Puerto Carreño Ecotourism
The Golden Standard for Responsible Tourism in the 21st Century
Ecotourism in Puerto Carreño
If our members are not ecologically sustainable by 2030 then they will no longer provide services for tourists according to one of the founders of the Tourism Council. A majority of the council's emphasis and purpose is focused on ecological sustainable activities, including getting here; visitors are responsible for their emissions and will automatically offset this cost to the planet upon arrival with the Tourism Council. From our beginning in 2023 members and organizers have been looking for new ways to justify our actions as sustainable objectives and making ideas qualify under international best practices and standards that are emerging industry-wide. In Puerto Carreño we are planting trees for every visitor we have and dedicating existing trees present on the landscape through sponsorships.
Ecotourism Today
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s, ecotourism has been considered a critical endeavor by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively untouched by human intervention. Ecotourism may focus on educating travelers on local environments and natural surroundings with an eye to ecological conservation. Some include in the definition of ecotourism the effort to produce economic opportunities that make conservation of natural resources financially possible.
Generally, ecotourism deals with interaction with biotic components of the natural environments. Ecotourism focuses on socially responsible travel, personal growth, and environmental sustainability. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists an insight into the impact of human beings on the environment and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats. Ecotourism aims at minimal environmental impact on the areas visited. Besides fostering respect towards the natural environment, ecotourism also helps in creating socio-economic benefits for the communities of the area visited.
Responsible ecotourism programs include those that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities. For these reasons, ecotourism often appeals to advocates of environmental and social responsibility.
Many consider the term "ecotourism", like "sustainable tourism" (which is a related concept but broader), an oxymoron. Like most long-distance travel, ecotourism often depends on air transportation, which contributes to climate change. Additionally, "the overall effect of sustainable tourism is negative where like ecotourism philanthropic aspirations mask hard-nosed immediate self-interest." The well is often poisoned by "private operators" that charge prices for sustainable experiences that are ecosystem friendly that are called or dressed as "ecotourism" without the local people or the natural environment receiving any benefit or dividend at all. -Wikipedia
El Tuparro Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO)
The Tuparro Biosphere Reserve and National Park is located in the eastern plains of Colombia in Vichada county, a flat area bounded by the Orinoco River to the east, the Tomo River to the north and the Tuparro and Tuparrito to the south. The area undulates with a series of small valleys and major rivers and streams. A few areas are permanently flooded during parts of the year.
Tuparro Biosphere Reserve and National Park