ICF Joins the World Heritage Alliance to Promote Sustainable Tourism in Baja California Sur
Last month ICF was invited to become an associate partner of the World Heritage Alliance (WHA), a United Nations Foundation and Expedia Inc. initiative to support conservation, sustainable tourism, and local economic development for communities in and around World Heritage sites. The goals of the WHA are to 1) raise awareness among travelers about the importance of protecting World Heritage sites; 2) help local communities develop sustainable tourism; and, 3) engage the travel industry to take the lead in the conservation of World Heritage sites and surrounding communities.
The WHA first started working in Mexico in Quintana Roo with 15 initial partners in 2006. Each of these partners is committed to adhering to sustainable business practices around World Heritage sites, educating travelers on responsible tourism, and supporting local community tourism to achieve long-term site conservation and sustainable development.
In early December ICF hosted a weeklong trip for WHA representatives in Baja California Sur. The purpose of the trip was to meet the local communities and key partners in the region and identify opportunities for new projects and grants in support of responsible tourism and sustainable community development.
As a result of this trip, the Alliance partners have identified and outlined several projects that will be evaluated and studied in further detail to ensure that they best suit the needs of the region. Some examples of these potential projects now under development are a web site to educate travelers about the importance and uniqueness of World Heritage sites in the region, a synthesis of existing economic studies on the value of responsible tourism to local communities, and capacity-building projects for communities and businesses that are committed to sustainable alternatives.
Baja California Sur is home to three World Heritage sites located in close proximity of each other and near several marine protected areas, making this region a world-class destination for visitors interested in both cultural sites and natural habitats. The unique combination of these sites, the marine protected areas, and the spectacular land and seascapes in the region together offer world-class opportunities for responsible tourism, conservation, and education.
The three UNESCO sites in Baja California that are part of this initiative are: 1) the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, 2) the Rock Painting of the Sierra de San Francisco, 3) and the Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaíno.
To make a contribution to ICF's World Heritage Fund, please visit:
http://www.icf-xchange.org/graphics/donate.php/wha
To learn more about the World Heritage Alliance visit: www.worldheritagealliance.org.
For more information on philanthropic opportunities in environment and conservation please contact Dolores Wesson, Director of Environment, Conservation and Sustainable Development, at Dolores@icfdn.org.
