Green-travel advocates in Brazil are organizing a national ecotourism-certification system. A broad-based coalition of more than 100 organizations unveiled the initiative at a conference here in late June, forming the Brazilian Sustainable Tourism Council (CBTS). Modeled on the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Mexican-based organization that sets sustainable timber-management standards, the CBTS will oversee the creation and implementation of the certification program. The effort stands out in a crowded field of ecotourism-labeling initiatives because it is designed to operate independently of both the tourism industry and the government. Diverse stakeholders will be in charge, ranging from ecotourism operators and outdoor-recreation associations to environmental and indigenous-rights groups. The council will not directly certify ecotourism businesses. Instead it will... [Log in to read more]
