TIES EcoCurrents Quarterly eMagazine - 2006 Q2

8/14/2019 TIES EcoCurrents Quarterly eMagazine - 2006 Q2

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SPECIAL FEATURE:S PECIAL INTEREST G ROUPS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 1

E COTOURISM A PPEALS TO S PECIAL INTEREST G ROUPS

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S PECIAL INTEREST G ROUPS C APTIVATE TRAVEL M EDIA

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FAMILY TRAVEL IN C OSTA R ICA 5

W OMEN IN S UPPORT O F T HE W ILD 7

F INDING INSPIRATION IN THE C ANADIAN R OCKIES

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E CO -HEALTH AND TRUEH UMAN W ELLNESS

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I NSIDE THIS ISSUE :EcoCurrents

Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustain

Second Quarter 2006 Price: $2.00 USD

Editor: Katie Maschman

L D

O ver the past few years, the travel industry hasseen tremendous growth in special interesttravel. Many of these demographic travel trendshave been mirrored in ecotourism. is edition of EcoCurrents features articles covering several suchtrends specically family travel, womens tours,

and medical voluntourism throughout the Americas.ese particular market segments are neither exclusiveto nature tourism, nor are they the only segmentswhich have shown signicant interest in responsibletravel. TIES also recognizes strengthening correlationbetween Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) travel trends and ecotourism;the industry has also seen an increase in provisions for accessibility within ecolodges andon ecotours.

As editor of the EcoCurrents , I would encourage you to share your experiences with theseand other special interest travel groups. Please submit these experiences in letter format([email protected]) for possible inclusion in subsequent EcoCurrents .

KATIE MASCHMAN

E U A TS IN G U

By: Carolyn Walters Fox

James celebrated his 12th birthday on a bridge suspended between rainforest treetops inCosta Rica. His parents and sister joined him on the eight-day adventure, sharing thehighlights of this unforgettable birthday walking cloudforest trails, soaking in volcanically heated waterfalls, and snorkeling.

Another group of travelers 10 women strong explored the cultural marvels, world-renowned cuisine, and bucolic landscape of Italys Umbria region. Led by two seasonedguides, the adventurous friends even managed to take a hands-on cooking class following a

jaunt to the local produce market.(Continued on page 3)


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Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

Women sharing the trail. Friends and solo travelers.Families exploring the world together spanningmultiple generations. ese niche trends in adventuretravel are gaining momentum. And with more womenand families choosing tours designed with their uniqueneeds and priorities in mind, tour companies andouttters are taking notice and positioning themselvesto serve these markets.

With that in mind, tour companies shouldask themselves two pertinent questions:Whats behind these trends? And will they last? Womens Travel:For womens travel, the answer is a resounding yes. Los

Angeles-based Impulse Research recently surveyed 1,500women and determined that almost 50 percent hadtaken an all-female trip over the last three years, while88 percent planned to take another or had expressedinterest in a women-only vacation. Given that morewomen are in the workforce, and thus have disposableincomes, and also that baby boomers tend to be morephysically t than preceding generations, its only naturalthat women recognize the benets of traveling with thoseof like mind.

Chris Doyle of the Adventure Travel Trade Associationsays that adventure, active, and ecotravel were originally

the domains of men, but as special-interest travelbegan incorporating more cultural, environmental,and educational components, women have signed on.Women are widely recognized to be the decision-makerswhen it comes to travel, so as options become availablefor trips that support camaraderie, fun, women-focuseditineraries, and personal enrichment, women travelersare increasingly likely to add a women-only trip totheir calendars.

Family Travel:As the denition of family expands and evolves, so doesinterest in family travel. A recent American Express

Travel poll indicates that family travel is a signicantly increasing travel trend, and that the denition of a family vacation is broadening to include more meaningful travel in particular, tours offering exposure to diverse culturesand lifestyles. Parents are eager to provide their childrenwith active learning experiences, and adult offspring aretraveling with their parents to enjoy time together. Asa result, tour companies are responding with itinerariesthat incorporate family-friendly accommodations,exible schedules, and cultural encounters.

As these trends continue, tour outtters are challengedto offer ever more fullling and more targeted

tours. Understanding the demographics of these nichegroups and their travel interests and priorities, as well asdesigning trips that foster respect for the environmentand regional cultures, will yield the most positive travelexperiences for travelers and tour companies alike.

