National Geographic CSD Partners With Hurtigruten In Geotourism
New York, NY – National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) and Norwegian coastal liner Hurtigruten have signed a cooperation agreement to safeguard and enhance Hurtigruten’s unique destinations along the Norwegian coast — known as some of best destinations in the world.
“Hurtigruten is unique in the world. With Hurtigruten you are really a part of Norway, part of a Norwegian tradition — the crew is Norwegian, the food and experience is Norwegian. Hurtigruten is uniquely identified with the country in which it operates. That’s not true with conventional cruiseliners,” says Jonathan Tourtellot, National Geographic CSD Director.
The cooperation agreement has been established with the intent to help Hurtigruten to become even better — following a code of good practices. Hurtigruten has served the passengers, the ports and the Norwegian coast since 1893 bringing freight and passengers between 34 daily ports of call year round. This history of service gives the coastal voyager an insight beyond a travel product; and in many ways already fulfills much of National Geographic geotourism principles: to sustain or enhance a place’s geographical character by maintaining the destination’s distinctiveness – its nature, culture, history and the well-being of its residents.
“National Geographic pinpoints what we understand is the unique character of Hurtigruten. In many ways Hurtigruten has a mission besides presenting the beautiful Norwegian coast to tourists. This mission is exercised in cooperation with our environment – with our destinations as our local partners. Hurtigruten supports and depends on strong and sustainable destinations and wants to improve our skills and performance on this field. By doing this we will enhance what makes Hurtigruten unique in the world”, states Hurtigruten CEO Olav Fjell.
National Geographic CSD, with their knowledge of sustainable destinations and geotourism, is a recognized leader in one of the world`s largest industries — tourism. For Hurtigruten this cooperation is seen as a confirmation of good practice and but also as a possibility to improve skills within a field that is becoming more and more important for future tourism.
“This cooperation will strengthen and clarify Hurtigruten’s unique position as the original coastal voyager. The Norwegian fjords have already won several prizes as the world`s best travel destinations. This happens partly because Norway as a nation has the wisdom to manage our nature and our culture with sense and in a sustainable way. After almost 120 years in service it’s vital that Hurtigruten operate in accordance with sustainable principles related to both nature and our destinations along the coast,” says Christian Bue Nordahl, Global Brand Manager, Hurtigruten ASA.
Senate Bill Would Fulfill Longstanding Promise for Conservation and Recreation Program
WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Max Baucus (D-MT), today introduced legislation to permanently provide $900 million to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the federal government’s main program to protect land and provide outdoor recreation opportunities.
The legislation, S. 2747, is supported by a broad coalition of conservation and recreation organizations.
“Even in difficult economic times, open space protection and outdoor recreation are top priorities for Americans. Two out of three American voters continue to offer strong support for public investments in conservation – and that support has held steady despite the economic downturn and in this week’s elections, 64 percent of state and municipal ballot initiatives authorizing land conservation funding passed,” stated Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “Senator Bingaman and Senator Baucus clearly understand this, and are taking that crucial step towards making a dependable investment in the future of this country’s communities.”
The LWCF, created in 1965, has helped protect land at some of America’s most famous and popular places including our country’s iconic national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and National Landscape Conservation System Lands where millions of Americans recreate; beaches on the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard; as well as cultural and historic places like Civil War battlefields and Native American sites.
The program also includes grants to support state and local parks. Those grants help develop park facilities and recreational amenities – creating jobs and supporting the quality-of-life factors that allow communities to attract employers and a strong work force.
“We get to protect places like La Cienega Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Petroglyph National Monument at the same time that we improve parks, trails, ball fields, and pools – that’s a win for everyone. It’s heartening to see Senator Bingaman taking steps to fully fund this program and enrich our communities,” said New Mexico House Majority Leader Kenny Martinez.
Every year, $900 million goes into the fund from oil and gas leases on federal lands. But Congress has often spent the money for other purposes and only once in the history of the fund has all the money gone for the original intent of the LWCF. This year, the fund saw its greatest allocation in many years at more than $300 million – but that is still only one third of what it is supposed to be.
Because only a fraction of the funds dedicated to the purpose have actually been spent, there is a backlog of more than $30 billion worth of lands that federal agencies would like to protect. In addition, states say they have a huge unmet need for local parks and recreation resources totaling more than $27 billion in eligible projects.
“The irony is that billions of dollars are collected every year from existing offshore oil and gas leasing revenues – the designated revenue stream for LWCF – and yet that money is regularly diverted for other purposes,” stated Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land. “We need to make sure the money is spent for the purposes for which it was originally collected and to ensure that our children and grandchildren have a place to play.”
