Work Package 9Impacts of ecotourism

WP coordinators: Charles Darwin Foundation

(Galapagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador)

ECOLAP/ Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) (Machalilla National Park, Ecuador)

WP members: ECOLAP/ USFQFundación Malpelo (Columbia)

Fundación Malpelo

WP 9: Objectives Provision of scientific guidelines for management of marine areas where

ecotourism activities are being developed.

To determine the most appropriate criteria for evaluating the effects of marine ecotourism practices in multi-use (?) reserves (carrying capacity and/or LAC)

Development and testing of these models with appropriately designed and defined indicator categories

Elaborate and implement efficient, cost-effective monitoring and evaluation protocols (integrating biophysical, socio-economic, user perceptions and governance metadata)

Assess human impacts on biological communities at specific case study sites and the implications of environmental variability (ENSO, PDO, global warming etc) upon sustainable business practices in the Equatorial Pacific

Apply lessons learned to new and existing decision support systems and mechanisms (e.g. coastal zoning etc.) for MPA conservation and management

Establish a regional conservation network (Eastern Tropical Pacific) for ecotourism practices within developing frameworks (e.g. Seascape etc)

WP 9: Work PlanProject task Months

Start-up, Creation of a shared literature base: historical data and literature review between WP members 3 - 7

Workshop 1 (Malpelo, Columbia (?) January 2006): “CONCEPT AND ORIENTATION”Planning and discussion forum: (a) to share WP member and MPA stakeholder experiences (b) develop WP strategy, definitions and fundamental concepts (i.e. Management model definitions (LAC vs. Carrying Capacity)) (c) evaluate existing indicators and monitoring methods (d) design candidate indicators (transversal and specific for WP MPA case studies) (e) design monitoring approach/ protocols.

8

Presentation and integration of work package goals with local MPA administrators and stakeholders (strengthened links)

Construct and maintain a web based Ecotourism discussion and feedback group

Biophysical, socio-economic, user perception and governance data collection with MPA counterparts

Data reduction and creation of a WP database as part of WP1 metadata ?

Analysis: first evaluation of marine ecotourism indicators for MPAs and monitoring methods

8 -18

Workshop 2 (Machallila/ Galapagos, Ecuador, November 2006 (?)). “EVALUATION”Evaluation forum : (a) share WP member progress and lessons learned, revisit conceptual questions to evaluate and modify indicators and monitoring methods if necessary, (b) integration of WP criteria and data between other INCOFISH WP’s (1,5,8 etc).

Discussion forum : (b) cost benefit analysis of reciprocation of ecotourism and conservation initiatives to ensure sustainable ecosystems (c) develop strategies to integrate WP recommendations into decision making processes within MPAs (eg. Participatory forums, conservation initiatives within the tourism sector)

Discussion forum : (d) how might we implement long term improvements in sector group perceptions w.r.t sustainable activities?

18

Continued indicator data collection and assimilation.

Identify, explore and where feasible apply, incentives and mechanisms to improve the contributions of tourism operations towards reciprocal sustainable ecotourism and conservation.

On basis of indicator outputs design decision making tools for application by Marine Reserve Managers (interpretation)

18 - 29

Workshop 3 (Galapagos, Ecuador) Sept 2007 (?)) “MANAGEMENT PROCESS AND FUTURE STEPS”Plenary: (a) integrating technical recommendations into management processes (b) summary of WP advances (c) strategies to develop WP objectives beyond the life of the project

Work groups (c) definition of publications and diffusion of project results

29

Dissemination of results to stakeholders, park administrators and academic community 30 - 33

WP 9: Deliverables

D9.1 DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA :

to determine the most appropriate management models and “scope” of ecotourism

(Carrying capacity vs. LAC/VIM) for ecotourism in the 4 MPAs under study with global review of ecotourism activities outside of Equ. Pacific

D9.2 INDICATORS, STANDARDS AND THRESHOLD VALUES :

used to monitor impact of ecotourism on selected MPA’s

D9.3 A RANGE OF ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT RESPONSES :

application and evaluation of ecotourism concepts, standards and indicators between WP’s and MPA stakeholders and managers (focus)

D9.4 SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION TO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS

Dissemination of results to stakeholders, park administrators and academic community. At least 5 publications submitted between WP members

MilestonesMonth Milestone

8 Model/s identified and concepts defined

9 Prototype indicators established

9 Presentation and exploration of work package goals with local MPA administrators and stakeholders

12 Monitoring protocols applied in case study systems

18 Data formatted for integration into INCOFISH web-portal

21 Monitoring system/ Indicator evaluation and feedback process

10 - 33 Publication and diffusion to stakeholders, administrators and academic community (transversal activity)

WP 9: Partners and case study ecosystems

• Galapagos National Park Service (Ecuador)• Machalilla National Park (Ecuador)• Malpelo Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna

(Columbia)• Gorgona National Park (Columbia)• Parques Nacionales Columbia• Invited experts (e.g. tourism reps, NGO

experts, process facilitators, local government etc.)

WP 9:Time table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 D9.1: DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA

D9.2: INDICATORS, STANDARDS AND

THRESHOLD VALUES

D9.3: A RANGE OF ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT RESPONSES

D9.4: SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION TO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 D9.1: DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA

D9.2: INDICATORS, STANDARDS AND

THRESHOLD VALUES

D9.3: A RANGE OF ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT RESPONSES

D9.4: SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION TO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 D9.1: DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA

D9.2: INDICATORS, STANDARDS AND

THRESHOLD VALUES

D9.3: A RANGE OF ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT RESPONSES

D9.4: SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION TO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

WP 9: Personnel

• Stuart Banks (CDF)

• Investigator to be contracted

• Gunter Reck (USFQ-ECOLAP)

• Camilo Martinez (USFQ-ECOLAP)

• Sandra Bessudo (Malpelo Foundation)

• Hernando Zambrano (Malpelo Foundation)

• Clara Osorio (Columbia National Parks)