Carolyn Walters Fox serves in marketing and public relations for Country Walkers. Country Walkers ( www.countrywalkers.com is a leading provider of worldwide walking adventures. Offering more than 60 international tours, they have long been at theindustry forefront with a tradition of employing local guides,itineraries highlighting regional culture, and tours promoting walking as a healthy, low-impact way to explore the world.

S IN G U

(Continued from page 1)


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Uniting Conservation, Communities, and SustainS IN G U

C V T V M D

By: Nancy Harrison

Who among us hasnt taken a unique trip or vacationwith their family, a close friend, or sister to an excitingdestination? Special-interest trips are more popular than everfor travelers, and newspapers and magazines are full of articlesthat tell of girlfriend getaways, culinary experiences, and family fun packages.

If youre an outtter, destination operator, or tour operator, itsimportant for you to understand the trends in travel so thatyou can get editorial coverage for your trips. eres no bettermarketing tool available to you in todays market.

Recent stories featuring special interest travel include: e June issue of Better Homes and Gardens featured anarticle about women-only trips and covered both destinationsand tour operators who provide these kinds of trips. More magazines June issue contained an article about volunteer vacations, in which participants build trails, docleanup, and work on community projects for the needy whilelearning new skills themselves. Mens Journal recently featured outtted trips with a culinary focus and included river trips all over the United States thatoffer cooking schools, wine pairings, and gourmet food in thewilderness.

Family-specic programs are expanding to include a specialfocus on teens, particularly because this age group is so hardto please. Today, many media outlets are clamoring for morefamily-friendly packages.

(Continued on page 9)


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O ver the last 10 years, the number of Americanfamilies taking ecotourism vacations to Costa Ricahas skyrocketed. This makes sense, says Costa Rica-based HorizontesNature Tours, considering the countrys close proximityand its reputation for peace and safety. And CostaRicas rich wildlife is easily visible through its extensivenational park system.

While these are the same attributes that havepositioned the country in all segments of the adventure/ecotourism market, they become more important

considerations when traveling with children.

Even in diffi cult times for travel, Horizontes saw thispart of its business grow. Neither terrorism, nor SARS,nor Iraq would change the limited time that parentshave before their children grow up and leave home.

More than ever, says Horizontes president TamaraBudowski, parents are seeking opportunities to bondand share a discovery experience with their children,while their children still want to travel together.

Parents have also begun putting a greater emphasis onvacation time, since home life has grown increasinglyhectic between school, homework, sports, and endlessother after school activities.

With such high expectations of their vacation

Family Travel in Costa Rica

By: George Soriano

T

C R :

10. Activities for all ages:Whether hiking nature trails, snorkeling,zipline canopy touring, whitewaterra ing, or taking surf lessons, adventuretours abound for all interests and ages.

9. Kid-friendly meals:Restaurants throughout the country offera relaxed, informal atmosphere and arehappy to provide kid-friendly meal options.

8. Swimming pools and other hotel musts:Hotels chosen for safety, location and amenities thatwill give kids and adults space to move and play.

7. Trail conditions from easy to strenuous:Although some trails in the forest can be muddy, theyreeasy to follow for children (and for grandparents, too!)

6. Easy to get around:By air or sea, there are o en options on how to get frompoint A to point B, depending on time and interests.

5. Your trip, your way:Combine time exploring the rainforest, cloudforest,and beaches all in one trip, any way you want.

4. No water worries:Unlike other spots in Latin America, the water in CostaRica is safe to drink everywhere, so parents can relax.

3. Healthy snack options:No matter where you are in Costa Rica, freshfruit and fruit smoothies are always on the menu.

2. Wildlife galore:Our national parks and reserves hold more than5 percent of the worlds biodiversity, packed intosmall areas that make spotting wildlife more likely.

1. Ticos Love Kids:Costa Ricans dont go anywhere withoutthe kids, and their love for family andchildren is prominent in local culture.

Refreshing natural cascades draw familiesto Costa Ricas northern zone



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Imagine a place

largely untouchedby human hands a mosaic of deepcanyons, soaringmountains, widesecluded valleys, andicy-blue alpine lakes. The topographyspans two deserts,with elevations from500 to 13,000 feet and

more than 300 named mountain ranges. And wildlifeis as diverse as is it abundant: cougar, mule deer,bighorn sheep, and North Americas fastest animal the pronghorn antelope.

