the integrity of local cultures and avoiding negative
effects on social structures, involving, and cooperating with, indigenous
and local communities, including measures to ensure respect for sacred
sites and customary users of these sites, and to prevent negative
impacts on them and on lands and waters occupied or used by indigenous
and local communities, as well as on their subsistence resources;
(j) Using local products and skills, and providing local employment;
(k) Promoting appropriate behaviour by tourists so as to minimize
their adverse impacts, and to promote positive effects through education,
interpretation, extension, and other means of awareness-raising;
(l) Alignment of marketing strategies and messages with the principles
of sustainable tourism;
(m) Contingency plans for handling accidents, emergencies or bankruptcies
that may occur during construction and use of facilities and which
may threaten the environment and the conservation and sustainable
use of biodiversity;
(n) Environmental and cultural sustainability audits and review of
existing tourism activities and developments and of the effectiveness
with which impact management is being applied to existing tourism
activities and developments;
(o) Mitigation measures for existing impacts, and appropriate funding
to support them. Such measures should include development and implementation
of compensation measures in cases when tourism has resulted in negative
environmental, cultural, and socio-economic effects, taking into consideration
the polluter-pays principle.
51. Governments, in cooperation with biodiversity managers, those communities
that would be affected by the proposals, and other stakeholders, would
normally assess the need for impact management in addition to any management
measures included in the proposals under consideration. All stakeholders
should understand the importance of such impact management.
52. The tourism industry can assist in promoting corporate policies on
sustainable tourism and biodiversity, with defined goals, monitoring and
reporting their progress publicly on a regular basis.
7. Decision-making
53. Decisions will be made concerning approval or otherwise of,
inter alia
:
(a) National strategies and plans for tourism and biodiversity;
(b) Proposals for tourism development and activities at particular
locations in relation to biodiversity, which are to be submitted through
the notification process;
(c) Adequacy of impact management measures in relation to anticipated
impacts from tourism development and activities;
(d) Adequacy and frequency of monitoring and reporting.
54. Such decisions will ultimately be taken by Governments (or specific
authorities designated by Governments). It is recognized, however, that
effective consultation with and participation of the communities and groups
affected, including specific input from biodiversity managers, and from
indigenous and local communities as well as the private sector in a broad
sense, is an important foundation of the decision-making process and critical
to sustainable development. Decision makers should consider using multi-stakeholder
processes as a tool for the decision-making process.
55. The decision-making process should be transparent, accountable, and
apply the precautionary approach. Legal mechanisms should be put in place
for notification and approval of tourism development proposals and for
ensuring implementation of the conditions of approval of development proposals.
56. For proposals for tourism development and activities at particular
locations, the proposers will normally be required to provide the information
set out in the notification process. This should apply equally to public-sector
development and infrastructure projects, as well as to private-sector
development. Impact assessment should be a component of any decision-making
process.
57. Measures should be taken to ensure full and timely disclosure of
project information concerning tourism development proposals. Decision-making
should include the prior informed consent of indigenous and local communities
affected by projects in order to ensure,
inter alia
, respect for the customs and traditional knowledge, innovations and practices
of indigenous and local communities, and adequate funding and technical
support should be provided for these groups to participate effectively.
A thorough consultation process with the indigenous and local community,
based on the availability of all relevant information, is needed as a
basis for prior informed consent.
58. Decisions should include a review of the adequacy of information
available, that could cover,
inter alia
, baseline information, impact assessment, and information on the proposed
tourism development or activity, its nature and size, the type(s) of tourism
involved, and information on human settlements and communities that may
be affected.
59. In cases where there is not sufficient contextual/baseline information
available at the time, or where the overall vision, goals and objectives
for tourism and biodiversity have not been developed sufficiently to make
a decision, decisions may be deferred pending sufficient information being
obtained, and/or completion of overall plans/goals.
60. In making a decision, conditions may be attached to any approvals
that may be granted, including conditions regarding management of tourism
in relation to avoidance or minimization of adverse impacts on biodiversity,
and for appropriate decommissioning of tourism activities should the development
cease. Decision makers may also, as appropriate, request further information
from a proposer; defer a decision pending further baseline research by
other agencies; or refuse a proposal.
8. Implementation
61. Implementation follows a decision to approve a particular proposal,
strategy or plan. Unless otherwise stated, the developer and/or operator
will be responsible for complying with the conditions for granting the
approval; and, as part of this process, they can also be required to notify
the designated government authority of any failures to comply with conditions
attached to an approval, including conditions for decommissioning, and/or
of any changes in circumstances, including unforeseen environmental conditions
and/or biodiversity issues (e.g., detection of rare or endangered species
not recorded in the original proposal and impact assessment).
62. Any revisions or changes to an approved project, including additions
and/or variations of activities, must be approved by the designated authorities
before construction.