Federal and state public lands as well local parks and recreation facilities greatly enhance communities’ quality of life, which in turn helps large and small localities to attract new residents and businesses and to generate tourism-related jobs and revenues. Outdoor recreation including hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities contributes a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.) and stimulates 8 percent of all consumer spending according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation.
“The outdoor industry has long held a goal of ensuring every child in America has access to a trail or park within one mile of their home. Many studies show that this type of commitment to our nation’s recreation infrastructure would easily pay for itself in the resulting reduction in health care costs and the increase in the mental well-being of our children,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of Outdoor Industry Association.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition is an informal partnership of national, state and local conservation and recreation organizations working together to support full and dedicated funding for LWCF.
Thomson Safaris wins 2009 Tanzania Conservation Award
Honored for community-based initiatives at Enashiva Nature Refuge
Arusha, Tanzania — The Tanzania Tourist Board has honored Thomson Safaris (www.thomsonsafaris.com) with the 2009 Tanzania Conservation Award.
The award specifically recognizes the company’s efforts in establishing and supporting the Enashiva Nature Refuge, a community-based conservation project east of the Serengeti.
On May 19, Enashiva’s project manager, Daniel Yamat, received the award on behalf of Thomson Safaris at a ceremony in Cairo, Egypt, which was attended by Tanzania’s minister of tourism, Shamsa Mwangunga, among other distinguished guests.
“Thomson Safaris is humbled to receive this honor,” said Yamat. “We owe our deepest gratitude to the Tanzania Tourist Board, the government, and, most of all, the Maasai communities around Enashiva that have helped make conservation successful. The award really belongs to them.”
Since conservation efforts began at Enashiva, wildlife populations have more the doubled in the area and sightings of endangered species such as wild dog have increased dramatically. Rare woodland habitats that support endangered tree species are also being restored.
Yamat, who is of Maasai heritage, collaborates with a liaison committee of Maasai elders and leaders who assist in guiding Enashiva’s principles and work with local communities on conservation efforts and community projects. In 2008, select projects included the development of a borehole and water well, support for a women’s entrepreneur group, and the donation of a maize-grinding machine. Yamat noted several projects that are in the planning stages for 2009.
“As tourists come to Enashiva, we hope more opportunities will open up,” said Yamat. “Wildlife and communities do not have to be in conflict with each other. They can both win.”
The Conservation Award marks the third honor Thomson Safaris has received from the Tanzania Tourist Board. In 2005, Thomson received the Humanitarian of the Year Award, and they were named Tour Operator of the Year in 2001. More recent recognitions include being named among the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth by National Geographic Adventure in 2008 and 2009. Thomson Safaris was also a finalist for the 2008 Condé Nast World Savers Award, which recognized the company’s efforts in supporting education initiatives in Tanzania.
Thomson works closely with Friends of Tanzanian Schools (www.fotzs.org), a non-profit organization that has funded education projects at more than 12 schools that educate approximately 11,000 children annually. Earlier in 2009, FOTZS funded and facilitated the construction of teachers’ housing at Robanda Primary School, which has also received more than 3,000 donated textbooks from the organization. More than 40% of Thomson Safaris travelers visit schools in Tanzania and provide most of FOTZS’ funding through donations.
For the first time in history, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species includes ocean corals in its annual report of wildlife going extinct.
A comprehensive study of marine life sponsored by Conservation International (CI) and implemented jointly with the IUCN-World Conservation Union concluded that three species of corals unique to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands could soon disappear forever.
Corals build reefs that are habitat for fish and other marine life. They are also a major attraction for divers in the Galapagos, where tourism makes a significant contribution to the local and national economy. Scientists blame climate change for more frequent and increasingly severe El Niño events that may have contributed to the corals’ decline, as well as over-fishing in the area.
The 2007 IUCN Red List designates two of the corals – Floreana coral (Tubastraea floreana) and Wellington’s solitary coral (Rhizopsammia wellingtoni) – as Critically Endangered, while a third, Polycyathus isabela, is listed as Vulnerable. The Red List also includes 74 Galapagos seaweeds, or macro-algae, with 10 of them receiving the most threatened status of Critically Endangered. Prior to 2007, only one algae species had been included on the Red List.
“There is a common misconception that marine species are not as vulnerable to extinction as land-based species,” said Roger McManus, CI’s vice president for marine programs. “However, we increasingly realize that marine biodiversity is also faced with serious environmental threat, and that there is an urgent need to determine the worldwide extent of these pressures to guide marine conservation practice.”
You can help stop the clock on coral and other species extinction by signing the Stop the Clock petition. Learn more about some of the most threatened plants and animals on the planet, and their fight for survival, on Conservation.org.