Not what comes to mind when you think of Nevada?Youre not alone.

For most, even many city-dwelling Nevadans, thestate is a barren wasteland and a potential nuclear-dumping ground; a place mostly notable for YuccaMountain politics, gaudy casinos, the extraterrestrialhighway, shotgun weddings and Elvis impersonators.But Nevada is increasingly becoming a popular touristdestination, with about 4 million visitors a month andmore than 50 million visitors venturing to the SilverState each year. And since the launch of NevadasWide Open campaign, statistics have shown a markedincrease in nature travel visitors to local and nationalparks, as well.

Nevada offers one of the last opportunities for travelersto experience the awe and solitude truly found onlyin the intact and unspoiled wilds. Nevadas wildlandsare known in scientic and nature circles as the mostbiologically diverse in the nation. In fact, 85 percent of the wilderness legislation passed by Congress in the

last six years has been in Nevada, which now has a totalof 2 million acres. This legislation currently protects amere 4 percent of Nevadas public lands and equalsenough wilderness to ll up the state of Rhode Islandthree times over.

Helping preserve the beauty of these unspoiledwildlands is the nonprot Nevada Wilderness Project. The project, in its commitment to saving Nevadasspectacular, rugged and imperiled public lands aspermanent wilderness, seeks the strongest protectionpossible. And because Nevada is the fastest growingstate in the nation, these areas face an increased

danger of development.

Many of the places most deserving of protection arepublic lands owned by the federal government in trustfor all people. The best, the most unusual, and the mostbeautiful deserve the highest safeguard designationas offi cial wilderness something possible only byan act of Congress. These lands are wilderness qualitybecause theyre untouched by human hands placesnot only for adventure, but also for true solitude.

Since its founding in 1999, the Nevada WildernessProject has been using wilderness values trips as ameans to connect people to the land and as a toolfor conservation. The purpose of these values trips is toreach beyond the basic tenets of ecotourism. Althoughthe environmental and social practices are essentialcomponents, the project also combines peoples loveof open and wild spaces with their desire to be betterinformed and active in the conservation of such lands.It not only gives participants a sense of place, but alsoa sense of responsibility to the land.

Wilderness values trips provide an opportunity to makean impact, and the Nevada Wilderness Project providestools to affect change through the preservation andprotection of these public lands as critical wilderness.Participants learn the skills they need to effectivelyengage their elected offi cials and stakeholders to helpprotect areas they care about deeply.

In 2005, the project recognized the natural partnershipbetween womens wilderness values trips and MotherNature around the state. The safe environment giveswomen the chance to experience the majesty of Nevada. As a new initiative for the Nevada WildernessProject, these

W N IN SU O T W D

By: Mackenzie Banta



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Five women from Ohio, and one each from the oppositecoasts of Oregon and Maine, did something trulyremarkable last summer: They all made the time, and thecommitment to themselves and each other, to make a six-day vacation happen, independent of their families andtheir careers. Its not necessarily an easy task for womenwho are mothers and grandmothers, professionals andscholars, volunteers, activists, and even marathon runnersto spare this kind of time, but they did. Sent along byBoundless Journeys to accompany them on their privateCanadian Rockies trip, I was able to join this group of friends on their journey. I had little idea what to expect

either of the Rockies, having never been there before, orof my companions for the week, whom I had never met.What I found was wonderful: A sublime landscape thatliterally awed me, and an impressive and inspiring groupof women who were gracious enough to welcome me intotheir adventure. With two Canadian guides, handpickedfor their knowledge of the area, and (not insignicantly)their warm and enthusiastic personalities, the groupwas set for six days of hiking, overnights in wonderful

hotels, andtruly delectablemeals.

Each day foundus on new trailsin wilderness of the CanadianRockies. Despitemy initial fearsof being inb r o w n - b e a r

country (Boundless Journeys home offi ce is in Vermont,where the wildlife seems a bit more benign, and some

of the greatest threatsto our safety come fromerrant traffi c duringfoliage season), I soonfound that no bearwould come near ourgroup. The constantexchange of storiesand laughter amongthese friends was amore than suffi cientdeterrent to any ursine surprises. The landscape, on the

other hand, was satisfyingly wild. Flowers in all colorsgraced the alpine meadows where we walked, as didthe roar of various terric waterfalls. We watched andheard a massive avalanche in the Valley of Ten Peaks onthe opposite side of Moraine Lake, we glimpsed eaglesand elk in their natural habitats, and we stood on highglacial moraines above Lake Louise, spirits lifted by thehigh mountain wind. Perhaps its clich to point out,but the dramatic nature of this glaciated landscape isalmost overwhelming: Everything from mountains torivers to trees is big and impressive and unspeakablybeautiful.

