WHA Members

“We are excited to be part of this innovative partnership to promote sustainable travel,” said Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance. “We look forward to offering training and technical assistance to World Heritage Alliance members through our sustainable tourism program, and we hope to help them lead the way in protecting some of the world’s most valuable places for years to come.”

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. We set standards for sustainability that conserve wildlife and wildlands and promote the well-being of workers and their communities in agriculture, forestry and tourism. Farms and forestry enterprises that meet our comprehensive criteria receive the Rainforest Alliance certification seal.

We also work with tourism businesses, to help them succeed while leaving a small footprint on the environment and providing a boost to local economies, by providing them with training and technical assistance and marketing support.  

Rainforest Alliance and the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism:

• Implementing the World Heritage Alliance principles
  

  To be able to maximize its work in the field, the Rainforest Alliance now has two offices at World Heritage sites: a new office opened in Cusco, Peru last July, and another located in Quito, Ecuador since January 2005.
  
  Leading 25 introductory seminars explaining the principles of sustainable tourism and World Heritage site conservation to over 850 participants, and incorporating materials on World Heritage conservation and the World Heritage Alliance into these seminars.
  

• Participating in staff training programs
  

  Coordinating with UNESCO on giving a presentation on efforts to conserve World Heritage sites in Latin America to the Rainforest Alliance’s staff in Costa Rica. 
  
  Giving a presentation about Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism work and Best Management Practices to other members of the World Heritage Alliance.
  

• Educating customers about World Heritage
  

  The Rainforest Alliance has signed agreements with nine local and international tour operators who commit to creating at least 50% of their packages with hotels near World Heritage sites that have adopted best management practices, and promoting them to their clients.
  
  Two promotional trips for European and U.S. tour operators were organized, one visiting the Tikal and Antigua areas of Guatemala, and the other, to Quito and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. 
  
  Nearly thirty tourism businesses near World Heritage sites are included in the Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism, a searchable online database exclusively of tourism businesses committed to sustainability. 
  
  Two press trips were organized in Ecuador with the support of Fondo Mixto de Promoción Turística and the Ecuadorian Tourism Bureau, with a total of 27 journalists participating. For both trips the journalists were informed of the work that is being carried out in Ecuador on best practices and the role that small and medium entrepreneurs play. 
  
  Two articles have been published in the Rainforest Alliance’s E-newsletter, Sustainable Tourism Connections.
  

• Supporting community development around World Heritage sites
  

  Leading eleven two-day workshops for nearly 450 tourism businesses owners and managers representing community-based groups near World Heritage sites, teaching them step-by-step methods on how to implement water and energy saving practices, proactively preserve and protect cultural heritage and contribute to local economic development 
  
  Evaluated 66 businesses near patrimonial sites in Latin America, which will help identify their strengths and weaknesses and see where they need to make improvements. 
  
  Marketing the accomplishments of successful businesses through publications and in international and local trade shows.

• Engaging employees to support the local community
  

  15 Rainforest Alliance staff members will participate in a seminar about World Heritage sites (to be coordinated with UNESCO).
  
  Organize 3 Rainforest Alliance staff visits to World Heritage sites to teach them about the World Heritage Alliance’s work.

• Supporting the United Nations in its efforts
  

  to encourage sustainable tourism and the protection of World Heritage sites through identifying opportunities, leading discussions and giving presentations to encourage the inclusion of sustainable tourism principles in tourism development policies worldwide.
  
  Ecuador:
  
  The Fondo Mixto de Promoción Turística de Ecuador of the Ecuadorian Tourism Bureau has agreed to aggressively market those businesses that have participated in the Rainforest Alliance’s best management practices program.
  
  The incorporation of sustainable tourism criteria into Ecuador’s Tourist Development Plan (PLANDETUR) was achieved after encouragement from the Rainforest Alliance.
  
  Guatemala:
  
  As a result of several visits and of best practices introduction seminars, Tikal National Park has modified their Operative Regulations so that any company that operates in the Park (whether it is a Hotel, Restaurant, Tour Operator or Tour Guides), must have a Green Deal certification in sustainable tourism, which is the Rainforest Alliance’s local partner in Guatemala.
  
  Worldwide:
  
  Facilitate the development of regional and global sustainable tourism standards, and increase credibility and market support for sustainable tourism certification. See www.certificationnetwork.org and www.stscouncil.org.