In this issue, we focus on the benefits of ecotourism as a tool for sustainable development, local capacity building and community well-being. Highlighting best practice examples and lessons learned, the stories featured in this month’s EcoCurrents will be sure to inspire travelers and ecotourism professionals around the world to get involved in various training and education initiatives in ecotourism, and to contribute to grassroots efforts benefiting the long-term well-being of local people.

As many of our members around the world are fellow bloggers, we’d like to share ecotourism stories, news and updates from our members on this blog, as well as the latest scoop on what’s happening at TIES. Today we’re happy to introduce Yachana Technical High School in Ecudor, a project of Yachana Lodge (TIES Business member), an award winning Amazon ecotourism destination that inspires thousands of international and Ecuadorian visitors each year, and the Yachana Foundation.

As talks of global economic downturn dominate the headlines these days, one of the hot topics in travel & tourism has been how tourism businesses are coping with the impacts of financial crises. TIES was mentioned in the InvestorSpot.com article about the 10 best “green collar jobs” entitled Make Some Green Going Green…Ten Top Green Jobs Today – “With unemployment at an all time high, green jobs may the option many of us need to examine to keep ahead of the bread lines. Perhaps it’s time for you to ‘green’ your career.”