We are pleased to announce the winners of the first TIES Innovation Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Award! Congratulations – Winner, Individual Category: Ron Mader, Planeta.com, Winner, Organization Category: Rainforest Alliance, Runner-Up, Individual Category: Wayne Sentman, Director of Field Education Programs, Oceanic Society, Runner-Up, Organization Category: Rios Tropicales, and to all the finalists. Thank you very much for everyone who participated in this year’s Innovation Award with much support and enthusiasm.

By Shams Uddin, Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT)

Booni is a village 80 kilometers to the north of Chitral town. Just like the rest of the villages in the Hindu Kush region, Booni is a fan-shaped landmass formed by glacial deposit at the mouth of what is called ‘Booni Gol’ or the stream of Booni, which cultivates the tracts of crops, vegetables, fruit bearing apple, pear and grape trees, and so on. On the afternoon of July 26th, 2010, a huge flash flood that originated from Booni Zom glacier smashed road networks, telephone and water supply lines, depriving the local communities of the basic life amenities.