Category: Biodiversity

Spain’s tourism strategy looks to address the challenges of the climate crisis, endangered biodiversity and sustainable consumption and production. After an initial focus on restarting tourism safely, the longer-term tourism strategy is for Spain to become a sustainable and socially oriented destination, including the promotion of circular economy strategies.

The costs of the pandemic and restrictions on economies, livelihoods and the environment have been very high. This article focusing on the example of Nepal suggests that recovery needs to achieve the dual goals of economic revival and ecosystem restoration. Here, investments in forestry and nature-based tourism can help.

After almost all the coral was destroyed due to tourist traffic, Thailand had to close down its famous cove, Maya Bay. Dive teams have now planted 20,000 coral fragments in the bay to help rehabilitate the reef. When the bay will open again will be uncertain, but it will be a different experience than it was before.

Costa Rica’s tourism model was developed with sustainability, innovation, and inclusiveness in mind, and part of their key to success has been to target a demand that can adapt to the conditions the country has to offer. The country’s tourist attractions focus on activities that respect the environment and offer travellers opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to conservation and cultural heritage.

New research by the International Union for Conservation of Nature suggests that job cuts in nature reserves and environmental rollbacks by governments during the Covid-19 pandemic are undermining conservation efforts. Recovery measures need to be planned in a way that avoids negative impacts on biodiversity and charts a more sustainable and equitable way forward.