Toward Greener Caribbean Tourism

> >From the March-April issue of Atlantic CoastWatch News, at:
> >http://www.susdev.org/Atlantic_CoastWatch_Newsletter/atlantic_coastwa
> >tch_newsletter.html
> >
> >
> >
> >Toward Greener Caribbean Tourism
> >
> >
> >For many decades, while owners and managers of some small ecotourism
> >facilities in the Caribbean were promoting and upholding high
> >environmental standards, sloppy waste management practices continued
> >to prevail at the larger scale. Developers who often cut corners
> >usually got the breaks they wanted from governments. But more
> >recently, according to Bruce Potter of the Washington, DC and
> >Tortola-based Island Resources Foundation, "A better sense of
> >stewardship is occurring."
> >
> >One reason, Potter says, is that affected local communities have
> >begun to voice a "proper sense of outrage" more loudly. Another is a
> >European Community regulation holding Europe-based tour operators
> >liable for accidents to their customers in the Caribbean. At a time
> >when Caribbean tourism is winning a lessening share of the world
> >market, Potter says that the region has become more keenly aware
> >that it needs to uphold quality and pull up its socks where needed.
> >
> >Several examples indicate an emerging new mood:
> >
> >In Jamaica’s Negril resort area, five hotels have become active
> >partners in a new regional conservation and environmental management
> >effort. Activities include patrolling the Negril Marine Park,
> >environmental education, and three planting. The project is
> >supported by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) in
> >partnership with the Inter-American Foundation in Washington. These
> >organizations have also been working together to support
> >community-based natural resource management initiatives on other
> >islands.
> >
> >Threats to Tobago’s reefs come from untreated sewage from onshore
> >and from visiting yachts, haphazard development, and the careless
> >behavior of divers and Jet-ski operators within the island’s marine
> >parks. Now, at the request of reef boat and scuba diving operators,
> >environmentalists, scientists, and community leaders, the government
> >is organizing a corps of volunteer marine wardens. Environment
> >Tobago calls public participation "a valid and extremely effective
> >method to supplement and enhance government efforts for
> >conservation."
> >
> >Along with fast-growing tourism development on St. Lucia’s northwest
> >coast has come increasing congestion and pollution. For the past two
> >years, the government has been collecting data about environmental
> >consequences of social and economic activity. Now, with help from
> >the Canadian International Development Agency, the government has
> >launched the second "awareness raising" phase of its Northwest Coast
> >Conservation Project. The purpose of the campaign, says the St.
> >Lucia Star, is "to inform various groups including hoteliers,
> >developers, farmers, and residents of the impacts of negative
> >practices on the rivers and beaches and the subsequent effects on
> >public health."
> >
> >On New Providence Island in the Bahamas, a dispute has exploded over
> >the proposed Clifton Cay development near the island’s western tip.
> >Developers would withdraw from public use nearly 2 miles of the
> >coast, and build 600 luxury homes, a golf course and beach club on
> >land that has deep historic and cultural significance. It is the
> >site of former Lucayan Indian settlements and an 18th century
> >plantation containing the ruins of slave quarters and a burial
> >ground. Adjacent reef systems and associated marine life would be
> >threatened by marina and channel construction. Local communities
> >have mounted a vigorous protest. Several international
> >organizations—the World Monuments Fund, Natural Resources Defense
> >Council, and the Caribbean Conservation Corporation—have joined in.
> >Pressure from attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. helped persuade one
> >investor to back off. But the principal developer, Chaffin/Light
> >Associates, recently vowed to carry on. This company’s Spring Island
> >resort in South Carolina is often touted as an example of
> >enlightened and sensitive environmental management. So even if the
> >project goes forward, a reasonably high level of environmental
> >concern can be expected. URL: www.irf.org ; www.nrdc.org
> >
> >/////////////////////////////////////
> >Dan MacMeekin
> >MacMeekin & Woodworth
> >1776 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
> > --Suite 801
> >Washington, DC 20036 USA
> >
> >Tel: (202) 223-1717
> >Fax: (202) 223-1459
> >E-mail: dmacmeekin@mwlaw.cnchost.com
> >
>
> Island Resources Foundation
> 27 Years of Environmental Planning for Development
>
> ><+><Web Site><+><+><http://www.irf.org/><+><+>< Web Site><+><
> -- -- -- -- -- -- Island Resources Foundation -- -- -- -- --
> 123 Main Street, PO Box 3097
> Road Town, Tortola
> BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
> Phone: 284/494-2723; E-mail: <irf@irf.org>
> In St. Thomas, USVI, call 340/775-6225
> -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
> 1718 "P" St NW, # T-4
> Washington, DC 20036
> Fone 202/265-9712
> fax 202/232-0748; E-mail: <bpotter@irf.org>
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Received on Wed Apr 5 08:05:56 2000