Low impact ecotourism will be promoted and sustainable activities will be developed in nine protected parks of the country.

 

Fourteen million dollars will be invested to develop low impact ecotourism and preserve nine protected regions of the country.

 

It consists of a joint effort in which the Inter-American Development Bank approved the donation of $4 million to the Global Environment Facility, plus $10 million dollars that will be financed by the National Authority of the Environment (ANAM) and the Tourism Authority ($6.2 million); and the Authority of Water Resources and The Nature Conservancy organization, will contribute with $3.8 million.

 

With this investment, the conservancy of biodiversity and the sustainability of: the Bastimentos Island Marine National Park, the “La Amistad” International Park, and the other national parks like: Volcan Baru, General Omar Torrijos Herrera, Darien, Soberania, Chagres, Altos de Campana and Coiba will be promoted.

 

These places were selected over an innovation basis, the participation of the local companies and the sustainable social development, points out the International Institute for Sustainable Development at http://larc.iisd.org.

 

The selected parks cover an approximate 40% of the whole local system of protected regions and together they concentrate 60% of the parks’ visits.

 

We are looking forward to improve the ecotourism efficiency and increase the income generated from tourists admissions and other expenses, from $300 thousand to $530 thousand per year, with an increase from 43 thousand to 50 thousand visitors. 20 organizations and community companies will be working side by side on this project. These companies will be trained in ecotourism.

 

Source: Prensa.com

 

Author: Mary Triny Zea