International Day for Biological Diversity Focuses on Sustainable Tourism

   The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) celebrated the designation of 2017 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development’.

   The Day convened under the theme, ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism’.
22 May 2017: The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) celebrated the designation of 2017 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.’ Convening under the theme, ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism,’ the Day promoted achievement of agreed goals and platforms such as: the Sustainable Tourism Programme of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP); the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For her part, Cristiana Pașca Palmer, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), stated that “tourism must not undermine the nature that attracts tourists in the first place,” underscoring the importance of making tourism sustainable. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Heritage Outlook, for instance, over 25% of natural sites on the World Heritage List are negatively affected by tourism. Sustainable tourism, on the other hand, can enhance local livelihoods and show how conservation and development need not be mutually exclusive. The CBD Secretariat is working with governments on their tourism policies, supporting training for protected area managers and developing awareness-raising tools for tourists and tourism professionals.
   CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer stated that “tourism must not undermine the nature that attracts tourists in the first place.”
In his message for the Day, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai said, “Together we can make tourism an ally in fighting loss of biodiversity and achieving the Global Goals for a better world.” The agency is encouraging more destinations to set up sustainable tourism observatories.

   IUCN Director General Inger Andersen also addressed global goals, stating that achieving sustainable tourism will help realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, including SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land).
Another output released on the Day included a book of Haikus titled, ‘Inspired by Nature: Celebrating Biodiversity with Haikus’ released by the CBD, UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Meanwhile the UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) suggested three ways that tourists can contribute to sustainability: reduce water usage; buy local; and use public transport.
   In 2010, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity.

Source: http://sdg.iisd.org/news/international-day-for-biological-diversity-focuses-on-sustainable-tourism/