As the week wound down, I found myself sorry tosee it coming to an end. An extra in this group fromthe beginning, I felt that I had made true friends. Ourdinner conversations about travel and education, aboutpolitics and business, about careers and relationships,motherhood and mothers, were all instructive for me. Then, on the last night, the ladies thanked their guidesfor helping them to enjoy the mountains safely andhappily and for helping them to push their own physicallimits just enough to feel proud of their efforts and

Finding Inspiration in the Canadian Rockies:An All Womens Adventure

By:Kerry Litcheld

WOMEN CHOOSING ADVENTURE

Since the 1970s, the prole of American travelers has changed dramatically, especially with regard to the number of women on the move. Thirty years ago, women travelers were most often accompanied by husbands or family. Thesedays, however, estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that almost 40 percent of women 35 and older have nobuilt-in travel partners, and of the other 60 percent who do, more than half are opting to leave husbands at home.

And what is it that women want to do? Adventure travel. Active and off-the-beaten path itineraries, says Karen Cleary, destinationmanager for Boundless Journeys and operator of active, authentic, small-group travel experiences around the world. Companieslike Boundless Journeys offer a broad variety of trips, providing opportunities to travel to a variety of destinations, with activeitineraries designed to highlight the unique qualities of each locale. The companionship of a small group is especially appealingfor women who may otherwise nd themselves traveling alone. Cleary says that some of the most popular destinations for womentravelers are Peru, New Zealand, and the coast of Maine. Boundless Journeys offers active trips to each of these destinations.


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their courage. I dont know if youve ever been a partof an all-womens outdoor experience, or whetheryou know someone who has, but something really

unique happens: Theres an atmosphere of inspiration,encouragement, openness, risk-taking, and support. Isat there during our nal dinner, in that moment whenthe dynamic among women friends and adventurerswas palpable, thinking back to my preconceived notionsabout what it means to grow older. I thought aboutthose ideas, and then I redened them to reect whatthis group of incredibly accomplished and incrediblygraceful women taught me: Keeping friends in your lifeand embracing challenges can really keep you youngand beautiful.

Boundless Journeys (www.

boundlessjourneys.com) is a U.S.-based tour operator with the goal to connect travelers with the very best qualities of each destinationthrough a variety of activeadventures. For more informationon Boundless Journeys, please e-mail [email protected].

T V M D A N N


When you have these kinds of packagesavailable, be sure to prepare news releasesand send them to the media outletsyoud like to target. Build relationshipswith the writers and editors of thesemagazines and newspapers so thattheyll contact you with specic needsthey have for future articles.

And remember to ask yourself these two

questions when writing a news release:1. Who cares? Its important that yourmessage be compelling, unique, andnewsworthy;2. Why now? Tie your news to aspecic trend, season, or event to createinterest.

Nancy Harrison is the Founder of Adventure Travel Media Source. Adventure Travel Media Source is a media relations rm specializing in the active, adventure and ecotourism industry. Founded in 1999, the company represents more than 130 clients worldwide and isa recognized leader in the adventure travel industry. TIES members are also eligible for a 10 percent discount on ATMS services. For more information, visit www.atmstravelnews.com or e-mail Nancy Harrison at [email protected].

C N D N R K

(Continued from previous page)


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experience among a new client prole, Horizontessaw a need for its naturalist guides to change theirapproach to nature interpretation. In order foreveryone to have a great time, guides would haveto begin seeing the natural world from a youngstersperspective and nd ways to make conservation

themes relevant to all ages and interests.

When parents see their kids all wide-eyed and smiles,exploring and having fun, theyre happy too, saysHorizontes naturalist Julio Fernandez.

George Soriano is marketing director at Horizontes NatureTours (www.horizontes.com). Since 1984, Costa Rica-based Horizontes Nature Tours has led many thousands of travelers tothe countrys most beautiful and biodiversity-rich destinations all in the name of conservation.Horizontes Nature Toursis a 2006 recipient of the Rainforest Alliance Corporate GreenGlobe award.

