FAST-LAINMeeting 25-26 May 2011 in Saarbrücken

Partner Profile Christina T. Cavaliere

UNEP/GRID ArendalSustainable Tourism Project Manager

Capacity Building ProgrammeMobile: +47 94 80 42 22

Email: christina.cavaliere@grida.noSkype: christina-ecotourism

Web: www.grida.no 

Partner OrganisationUNEP/GRID-ArendalTeaterplassen 3N - 4386 ArendalNorway

GRID is a collaborating center of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and was established in 1989 by the Government of Norway to communicate environmental information to policy-makers and facilitate environmental decision-making for change.

Participant:Christina T. CavaliereCapacity Building ProgrammeSustainable Tourism Project Manager Christina.Cavaliere@grida.no

Our organisation

As UNEP is an official member of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (GPST) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC):

-American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)-American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) -Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)-Condé Nast Traveller-National Geographic (Sustainable Destinations) -Ecotourism Society of Kenya (ESOK)-Expedia Incorporation -Fairtourist -Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-Federation of Tour Operators (FTO)-Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) -HM Designs -International Hotel and Restaurant Assoc. (IH&RA) -National Geographic Adventure -Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris (OTCP)-The Rainforest Alliance (RA)-Secretariat of Convention on Biological Diversity -Sustainable Investment and Finance in Tourism Network (SIFT) -Solimar International -Sustainable Travel International (STI)-The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)-Tourism Concern

List of ORGANISATIONS which are working in our region/area on sustainable tourism topics

-Travel Weekly-Travelocity-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-UNEP – Division of Technology, Industry & Economics-United Nations Foundation (UNF)-UN Internat. Children‘s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)-UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)-UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)-World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Aditional Partners:

- British Council (Climate Change Champions)-Conservation International - Verde Ventures -International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-Leeds Metropolitan University -Lund University -Oceanwide Expeditions -RARE Conservation -The World Bank -Tour Operations Initiative (TOI) -UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -University of Otago -United States of America International Development -World Resource Institute (WRI)

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Selection of current PROJECTS and INITIATIVES on sustainable tourism in our region/area

UNEP/GRID Projects:

-Workshop on Climate Change for young European Policy Makers (Cooperation with British Council)

-Mapping global PAs/MPAs that benefit directly from Sustainable Tourism

-Consultation on Green Shipping

-GRID-Arendal Industry Workshop and Planning Session

-Development and ongoing mangement of Green Economy Team

-Blue Carbon and Sustainable Tourism Interaction

-Various 'Vital Graphic' Publications- three pending on tourism related issues

-BEST - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Together (Formerly known as MAIN - Mitigation and Adaption Information Network)

-2007 Workshop LT&C - Linking Tourism and Conservation (LT&C is an ongoing project)

-2010 Workshop LT&C - Linking Tourism and Conservation

Upcoming EVENTS on sustainable tourism in our region/area

-Training Programme on climate change and sustainable tourism for young Policay Makers (Svalbard, May 2011)

-Consultation on Green Shipping (Norway, May 2011)

-GRID-Arendal Arctic Industry Workshop and Planning Session (Norway, May 2011)

-International Tourist Forum 'Tourism Development in the North' (Russia, May 2011)

-Green Globe Work Summit (France, May 2011)

-Rio +20 – UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Brazil, June 2011)

-United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Germany, June 2011)

-Meeting of the Board of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (Spain, June 2011)

-International Tourism Sustainability Conference 2011 (Mauritius, September 2011)

-Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference - ESTC (USA, September 2011)

-Tourism, Leisure Destinations, Sustainability and Competitiveness (Portugal, September 2011)

-International Conference on Tourism & Management Studies (Portugal, October 2011)

Selection of tourism businesses /services which might be promoted on a sustainable tourism MARKET PLACE

Outstanding Companies:

-Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP)-Great Barrier Reef Marine Protected Area (GBRMPA)-Hurtigruten -Solimar International -The Blue Yonder-The Marrakesh Process

- American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)-American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) -Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)-Condé Nast Traveller-National Geographic (Sustainable Destinations) -Ecotourism Society of Kenya (ESOK)-Expedia Incorporation -Fairtourist -Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-Federation of Tour Operators (FTO)-Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) -HM Designs -International Hotel and Restaurant Assoc. (IH&RA) -National Geographic Adventure -Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris (OTCP)-The Rainforest Alliance (RA)-Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

- Sustainable Investment & Finance in Tourism Network -Solimar International-Sustainable Travel International (STI)-The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)-Tourism Concern-Travel Weekly-Travelocity-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-UNEP – Division of Technology, Industry & Economics-United Nations Foundation (UNF)-UN Internat. Children‘s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)-UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)-UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)-World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Our Regional / Thematic Cluster idea

Project title: Linking Tourism and Conservation and green economy in the Black Sea Region Lead organisation: UNEP/GRID-Arendal & Bulgarian European Union

Project FundingResearch thematic/s: Supporting CBD.LT&C, PAs and MPAs Objectives:

showing the importance of economic prosperity, the social balance and uniqueness, and the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage, how can PAs financially benefit from tourism (direct/indirect)

Potential partners

-Tourism operators in the Black Sea Region

-Ecotourism Operators

-Coastal management and tourism strategies (for example: Blue Flag Initiative)

Key regional/ thematic Knowledge Providers

- UNEP/GRID-Arendal -Representatives from the private sector (Businesses & associations)

-Governmental & Admin Bodies

-Academic & Scientific Bodies

-NGOs

Special strengths: UNEP/GRID-Arendal’s sustainable tourism capacity:Bio-cultural ConservationResource Efficiency and BiodiversityFinance and InvestmentPolicy Frameworks and Knowledge NetworksClimate Change and AdaptationPayment for Ecosystem Services (PES) including Blue Carbon Poverty AlleviationLinking Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas (including MPAs)

Special needsRegional Partners (Black Sea)Funding Matching Funds

PotentialProject Implementation that highlights and supports PAs and MPAsReplication of these regional initiatives globally Increased knowledge networks and vital graphics on sustainable tourism/conservation