Ecotourism Organizations

Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Assn. (AWRTA) Membership organization of small, locally-owned ecotour operators with the goal of promoting and protecting wild places in Alaska. Contact: 2207 Spenard Rd., Ste. 201, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; Tel. 907-258-3171; info@awrta.org, www.awrta.org.

Conservation International—Ecotourism Department's Ecotourism Program supports the development of lodges, trails, visitor centers, and services provided by locals. Contact: 1919 M St., NW, Ste. 600, Washington, DC 20036; Tel. 202-912-1000; www.ecotour.org; ecotour@conservation.org.

Green Tourism Association works collaboratively with a network of local businesses, environmental groups, government agencies, heritage and cultural organizations, and individuals. Contact: 590 Jarvis St., 4th Fl. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4Y 2J4; Tel. 416-392-1288; info@greentourism.ca, www.greentourism.ca.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), 733 15th St. NW, Ste. 1000, Washington, DC, 20005-2112; Tel. 202-347-9203; ecomail@ecotourism.org.

COMECO New Mexican non-profit focusing on ecotourism. The council was created by Jorge Chavez de la Peña, who created Mexico’s first academic ecotourism program. Contact: COMECO, Damas No.49 Col. San José Insurgentes, Mexico City, MEXICO 03900; Tel. 011-52-5611-9779; www.comeco.com.mx.

The Nature Conservancy Responsible travel to natural areas can be an excellent way to learn about biodiversity and local cultures while contributing to conservation and the sustainable development of local communities. The Nature Conservancy and its partner organizations are stewards of many of the world’s “Last Great Places.” Contact: 4245 North Fairfax Dr., Ste. 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606; Tel. 703-841-5300; nature.org/aboutus/travel/ecotourism.

Rain Forest Alliance is an international organization developing a sustainable tourism program. Contact: 665 Broadway, Ste. 500, New York, NY 10012; Tel. 212-677-1900; www.rainforestalliance.org.

South American Explorers (SAE) promotes ecologically responsible tourism. Has clubhouses in Quito, Ecuador and Lima and Cusco, Peru. Publishes quarterly magazine and sells books and maps. Contact: 126 Indian Creek Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; Tel. 607-277-0488; explorer@saexplorers.org, www.saexplorers.org.

Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA), located in San Miguel Village, Toledo District, Belize, is a network of indigenous ecotourism, cultural presentation, and adventure tours. Contact: Pabzo Ack, BTB Information Center, Punta Gorda, P.O. Box 180, Belize; Tel. 011-501-722-2096; ttea@btl.net, www.toledoecotourismassociation.com.

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) (The program was more active a few years ago.) Contact: Tourism Programme, 39-43, Quai André Citroën, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France; Tel. 011-33-1-44-37-14-41; www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism.

World Tourism Organization (WTO) is an international organization with a number of resources of interest, including Web guides to the Sustainable Development of Tourism (www.world-tourism.org/sustainable), eliminating poverty via tourism (www.world-tourism.org/step/menu.html), and the International Year of Ecotourism (www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main-Menu.htm). Contact: Capitá Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain; Tel. 011-34-91-567-81-00; www.world-tourism.org; omt@world-tourism.org.