63. Implementation plans should recognize that indigenous and local communities
and other relevant stakeholders may require assistance as actors in implementation,
and should ensure that sufficient resources are available for implementation
and for effective participation.
64. Local stakeholders should be given an ongoing opportunity to express
their wishes and concerns to those managing tourism facilities and activities.
As part of this process, clear and adequate information regarding implementation
should be provided for review by the stakeholders, in forms that are accessible
and comprehensible to them.
65. Availability of information on policies, programmes, projects, and
their implementation, including information on existing and future guidelines,
should be ensured and exchange of information fostered, for example, through
the clearing house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
9. Monitoring and reporting
66. It is necessary to establish a monitoring and control system for
the management of tourism activities and biological diversity. Long-term
monitoring and assessment are necessary in relation to the impacts of
tourism on biodiversity, and will need to take into account the timescale
for ecosystem changes to become evident. Some effects may develop quickly,
while others may take place more slowly. Long-term monitoring and assessment
provide a means for detecting adverse effects that may arise from tourism
activities and development in relation to biodiversity, so that action
can be taken to control and mitigate such effects.
67. Monitoring and surveillance in relation to management of tourism
and biodiversity includes,
inter alia
, the following main areas:
(a) Implementation of approved tourism developments or activities,
and compliance with any conditions attached when approval was granted,
and taking appropriate actions in cases of non-compliance;
(b) Impacts of tourism activities on biodiversity and ecosystems,
taking appropriate preventative actions as necessary;
(c) Impacts of tourism on the surrounding population, especially
indigenous and local communities;
(d) General tourism activities and trends, including tour operations,
tourism facilities, and tourist flows in originating and receiving
countries, including progress towards sustainable tourism;
(e) Clearly defined objectives, actions and targets for conservation
or mitigation of threats to biodiversity, maintenance or restoration
of ecosystems and for tourism;
(f) Compliance with, and enforcement as necessary, of conditions
attached to any approval. Communities and other interested stakeholders
may also monitor and report their findings to the designated government
authorities.
68. Developers and operators of tourism facilities and activities should
be required to report periodically to designated authorities and to the
public on compliance with conditions set out in approvals, and on the
condition of biodiversity and the environment in relation to the tourism
facilities and activities for which they are responsible.
69. Prior to the commencement of any new tourism development or activities,
an inclusive monitoring and reporting system should be put in place, with
indicators to track how tourism actions are mitigating threats to biodiversity,
along with agreed upon quantifiable standards indicating thresholds of
acceptable change. These should be developed in conjunction with all key
stakeholders including indigenous and local communities.
70. Indicators to cover aspects of management of biodiversity and sustainable
tourism, including socio-economic and cultural aspects, should be identified
and monitored at global, national, and local levels, and should include,
but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Conservation of biodiversity;
(b) Generation of income and employment from tourism (long-term and
short-term);
(c) Proportion of tourism income retained in the local community;
(d) Effectiveness of multi-stakeholder processes for management of
biodiversity and sustainable tourism;
(e) Effectiveness of impact management;
(f) Contribution of tourism to the well-being of the local population;
(g) Visitor impacts and visitor satisfaction.
71. Monitoring results depend largely on the appropriate set of data
to be collected. Guidelines on how to collect data in a way that can be
used to evaluate change over time should be developed. Monitoring could
follow a standard process and format, and be based on a framework including
parameters on social, economic, environmental and cultural impact.
72. Monitoring and surveillance in relation to biodiversity impacts should
include activities undertaken to ensure respect for endangered species
under relevant international agreements, prevention of the introduction
of alien species as a result of tourism activities, compliance with national
rules concerning access to genetic resources, and prevention of illegal
and unauthorised removal of genetic resources.
73. In relation to indigenous and local communities, monitoring and evaluation
should include development and use of appropriate tools to monitor and
evaluate tourism impacts on the economy of indigenous and local communities,
particularly their food and health security, traditional knowledge, practices
and customary livelihoods. Use of indicators and early warning systems
should be developed as appropriate, taking into account traditional knowledge,
innovation and practices of indigenous and local communities, and guidelines
developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity relating to traditional
knowledge. Measures should also be taken to ensure that indigenous and
local communities involved in, or affected by tourism, have the opportunity
to be involved effectively in monitoring and evaluation.
74. Monitoring of general environmental and biodiversity conditions and
trends, as well as tourism trends and impacts, can be undertaken by Governments,
including designated biodiversity managers. Management measures may need
to be adjusted, as appropriate, where adverse impacts on biodiversity
and ecosystems are detected. The need for and nature of such adjustments
will be based on the results of monitoring, and it is important for these
to be determined in dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including
the developers and/or operators of tourism facilities and activities,
communities affected by those facilities and activities, and other interested
stakeholders. The monitoring process needs to be multi-stakeholder and
transparent.
