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Ecotourism Certifications and their Benefits

Learn about ecotourism certifications, the difference between certifications and accreditations, the certification process, and the benefits for ecotourism businesses. Discover leading organizations and certification programs such as LEED Certification.

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Ecotourism Certifications and their Benefits

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  1. Ecotourism Certifications

  2. Certifications • What is certification? • History…

  3. Certifications vs. Accreditation Certification vs. Accreditation Third party assurance Authoritative body verifies competence of certifiers

  4. Certification Programs (a) FIRST PARTY • Self- assessment SECOND PARTY • A purchaser or industry THIRD PARTY • Neutral, independent party

  5. Certification Programs (b) PROCESS • No universal standards: cannot compare across businesses • Logo given for setting up process, not for achieving fixed goals • Environmental Management Systems (EMS): ISO 14001 PERFORMANCE • Tangible criteria that permit comparisons among certified businesses • Measure achievement and results, not intent • Can include check list intelligible to both business and consumers • More transparent

  6. Who certifies businesses? • Multi-government agency models, specifically the European Union (EU) • Individual countries models (Australia) • Independent non-government groups models, either profit or non-profit (Rainforest Alliance)

  7. Certifications Why should an ecotourism related business HAVE one (i.e., what are the benefits)?

  8. Leading Organizations • TIES • Rainforest Alliance • World Wildlife Fund • Conservation International • World Heritage Alliance • Conventional of Biological Diversity Global Sustainable Tourism Council Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

  9. LEED Certification • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) = green building rating system • Developed by U.S. Green Building Council • 501(c)(3) nonprofit • “cost-efficient and energy-saving green building” • LEED rating system& Certification process • Projects

  10. SF and Bay Area Certification • Bay Area Green Business Program • http://www.greenbiz.ca.gov/ -standards/ • SF Green Business • http://www.sfgreenbusiness.org/program

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