F Y T V N C R


womens tours have seen incredible success from aneducational and awareness perspective and as a toolfor nancial support. During the trip, participantsare not only immersed in the natural beauty of thesechief wildlands, but they also embrace the indigenouslocal history, as they examine a petroglyph and othernatural features.

As participants face the dichotomy of their travelalongside irresponsible off-road vehicles that aredestroying Nevadas fragile landscape, they come tosome prolic realizations. And as a result, many womenprovide much-needed support for the project, oftencontributing a monthly donation of $30 or as much asa single gift of $2,500.

As the desert cools down once again, the NevadaWilderness Project is looking forward to ignitingpassion and support among women on its wildernessvalues trips. The land presents plenty of awesomeand inspiring opportunities for people to connect toit, giving them a chance to forget the stresses of work for awhile, and to feel like a part of the land and thenatural rhythms of life.

W N SU W D


Conference Websites available August 2006 www.ecotourism.org

Native Nevadan Mackenzie Banta is Development Director of the

Nevada Wilderness Project. For an upcoming schedule of trips,visit www.wildnevada.org. or write to her at [email protected].


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Ihave a friend who owns a guest ranch in the westernUnited States. Recently, he was telling me how one of his guests was in a terrible panic the rst morning of hisvacation because The New York Times wasnt available. Theguest was so upset the owner drove 60 miles to town andback just to get his guest a newspaper. The owner did thisfor two days. On the third day, the owner noticed that thepaper hadnt been touched. He told me he knew that atthat moment, the guest had engaged in his vacation.

I view moments like that as the beginning of humanwellness. The guest had become aware, connected to

the rhythms of the ranch and the beauty of the naturalsurroundings. Ecotourism is the perfect place to helphumans make connections with the natural environment.And its an important facet of EcoHealth.

What is EcoHealth? Eco-health is a unique collaboration of physicians, veterinarians, geologists, ecologists, and otherswho have come together to study complex interactionsbetween humans and the ecosystems in which we live.

For example, EcoHealth researchers have shown how clearcutting of rainforests in South America has spread malariaamong native farmers, how shooting coyotes in the

southwest United States desert contributed to a deadlyoutbreak of hantavirus, and how El Nio ocean currentscreate outbreaks of cholera thousands of miles away.

Ecotourism is one solution for eco-healths healthyecosystems, healthy humans mantra, and EcoHealth

presents program opportunities for ecotourism. Byproviding sustainable ecosystem-sensitive vacations forguests, youre already actively engaged in ecosystemprotection and the protection of human health.

In this time of interest in voluntourism, I ask you to use yourunique vantage point to look for further ways in which youcan make an eco-health difference. Help create and ndstaff for a local health clinic, replant native vegetation andfurther restore your local ecosystem, and educate others(both guests and locals) how to thrive in a sustainable,healthy ecosystem.

True human wellness occurs not when we ourselves arewell, but when we are well within our environment.

Bob Truckner is a pediatric emergency physician who has had aninterest in ecotourism for nearly 10 years. Recently he changed the focus of his career from emergency medicine to eco-health. Hewelcomes comments and is interested in furthering eco-health inecotourism. Contact him at [email protected].

Eco-health and TrueHuman Wellness

By:Bob Truckner

FU U E CU N ED N

e next edition of EcoCurrents will focus on green building,innovative design, and native landscaping within ecotourismand ecolodge development. We encourage members to submitarticles on technical achievements on these topics.

Please submit letters and future articles [email protected] by September 1, 2006 for potentialinclusion in ird Quarter 2006 EcoCurrents.

P C D :

Clockwise from top le on each page Page 1: Article photo courtesy of Country Walkers. Page 4: Article photo courtesy of Adventure Travel MediaSource. Page 5: Photo courtesy of Horizontes Nature Tours. Page 7: Articlephotos courtesy of Nevada Wilderness Project. Page 8: Photo courtesy of Boundless Journeys. Page 9: Photos courtesy of Boundless Journeys;Adventure Travel Media Source. Page 10: Photoscour tesy Monona Terrace;VisitOSLO; VisitOSLO, Monona Terrace.