10. Adaptive management
75. The ecosystem approach requires adaptive management to deal with
the complex and dynamic nature of ecosystems and the absence of complete
knowledge or understanding of their functioning. Ecosystem processes are
often non-linear, and the outcome of such processes often shows time-lags.
The result is discontinuities, leading to surprise and uncertainty. Management
must be adaptive in order to be able to respond to such uncertainties
and contain elements of "learning-by-doing" or research feedback.
Measures may need to be taken even when some cause-and-effect relationships
are not yet fully established scientifically.
9
/
76. Ecosystem processes and functions are complex and variable. Their
level of uncertainty is increased by the interaction with social constructs,
which need to be better understood. Therefore, ecosystem management must
involve a learning process, which helps to adapt methodologies and practices
to the ways in which these systems are being managed and monitored. Adaptive
management should also take the precautionary approach fully into account.
77. Implementation programmes should be designed to adjust to the unexpected,
rather than to act on the basis of a belief in certainties.
78. Ecosystem management needs to recognize the diversity of social and
cultural factors affecting natural-resource use and sustainability.
79. Similarly, there is a need for flexibility in policy-making and implementation.
Long-term, inflexible decisions are likely to be inadequate or even destructive.
Ecosystem management should be envisaged as a long-term experiment that
builds on its results as it progresses. This `learning-by-doing"
will also serve as an important source of information to gain knowledge
of how best to monitor the results of management and evaluate whether
established goals are being attained. In this respect, it would be desirable
to establish or strengthen capacities of Parties for monitoring. In addition,
adaptive management learning portfolios should be developed between different
sites so that comparison can be made and lessons learned.
80. Implementing adaptive management in relation to tourism and biodiversity
will require the active cooperation of all stakeholders in tourism, and
especially those in the private sector, with biodiversity managers. Impacts
on biodiversity at a particular location may require rapid curtailment
of visits by tourists to prevent further damage, and to allow for recovery,
and in the longer-term, may necessitate an overall reduction in tourist
flows. It may be possible for tourists to be redirected to less sensitive
areas in such cases. In all cases, maintenance of the balance between
tourism and biodiversity will require close interaction between tourism
managers and biodiversity managers, and appropriate frameworks for management
and dialogue are likely to need to be established.
81. Governments, including designated biodiversity managers, in conjunction
with all other stakeholders will therefore need to take actions, as appropriate,
to address any problems encountered and to keep on track towards agreed
goals. This may include changes and additions to conditions set in the
original approval, and will require participation of and consultation
with the developer and/or operator of the tourism facilities and activities
concerned, and with local communities.
82. Adaptive management can also be undertaken by all those who have
management control over any specific site, including local governments,
indigenous and local communities, the private sector, non-governmental
organizations and other organizations.
83. Where necessary, legal frameworks may need to be reviewed and amended
to support adaptive management, taking into account experience gained.
C. Notification process and information requirements
84. Proposals for tourism development and activities at particular locations
in relation to biodiversity are to be submitted through the notification
process. As such, this process provides the link between proposers of
tourism activities and development, and the management process steps outlined
above. In particular, the notification process makes specific links to
the steps in the management process for impact assessment and decision-making
and should take into account local, regional and national impacts. Proposers
of tourism projects, including government agencies, should provide full
and timely advance notice to all stakeholders who may be affected, including
indigenous and local communities, of proposed developments through a formal
process of prior informed consent.
85. Information to be provided as part of the notification could include:
(a) Scale and types of tourism development or activities proposed,
including a summary of the proposed project, why and by whom it is
proposed, estimated outcomes and possible impacts, and a description
of the stages of development and the various structures and stakeholders
that may be involved at each stage;
(b) Analysis of market for proposed tourism development or activities,
based on market conditions and trends;
(c) Geographical description including recreation opportunity zones,
outlining tourist activities and infrastructure development, and location
of the site of tourism development or activities, the identity and
any special features of the surrounding environments and biodiversity;
(d) Nature and extent of human-resource requirements and plans for
their procurement;
(e) Identification of various stakeholders involved in or potentially
affected by the proposed project - including stakeholders in governmental,
non-governmental, and private sectors, and local communities - along
with details concerning their participation in and/or consultation
on the proposed project during its design, planning, construction
and operation;
(f) The perceived roles of local stakeholders in the proposed development;
(g) The various laws and regulations that may be applicable to the
specific site, including overviews of existing laws at local, subnational
and national levels, of existing uses and customs, of relevant regional
and international conventions or agreements and their status, and
cross-boundary agreements or memoranda or understanding and any proposed
legislation;
(h) The proximity of the site to human settlements and communities,
sites used by people from those settlements and communities as part
of their livelihoods and traditional activities, and heritage, cultural
or sacred sites;
(i) Any flora, fauna and ecosystems that could be affected by the
tourism development or activities, including keystone, rare, endangered
or endemic species;
(j) Ecological aspects of the site and its surroundings, including
indication of any protected areas; specifications on the ecosystems,
habitats, and species; quantitative and qualitative information on
the loss of habitats and species (main reasons, trends), and indexing
of species;
(k) Training and supervision of personnel carrying out the tourism
development or activities;
(l) Likelihood of impacts beyond the immediate area of the tourism
development or activities, including transboundary impacts and effects
on migratory species;
(m) A description of current environmental and socio-economic conditions;
(n) Expected changes to environmental and socio-economic conditions
as a result of the tourism development or activities;
(o) Proposed management measures to avoid or minimize adverse impacts
from the tourism development or activities, including verification
of their functioning;
(p) Proposed measures for mitigation, decommissioning and compensation
in the event of problems arising with the tourism development or activities;
(q) Proposed measures to maximize the local benefits of the tourism
development or activities on surrounding human settlements and communities,
biodiversity and ecosystems, which may include, but are not limited
to:
(a) Relevant information from any previous tourism development or
activities in the region, and information on possible cumulative effects;
(b) Relevant information from any previous tourism development or
activities by the proposer.
