Interactive Discussion Panel on Politics about

Tourism, Local Communities, and Biodiversity

The links between tourism and biodiversity are very complex in terms of economic as well as ecological interests and regarding social and cultural positions. Most areas in which indigenous peoples and local communities live are of increasing interest to the (eco-)tourism industry. Because they are economically and politically marginalized, indigenous peoples and local communities often bear a disproportionately large share of the costs of the tourism development that frequently deprives people or undermines the local access to and control over land and resources.

At its 7th session in April 1999, the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) passed a five page programme of work on sustainable tourism. Among other things, the CSD calls upon governments to devise national strategies for national tourism development. There is reason to believe that the issue of biodiversity and tourism will become part of the agenda of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

We believe that the people and countries predominantly affected by protection and use of biodiversity have to be actively involved in the discussion process. To support their active participation so that a widely supported position on biodi-versity and tourism can be reached, the ad-hoc working group of the German NGO Forum Environment & Development has launched a Call for Dialogue.

In our Forum we would like to offer the opportunity for a broad debate of positions between indigenous peoples, local communities, and NGOs from the South and from the North. This interactive discussion panel aims at broadening access to the debate and improving the chances to participate in the discussion process on a wider scale. We invite you to comment on those papers that have already been a part or a result of an international debate. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to present your own positions and to actively participate in the discussion process.

A list of contact addresses was set up to stimulate the information flow and encourage the discussion process, as well as to link people and organisations. If you feel like joining the list, please send us a mail and a short description of your working background. For further information on events related to tourism, indigenous peoples, local communities, and biodiversity, please click news.

DANTE - Die Arbeitsgemeinschaft für nachhaltige Tourismus Entwicklung / European Network for Sustainable Tourism Development

For the interactive discussion panel
please contact: