Presented by: Lucía Prieto Fustes of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation and MEET Network
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 17, 10 am US EDT/7 am US PDT/2 pm UTC/3 pm BST/4 pm CEST
Description: Accurately measuring the environmental and social impact of tourism in protected areas is essential for preserving these sensitive ecosystems, but it remains a significant challenge. To support protected and conserved area managers in assessing and managing these impacts and creating the enabling conditions for ecotourism to thrive, the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN-Med), as Secretariat of the MEET Network association, has developed a comprehensive set of tools and indicators based on the MEET standard. These tools are integrated into an online Ecotourism Indicator Monitoring Platform, which comprises four key components: 1) The ecological footprint calculator evaluates the environmental impact of tourism services in an itinerary across four categories: accommodation, food and drinks, mobility, and activities and services. It helps stakeholders analyse the ecological footprint of ecotourism experiences within protected areas. 2) The social impact assessment of ecotourism suppliers quantifies the social impact generated by ecotourism service providers, suppliers, and facilities within an itinerary, focusing on the perspectives of workers, local communities, value chains, and visitors. 3) The enabling conditions assessment of the destination introduces a set of criteria for establishing sustainable tourism practices, aiming to protect natural resources, support local communities, and promote responsible ecotourism. This tool incorporates a simplified version of the IUCN Green List global standard for protected areas. 4) The product quality assessment of an ecotourism itinerary evaluates critical aspects related to product and itinerary design, safety protocols, supplier selection, and more. Additionally, MEET offers four free, self-paced online courses hosted on the IUCN Academy. These courses provide essential training on the MEET ecotourism model, covering topics such as building effective partnerships, product development, mastering guiding and interpretation, and implementing compelling marketing strategies.
Hosted by: OCTO
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-2mqXTQqRW-UuvjHjpnVLQ