Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

esources for the population in host communities while maintaining the
cultural and environmental integrity of the host communities and enhancing
the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and natural heritages.
I. The UN's International Year of Ecotourism 2002 (lYE) - Declaration
of the World Ecotourism Summit, Quebec
'Ecotourism' activities have been expanding rapidly worldwide over the past
two decades and further growth is expected in the future. There are
increasing efforts to use ecotourism potential to support nature conservation
and benefit local people, especially in developing countries. This rapid
growth, however, has also given rise to concerns about negative
(environmental, socio-cultural) impacts.
RecogniSing its growing global importance, the United Nations designated
the year 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism (lYE), and its
Commission on Sustainable Development requested international
agencies, governments and the private sector to undertake supportive
activities. Along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the World Tourism Organization (WTO), who were officially designated
as the coordinating organisations for lYE, and The International Ecotourism
Society (TIES) undertook series of activities throughout the lYE.
Objectives of lYE
UNEP and WTO aim at involving all the actors in the field of ecotourism
during the International Year, with the following objectives in mind:
1. To open a wide review on the potential contribution of ecotourism to
sustainable development and to conservation of biodiversity;
2. To exchange information on good practice and lessons learned in the
sustainable planning, development, management and marketing of
ecotourism;
3. To advance in the knowledge of the social, economic and environmental
impacts of ecotourism;
4. To assess the effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms and voluntary
schemes for monitoring and controlling the impacts of ecotourism;
5. To review experiences and lessons learned on the partiCipation of local
communities and Indigenous People in ecotourism projects and
businesses.
57 Nilagiris : Fading Glory