Cairns International Ecotourism Conference
Reported by: Expert Member Mr Michael Sommer, Tourism Advisor, Tourism Queensland
The Ecotourism Association of Australia is pleased to announce the International Ecotourism Conference to be held in Cairns from 21 to 25 October 2002. It is planned that the Conference will be the final formal event of the International Year of Ecotourism 2002, bringing together the work of the International Year. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has officially endorsed the conference. Where Else But Queensland Cairns is Australia's premier ecotourism destination, surrounded by outstanding natural features including three World Heritage Areas - the Great Barrier Reef, Australia's Tropical Rainforest and the Riversleigh Fossil Fields. Cairns is also home to many nationally and internationally acclaimed ecotourism operators. The conference will incorporate opportunities to participate in a wide range of ecotourism activities through field trips and interactive workshops. There is no better location to experience Australia's diversity of ecotourism products, environments and cultural diversity. For registration and more details click here

Pacific Gray Whales comeback
Reported by: Ecolodge Member Baja Adventure Company
Each winter from December through April, a magnificent event takes place along the Eastern Pacific shoreline. A primal calling brings forth the longest known mammal migration; from the cold Arctic waters of the Bering Sea, Pacific Gray Whales make their way South to the remote warm water lagoons of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. It is in these desert lagoons that the propagation of these amazing giants occurs. Although hunted to the brink of extinctions only a few short years ago, Pacific Gray Whales have made a remarkable comeback from an estimated few thousand animals worldwide to a recently estimated 25,000 animals. It is within the confines of San Ignacio Lagoon however that an extraordinary behavior has become commonplace with these thirty ton gentle giants. For more details click here

Guide Training Workshop: Natural History Interpretation
Reported by: Ecolodge Members Bold Point Centre
The Community Colleges in British Columbia, Canada are in the midst of reorganising their Adventure Tourism Certificate courses, to take into account Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council's (CTHRC) new occupational standards. Many colleges across Canada have already incorporated the standards into their Adventure Guide programs. In B.C., the "Adventure Guide - Natural History and Interpretation" course will be a mandatory course of study requiring 45 hours and worth 3 credits. EcoInterpreter Guide Training is a hybrid of "Heritage Interpreters (Parks and Museums)" and "Outdoor Adventure Guides", as developed by the industry for the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council, 1998 and 1999. It is through the encouragement of students, active adventure guides, adventure tourism owner/operators, clients and tourists, that the workshop courses are being offered as a Private Industry initiative, with copyright authorisation to use the standards, as set out by CTHRC. EIG Training is set over 3 modules (3 x 15 hours), for a minimum of 45 hours. Prior Learning experiences and study will be considered for advanced placement within the modules.  Rod Burns, Certified Professional Heritage Interpreter (CTHRC), is offering the workshop modules through Bold Point Centre, and has the objective to bring the workshops to communities, throughout B.C. In setting up the courses, Burns has drawn on his 12 years experience as a business owner in ecotourism and 3 years as a Chief Park Naturalist, following the CTHRC occupational standards, mentioned above. The courses are set to run, March, April and May, and again October and November. They will be set to run Friday evenings / Saturday / Sunday 9 - 5 p.m.. Evenings (Sat & Sun) will be available for research, program development and practice. Individuals helping to promote and organize an EIG workshop in their community, where 10 people attend, will be given the training complimentary, for a value of 175$. For our EcoInterpreter Guide Training Brochure and Registration form, please contact us.

PATA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AIMS FOR GREEN
In the News: Expert Member  Mr  Mandip Singh Soin
Organisers of the 51st PATA Annual Conference in New Delhi, India, April 14-18, are aiming to make a minimal impact on the environment and a maximum impact toward sustainable tourism. "Everything that uses energy emits carbon dioxide," said Mr. Mandip Singh Soin, Founder and Managing Director of Ibex Expeditions, and head of the environmental subcommittee for the India Organising Committee. Mr. Soin  is planning a tree-planting project to offset the carbon dioxide emissions and to leave a greener city for future generations. [PATA]

CERTIFICATION FOR JAMAICAN ECOLODGE MEMBER
In the News: Ecolodge Member Mocking Bird Hill
Mocking Bird Hill is one of just ten hotels across the island to have been certified as meeting the required standards of the Green Globe 21 certification.[Jamaica Gleaner]