By Nina Fogelman – Discovering opportunities to help develop “Rural Living Tourism” in Peru has become a real passion for me. My visit in September 2007 led me to a community in the Lake Titicaca area that truly captured my heart. I feel blessed to be able to offer opportunities to a segment of Peru’s tourists who wish to participate in unique and rewarding activities, and return to Peru, to my heart of hearts. The local residents of a village called Atuncolla (pronounced atoon coya) are the descendants of the Qolla Kingdom in the Andean highland region.

Despite the fact that most sharks are among the most threatened marine wildlife in our oceans, shark conservation efforts continue to face great challenges due to sharks’ “reputation” as dangerous predators. Learn more about sharks from Hawaii Shark Encounters and be part of the global efforts to fight misconceptions, support more research and further conservation initiatives. Hawaii Shark Encounters works closely with Shark Allies, a non-profit organization that promotes proper understanding and respect for sharks and supports ocean conservation.

Matava and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters in Fiji are taking a leading role in the international shark conservation efforts, organizing Fiji to become the first country to fully participate in the Shark-Free Marina Initiative (SFMI). The SFMI works with marinas, boaters and fishermen to develop policy designed to protect sharks as a vital component of the oceans health. The SFMI’s purpose is to reduce worldwide shark mortality. Working with marinas, fishermen and like minded non-profit groups, it forms community conscious policy and increase awareness of the need to encourage shark conservation.

P.A.P Corp. is an eco-friendly hotel company with 4 hotels in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki and a Hotel and Restaurant Management School (HOTELIA). Active member of TIES, Clean up Greece, Legambiente, WWF, and HSPN (The Greek Society for protection of Nature), P.A.P Corp. contributes to socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices locally and internationally. The company is also an active supporter of such initiatives as the Happy Tourist project and Europe for All, to promote accessibility tourism.

From TIES EcotourismTrend YouTube subscriptions: Our favorite beach & ocean eco-videos! Seacology: Seacology’s Indonesia EcoReef project – Manado Tua Island is a towering extinct volcano fringed with picturesque reef drop-offs and capped with a rainforest at its summit. The island’s 3,200 inhabitants form a very tightly-knit community of farmers and fishermen who cling tenaciously to their Sangir cultural traditions. Large sections of Manado Tua’s coral reef have been reduced to rubble fields due to blast fishing activities that took place over a decade ago…

This summer, ecoDestinations will feature “Beaches, Marine & Coastal Ecotourism Experiences,” highlighting opportunities and challenges facing the world’s oceans and coastal areas and the inspiring travel experiences that they offer. Looking for last-minute tropical summer vacation deals? Passionate about marine animals? Want to share best practice stories on coastal communities and ecotourism? Bookmark ecotourism.org/ecoDestinations and be sure to come back often for regular updates!

As a private 365-acre nature reserve set along the banks of the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, The Lodge at Chaa Creek provides a unique adventure travel experience for thousands of people while maintaining an unspoiled ambiance. The story of Chaa Creek Cottages began in 1977 when two young travelers stumbled upon what would later become their adopted home – an overgrown 140 acre farm in the Cayo District. They soon moved out to the jungle property and within years the land was producing home grown vegetables.

The island’s steep coastlines and lovely reefs offer excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. The rainforest preserves of St. Lucia’s mountainous interior are one of the Caribbean’s finest locales for hiking, bird-watching and canopy ride adventures. Fond Doux Holiday Plantation in St Lucia is a 19th century colonial plantation hotel set in nature amidst the lush, tropical foliage of St Lucia’s breadbasket, historical center and world heritage site, Soufriere. Luxurious, historical and architecturally intriguing the Fond Doux Holiday Plantation is a journey back in time and closer to nature.

An important aspect of Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge’s environment policy is to involve the local community in ecotourism projects. All the employees come from local villages, and are trained in sustainable living. Guests will have various opportunities to experience the local community first hand through community-based ecotourism activities showcasing environmentally sound practices, as well as providing options to get involved in various local community projects. Among the many sustainability initiatives by Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge is the Dominica International EcoFest

A recent article in Tico Times, “Grim Tourism Outlook Has Silver Lining,” discusses the impact of the global economic downturn on tourism in Costa Rica, noting that “the economic crisis presents an opportunity for the [tourism] sector to reinvent itself” and “to ensure future development in Costa Rica shares the vision of sustainability.” If handled effectively, the crisis can be an opportunity for fostering sustainable growth of Costa Rica as an ecotourism destination, concludes the report by a local tourism consulting group.