Maquipucuna Reserve in Northwestern Ecuador:
How Ecotourism Helps to Provide Positive Experiences for Both Visitors and Hosts Ecotourism is a type of alternative tourism that offers visitors a unique experience in nature and has also been known by differing names, such as ethical tourism, ecological tourism, or nature based travel (Ecotourism – Terms and definitions, n.d.). Multiple definitions of ecotourism can be found, but Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, a Mexican architect, was one of the first to define the term in 1983 (Ecotourism – Terms…, n.d.). Ceballos-Lascurain described it as a type of tourism that was environmentally responsible and encompassed traveling to remote locations to study the nature and cultural aspects without undermining …show more content…
We champion the essence of ecotourism by pledging to consistently and diligently foster conservation, empower local communities, and educate visitors on the native culture and natural beauty of the location. An example of EcoTrue remaining true to our mission statement is reflected in our Maquipucuna Reserve project. The Maquipucuna Reserve in northwestern Ecuador was established in 1988 and is considered “one of the earth’s top three biodiversity hotspots” (Maquipucuna Reserve, n.d.). The reserve is comprised of 14,000 acres of cloud forests, the Maquipucuna Ecolodge and Research Station, and 2.5 million acres of the Choco-Andean Corridor (Maquipucuna Reserve, n.d.). It has been praised for its excellence in a variety areas of ecotourism and has won several awards and honors like The Skal International Award for Best Practices in Community and Government Projects in 2003 and The Ecotourism Showcase 2000 Award, which considered “excellence in in operation service, biodiversity conservation efforts, no marketing investments, and community support” (Awards & Honors, …show more content…
The first example would be the actual method in which the Maquipucuna Reserve Foundation is arranged. The Foundation has been organized into three sections (a non-profit section, a for-profit section, and an administrative section), which is geared toward utilizing the for-profit section, when it becomes successful, to finance the administrative and non-profit sections and eventually create a self-sustaining organization (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). This business model was specifically designed to tackle ecological conservation and sustainability, which have both stifled other ecotourism endeavors (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). The second example would be the building of human capital, which may incorporate instituting much needed healthcare facilities, supplying the natives with environmental education, and increasing gender impartiality (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). The third example would be the formation of social capital by creating networks of community-based conservation and development programs, initiating fair trade contracts, and developing an international education program (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). The fourth example would be identifying and employing natural capital by promoting ecotourism, the sale of locally grown products (organic coffee, cacao, and native bamboo), and
How Ecotourism Helps to Provide Positive Experiences for Both Visitors and Hosts Ecotourism is a type of alternative tourism that offers visitors a unique experience in nature and has also been known by differing names, such as ethical tourism, ecological tourism, or nature based travel (Ecotourism – Terms and definitions, n.d.). Multiple definitions of ecotourism can be found, but Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, a Mexican architect, was one of the first to define the term in 1983 (Ecotourism – Terms…, n.d.). Ceballos-Lascurain described it as a type of tourism that was environmentally responsible and encompassed traveling to remote locations to study the nature and cultural aspects without undermining …show more content…
We champion the essence of ecotourism by pledging to consistently and diligently foster conservation, empower local communities, and educate visitors on the native culture and natural beauty of the location. An example of EcoTrue remaining true to our mission statement is reflected in our Maquipucuna Reserve project. The Maquipucuna Reserve in northwestern Ecuador was established in 1988 and is considered “one of the earth’s top three biodiversity hotspots” (Maquipucuna Reserve, n.d.). The reserve is comprised of 14,000 acres of cloud forests, the Maquipucuna Ecolodge and Research Station, and 2.5 million acres of the Choco-Andean Corridor (Maquipucuna Reserve, n.d.). It has been praised for its excellence in a variety areas of ecotourism and has won several awards and honors like The Skal International Award for Best Practices in Community and Government Projects in 2003 and The Ecotourism Showcase 2000 Award, which considered “excellence in in operation service, biodiversity conservation efforts, no marketing investments, and community support” (Awards & Honors, …show more content…
The first example would be the actual method in which the Maquipucuna Reserve Foundation is arranged. The Foundation has been organized into three sections (a non-profit section, a for-profit section, and an administrative section), which is geared toward utilizing the for-profit section, when it becomes successful, to finance the administrative and non-profit sections and eventually create a self-sustaining organization (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). This business model was specifically designed to tackle ecological conservation and sustainability, which have both stifled other ecotourism endeavors (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). The second example would be the building of human capital, which may incorporate instituting much needed healthcare facilities, supplying the natives with environmental education, and increasing gender impartiality (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). The third example would be the formation of social capital by creating networks of community-based conservation and development programs, initiating fair trade contracts, and developing an international education program (Sustainable Capitalism, n.d.). The fourth example would be identifying and employing natural capital by promoting ecotourism, the sale of locally grown products (organic coffee, cacao, and native bamboo), and