86. Categories of responses that Governments may wish to consider making
in response to notification of proposals for, and requests for permission
to undertake, tourism development, include,
inter alia
:
(a) Approval without conditions;
(b) Approval with conditions;
(c) Request for further information;
(d) Deferral pending further baseline research by other agencies;
(e) Refusal of the proposal.
D. Education, capacity-building and awareness-raising
87. Education and awareness-raising campaigns need to be addressed to
both the professional sectors and the general public and should inform
them about the impacts of tourism on biological diversity, and good practices
in this area. The private sector, and, especially, tour operators, could
provide information more widely to their clients-the tourists-about tourism
and biodiversity issues, and encourage them to conserve, and avoid adverse
impact on, biodiversity and cultural heritage to respect national legislation
of the visited country, as well as traditions of indigenous and local
communities of that country, and to support actions in conformity with
the present Guidelines.
88. Awareness campaigns explaining the link between cultural diversity
and biological diversity will need to be tailored for various audiences,
particularly stakeholders including consumers of tourism, developers and
tourism operators.
89. Education and awareness-raising is required at all levels of government.
This should include processes for increasing mutual understanding between
relevant ministries, including joint and innovative approaches for dealing
with tourism and environmental issues.
90. Awareness should also be increased within and outside government
that vulnerable ecosystems and habitats are often located within lands
and waters occupied or used by indigenous and local communities.
91. The tourism sector as a whole, along with tourists should be encouraged
to minimize any negative impacts and maximize positive impacts on biodiversity
and local cultures associated with their consumption choices and behaviour,
for example through voluntary initiatives.
92. It is also important to raise awareness within the academic sector
responsible for training and research on issues regarding the interaction
between biological diversity and sustainable tourism, of the role that
they can play concerning public education, capacity-building and awareness-raising
on these issues.
93. Capacity-building activities should aim to develop and strengthen
the capacities of Governments and all stakeholders to facilitate the effective
implementation of the present Guidelines, and may be necessary at local,
national, regional and international levels.
94. Capacity-building activities can be identified through the adaptive
management process and can include strengthening human resources and institutional
capacities, the transfer of know-how, the development of appropriate facilities,
and training in relation to biological diversity and sustainable tourism
issues, and in impact assessment and impact management techniques.
95. Such activities should include ensuring that local communities are
equipped with the necessary decision-making abilities, skills and knowledge
in advance of future tourist in-flows, as well as with relevant capacity
and training regarding tourism services and environmental protection.
96. Capacity-building activities should include, but not be limited to:
(a) Capacity-building and training to assist all stakeholders, including
Governments, and indigenous and local communities, in accessing, analysing
and interpreting baseline information, undertaking impact assessments
and evaluations, impact management, decision-making, monitoring and
adaptive management;
(b) Development or strengthening of mechanisms for impact assessment
with the participation of all stakeholders, including for the approval
of the approach, content and scope of impact assessment;
(c) Establishment of multi-stakeholder processes involving government
departments, tourism sector, non-governmental organizations, indigenous
and local communities and other stakeholders;
(d) Training of tourism professionals in conservation and biodiversity
issues.
97. Information exchange and collaboration regarding sustainable tourism
implementation through networking and partnerships between all stakeholders
affected by, or involved in tourism, including the private sector, should
be encouraged.
7 * As listed in the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity
of Dry and Sub-Humid Lands (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/8/INF/2) and updated based
on a questionnaire sent out in August 2002.
8 / For the purposes of the present Guidelines "indigenous and local
communities" means "indigenous and local communities embodying
traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use
of biological diversity".