ECOTOURISM Southeastern Mexico Program Otavalo, Ecuador. April Mónica G. Morales Mendoza

Current project 2003 – 2008 (Sep) Responsible and viable tourism activities developed at the Mid part of the Usumacinta basin (Selva Lacandona).

Achievements 1. Inter institutional joint strategy for consolidation of ecotourism in the region, which just worked new and strengthened handcrafts and packing developed within the lacandon community and two other communities supported with creativity, quality, design and sales. 3. Capacities strengthened in 11 CBEs (community based enterprises) management, English as a third language, services, marketing, tec. 4. Development of best practices of ecotourism and consolidation of 3 CBEs already certified by SEMARNAT in Strengthened commercialization schemes for ecotourism in the region Partners Na Bolom Cultural Asociation, Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR Chiapas), National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP Chiapas), National Commission for Indigenous People Development (CDI Chiapas), National Forest Commission (CONAFOR Chiapas), Rural Prosperity and Conservation Initiative (IPRC and USAID initiative) and Community Based Enterprises from mid part of the Usumacinta Basin (Senda Sur) and SEMARNAT

Current project in Mexico Developing a Strategy for Sustainable Tourism for Biodiversity Conservation in the States of Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico February – December 2008 KBA9

Strategic actors with tourism and nature activities have a tool that facilitates the management of public policy to conserve the biodiversity in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca This project address strategic direction 1 of Northern Mesoamerica ecosystem profile: Foster civil society participation in the formulation and implementation of priority development policies and investments to promote the conservation and sustainable development. Promote policy reforms that integrate biodiversity conservation. Partner: CEMDA (Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, A.C.). where CI is also a partner of this project in Chiapas and Oaxaca states. Purpose

Prospective projects in Mexico status: planning

 Building Sustainable and Competitive Tourism Enterprises in Northern Mesoamerica, project in the stage of planning by Rainforest Alliance KBA 5.  Mesoamerican trails KBA 1 (Selva Zoque) and 3 (Sierra Madre), project in the stage of design by Sustainable Alliances, Inc. Two Projects

Support implementation of community- based ecotourism projects in highlands of Mexico Strengthen protected areas management, foster community-based conservation and compatible development and build local capacity of local partners across southern Mexico and Guatemala in partnership to protect Mesoamerica’s Pine Oak Forests July 2007 – June 2010

Project: Mill house route and protection of pine oak forests at San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas crown (Status: planning) Photos: Na Bolom, A.C. Main partner of this project

Crown of pine-oak forest in SCLC  This project has a great tourism and environmental importance, it is located in well conserved areas of pine-oak forests, which is representative of San Cristobal. These forests have also high biological value and they can be converted in a mechanism of conservation and appreciation of such ecosystems and of the species that compose it, particularly of those in highly risk of extinction such amphibians Eleutherodactylus glaucus; Plectrohyla pycnochila, (AZE); and that in future event species can be studied and recovered in these areas.

Rainforest and Pine-Oak Ecosystems

Challenges  Prove to local communities benefits of conservation of natural resources in a shorter period of time.  Long term strategies and programs, as well as long term funding.  All planning of CI strategies and projects should be jointly developed with local and regional partners.  Consider at all momments priorities of local groups.  Market defined of every project  Build projects in accordance with visitors wills.  Environmental, cultural and economical sucess of every project related to tourism.

Lessons learned  In different phases of a project there should be technical assisstance.  Monitoring planning and definition to baseline information for future evaluations.  Context of a region, locality and project should be analyzed by partners of a project.  Share successes and fails during project implementation with stakeholders.  Consider anthropologicl field with projects related to indigenous peoples.  Sometimes land appropiation should be a priority, when there is little.  In a partnership find first common objective and identify roles and responsilities.  Avoid to empower few persons.  Traning should be part of technical support at the field and not traditional learning.

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