The Conference of the Parties
1. Adopts the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development annexed to the present decision;
2. Recognizing that sustainable tourism can provide significant benefits to biodiversity conservation, notes that the Guidelines are voluntary and represent a range of opportunities for local, regional, national governments, indigenous and local communities and other stakeholders to manage tourism activities in an ecological, economic and socially sustainable manner;
3. Recognizing that these international guidelines have a broad application and audience, requests the Executive Secretary, in order to increase clarity and facilitate the detailed understanding of the guidelines and the implementation by Parties and to identify and address specific stakeholders, to:
(a) Develop a user’s manual, checklists and, on the basis of experience gained , including the contribution of indigenous and local communities, produce and make available a streamlined and user-friendly core set of improved voluntary guidelines;
(b) Prepare a glossary and definitions of terms used in the Guidelines;
(c) Promote the use of the clearing-house mechanism to collect and disseminate information on:
(i) Specific case-studies on the implementation of the Guidelines that make clearer reference to the use and application of specific analytical management tools; and
(ii) Best practices, lessons learned and case-studies on the involvement of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles in sustainable-tourism and ecotourism activities and projects;
4. Aware that the Guidelines should recognize and shall respect the rights of indigenous and local communities, consistent with the provisions of the Convention;
5. Recalls Article 8(j) of the Convention and related provisions and emphasizes that the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development should be consistent with the Akwe:Kon Voluntary Guidelines for the Conduct of Cultural, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment regarding Developments Proposed to Take place on, or which Are Likely to Impact on, Sacred Sites and on Lands and Waters Traditionally Occupied or Used by Indigenous and Local Communities;
6. Invites Parties, the Governments and relevant organizations to implement pilot projects, also through public-private partnerships as outlined in the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to test the applicability of the Guidelines, understand their practical implications and provide feedback on their effectiveness (e.g. through the clearing-house mechanism);
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41. Impacts of tourism in relation to the environment and biological diversity may include:
(a) Use of land and resources for accommodation, tourism facilities and other infrastructure provision, including road networks, airports and seaports;
(b) Extraction and use of building materials (e.g., use of sand from beaches, reef limestone and wood);
(c) Damage to or destruction of ecosystems and habitats, including deforestation, draining of wetlands, and intensified or unsustainable use of land;
(d) Increased risk of erosion;
(e) Disturbance of wild species, disrupting normal behaviour and potentially affecting
mortality and reproductive success;
(f) Alterations to habitats and ecosystems;
(g) Increased risk of fires;
(h) Unsustainable consumption of flora and fauna by tourists (e.g., through picking of plants;
or purchase of souvenirs manufactured from wildlife, in particular such endangered species as corals and turtle shells; or through unregulated hunting, shooting and fishing);
(i) Increased risk of introduction of alien species;
(j) Intensive water demand from tourism;
(k) Extraction of groundwater;
(l) Deterioration in water quality (freshwater, coastal waters) and sewage pollution;
(m) Eutrophication of aquatic habitats;
(n) Introduction of pathogens;
(o) Generation, handling and disposal of sewage and waste-water;
(p) Chemical wastes, toxic substances and pollutants;
(q) Solid waste (garbage or rubbish);
(r) Contamination of land, freshwater and seawater resources;
(s) Pollution and production of greenhouse gases, resulting from travel by air, road, rail, or
sea, at local, national and global levels;
(t) Noise.
42. Socio-economic and cultural impacts related to tourism may include:
(a) Influx of people and social degradation (e.g. local prostitution, drug abuse, etc.);
(c) Vulnerability to the changes in the flow of tourist arrivals which may result in sudden loss of income and jobs in times of downturn;
(d) Impacts on indigenous and local communities and cultural values;
(e) Impacts on health and the integrity of local cultural systems;
(f) Intergenerational conflicts and changed gender relationships;
(g) Erosion of traditional practices and lifestyles;
(h) Loss of access by indigenous and local communities to their land and resources as well as sacred sites, which are integral to the maintenance of traditional knowledge systems and traditional lifestyles.
