I am happy to report that in the Intag cloud forest region of northern Ecuador, community-based tourism is heating up. Just two hours from the market town of Otavalo, Intag’s ecological reserves have begun to attract a steady stream of travelers. Organizations like the Red Ecoturistica de Intag (REI) and La Fundación a Favor de los Derechos Ciudadanos (PRODECI) are funding projects throughout the region to promote community-led development projects.
Where I volunteer, in the community of Pucará, most people live off small-scale agricultural production. But the community has plans to construct a paradero along the main road, which would house a community-run visitor center, restaurant and Internet cafe. From there, local guides can take visitors on hikes through some of the most stunning and biodiverse forests in the world. According to the Intag Cloud Forest Reserve website, this area contains “approximately 15-17% of the world’s plant species and nearly 20% of its bird diversity (1,666). For both groups, the endemism is astonishingly over 40%.” Across the street, the Intag Spanish School already employs local youth as Spanish teachers. It offers immersion lessons to travelers while providing an economic incentive for the town’s young people to remain in Pucará.
From what I can see, there is a deliberate strategy taking shape here. That’s good, because ever since tourism began to pick up in the 1990s, tourists have concentrated exorbitant wealth in a handful of locations. (Quito, Baños and the Galápagos Islands come to mind.) And even within a city like Quito, travelers tend to favor La Mariscal District (aka Gringolandia) and El Centro Histórico. If they venture out into the country’s national parks, tour companies often make deals with specific lodges and guides, bypassing local communities. It’s a serious problem and one worth addressing: how can the average traveler help protect the natural environment and respect the communities he or she visits? Well friend, have we got some links for you!
If you’re interested in minimizing your environmental impact and providing direct financial benefits for local people and conservation efforts, check out these helpful resources below:
- The International Volunteerism Resource Center, provided by the folks at Idealist.org, can help you make informed decisions about volunteering abroad.
- The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is committed to helping organizations, communities and individuals promote and practice the principles of ecotourism.
- Responsible Travel offers sustainable travel ideas and locally distinctive, authentic holidays that are better for destinations and local communities.
- Volunteer South America regularly updates a list of hundreds of free and low-cost volunteer programs. If you’re thinking of volunteering in South America, look no further.
- Tourism Concern fights exploitation in tourism and campaigns for more ethical, fairly traded forms of tourism.
Check out these posts by other La Vida Idealist bloggers for more on the environment and sustainability in Latin America.
Latest posts by danmalin
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