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Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustain

TIES S PONSOR M EMBERS

Adventure Life Journeys Alaska Wildland Adventures Amazonia Expeditions Aventuras Naturales - Pacuare Lodge CanadianMountain Holidays Inc. (C.M.H.) Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (at Conservation International) CrossingLatitudes, Inc ecoAfrica Travel Ecoventura/Galapagos Network El Pescador Resorts Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn Green

Hotels of Costa Rica Holbrook Travel Horizontes Nature Tours InkaNatura Travel International Expeditions, Inc INTRAV /Clipper Cruise Lines Intrepid Travel Pty Ltd Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Kingsher Bay Resort Lapa Rios Ecolodge Legitify Lindblad Expeditions Maho Bay Camps, Inc. Micato Safaris NatureAir Nomadic Journeys Ltd OARS (Outdoor AdventureRiver Specialists) Rainforest Expeditions (Posada Amazonas/Tambopata) Rhino Walking Safaris Rivers Fiji Solimar Marketing& Travel The Uganda Safari Company Tiamo Resorts Turtle Island, Fiji Wilderness Travel Wildland Adventures

TIES N ATIONAL & R EGIONAL A SSOCIATION M EMBERS

Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association AMTAVE (Mexican Association of Adventure Tourism & Ecotourism) Armenian Ecotourism Association Asociacin Ecoturismo Guatemala Asociacin Ecuatoriana de Ecoturismo - ASEC BrazilianSociety for The Environment Camara Nacional de Ecoturismo de Costa Rica (CANAECO) Central Balkan Kalofer EcotourismAssociation Discover Nepal EcoBrasil - Associacao Brasileira de Ecoturismo Eco-Nigeria Ecotourism Society of Nigeria Ecotourism Australia Ecotourism Kenya Ecotourism Laos - Mekkong Tourism Development Project Ecotourism Norway Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka (ESSL) Ecotourism Society Pakistan Ecotourism Society Philippines Foundation EcotourismSociety of Kenya Ecotourism Society of Saskatchewan Ecoturismo Italia Estonian Ecotourism Association (ESTECAS) FijiEcotourism Association French Ecotourism Society Grand Bahama Island Ecotourism Association Green Tourism Association Hawaii Ecotourism Association Indonesian Ecotourism Network (INDECON Foundation) Iriomote Island EcotourismAssociation Japan Ecolodge Association (ECOLA) Japan Ecotourism Society (JES) Kunigami Toruism Association (KUTA) LaRuta de Sonora Ecotourism Association Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA) Mongolian Ecotourism Society MurghabEcotourism Association (META) Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) Sustainable West Virginia Swedish EcotourismSociety Taiwn Ecotourism Association Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) The Ontario EcotourismSociety (TOES) Toledo Eco Tourism Association Virginia EcoTourism Association Visit Florida

TIES B OARD

Heba Aziz , Ministry of Tourism, Oman Tracy Berno , University of the South Pacic, Fiji Rajiv Bhartari , Indian Forest Service &Corbett Tiger Reserve, India Sylvie Blangy (Development Chair), TUKTU Ecotourism Consultants, France Kelly Bricker (BoardChair) , WILD-U, Fiji & USA Tony Charters (Vice Chair), Tony Charters & Associates, Australia Richard Denman (Secretary), The Tourism Company, United Kingdom Andrew Fairley (Treasurer), Turtle Island, Fiji & Australia Kamelia Georgieva , HumanResearch Center, Bulgaria Nandita Jain , Independent Consultant, India & USA Glenn Jampol , Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn,Costa Rica Karen Lewis , Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica & USA Clare Mcfarlane , Aries Tours, Australia Hitesh Mehta , EDSA,USA John Poutasse , Attorney, USA Ravi Ruparel , The World Bank; Uganda Chandra de Silva , Ranweli Holiday Village, SriLanka Keith W. Sproule , Independent Consultant, USA Masaru Takayama , Japan Ecolodge Association, Japan LouiseTwining-Ward , Tourism Resource Consultants, USA Wolfgang Strasdas , University of Eberswalde, Germany Jan Wigsten ,Nomadic Journeys, Mongolia & Sweden Carolyn Wild , WILD International, Canada

TIES S TAFF

Courtney Baggett , Events Coordinator Amos Bien , Director of International Programs Christina Cavaliere , Director of Training andEducation Alice Crabtree , Asia-Pacic Director and Research Associate on Certication David Diedrich , Directorof Finance and Administration Ayako Ezaki , Asia-Pacic Coordinator Martha Honey , Ph.D., Executive Director KatieMaschman , Director of Membership and Communications

Documents

TIES EcoCurrents Quarterly eMagazine - 2006 Q2