Urban Ecotourism Declaration

According to a press release from Planeta.com, a web-based nonprofit organisation which provides information on ecotourism, participants at a conference on urban ecotourism came to an agreement on a declaration which seeks to create green tourism in cities around the world.

Participants at the conference recognised "an ongoing opportunity to conserve biological and social diversity, create new jobs and improve the quality of life" in an urban setting.

The Declaration:

"Recognizing urban centers as cradles of civilization, socio-political progress, examples of co-existence between diverse cultures... and

Recognizing the importance of ecotourism in facilitating cultural exchange, environmental conservation, sustainable and equitable development...

We, the participants of the first international Urban Ecotourism Conference, ask interested stakeholders - officials at the local, federal and international levels, relevant cultural, historical and environmental organizations, the private sector, travelers and residents - to focus on common goals:

• Restoring and conserving natural and cultural heritage including natural landscapes and biodiversity, and indigenous cultures;
• Maximizing local benefits and engaging the local community as owners, investors, hosts and guides;
• Educating visitors and residents on environmental matters, heritage resources, sustainability;
• Reducing our ecological footprint."

According to the press release, participants at the conference also set out a number of recommendations, to be communicated to local authorities and stakeholders, so that they could together take into consideration issues in these categories: information and communication; biodiversity; community; energy; financing; and transportation.