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Central America
Central America is one of Planeta.com's featured regions. The following document is the participant list from our 2001 Re-Imagining Central America Ecotourism Conference which ran from February 19 to March 2, 2001.
Visit our Conference Archives.
Roland Becker
Journalist
San Jose, Costa Rica and Hamburg, Germany
- I am a tourism consultant and specialized journalist. In my 15 years in Central America, I have been covering the region as a correspondent for mayor European newspapers, radio, and TV, as well as for the leading German travel trade magazine FVW international.
Beatrice Blake
Author of The New Key to Costa Rica, now in its 15th edition
- I have been updating The New Key since 1982, and have been working (with many colleagues) for the last 11 years on perfecting a "green rating" for steering tourists toward projects that really benefit local communities and cultures while protecting the environment. This rating system has appeared in different forms in the last four editions of my book.
http://www.keytocostarica.com
Enrique Cabanilla
Asesor a la Presidencia
Universidad de Ciencias Comerciales
Managua, Nicaragua
- I have been working in Central America for a couple years. Previously, I was part of a team that established a specialized university for tourism and hotel management in Quito, Ecuador. This year our university will start with three specific masters for the tourism field.
Rodrigo Cedeno
Solues Travel
San Jose, Costa Rica
- I'm from Costa Rica and work in tourism since 1998. I've met incredible local and foreign people who are working very hard in our country. Most of them don't have the access to this technology and their budget is so small that they just can do some local promotion.
http://www.soluestravel.com
Carol Cespedes
President, Halintours
USA
- For fifteen years, I have been the owner and manager of Halintours, specializing in environmentally responsible travel to Costa Rica and other countries in Central and South America. Lately, I am dedicating time to the marketing of group programs and to my own writing projects.
http://Halintours.tripod.com
Adolfo Cruz
Eco-Tour Operator
Sacatepquez, Guatemala
- We own an ecotourism ground operator in Guatemala, called Aventuras Naturales. We are based in the colonial town of La Antigua and specialize in birdwatching throughout the country.
Juan Manuel Dvila Herrera
Tour Operator
Lima, Peru
- Trabajo en una agencia tour operadora siempre interesados en el ecoturismo y todo lo relacionado a ello. Nuestra agencia tuvo la oportunidad de participar en la primera conferencia organizada por Ron, y asi como la anterior esperamos poder intercambiar ideas y conocer tambien la oferta existente y los avances realizados por nuestros colegas de Centroamerica.
http://www.viajesclub.com
Kate deLaGrange
Boulder, Colorado, USA
- From 1988 through 1996 I owned and operated a small eco-tourism business called Aventuras Yucatan, offering environmentally and culturally respectful tours throughout the Mexican Yucatan, Costa Rica, and Peru. Currently I am finishing up my MA in Environmental Leadership through the Naropa University.
Stefano Catena
Eco-Explore SRL
Brescia, Italy
- I'm an ecotour operator focusing my attention and my job on Latin America. I'm starting an information website on ecotourism to introduce Italian tourists to this matter that is not known so far.
Francisco Chapela
Estudios Rurales y Asesoria Campesina
Oaxaca, Oax. Mxico
- Soy presidente del una Organización Civil que ha prestado apoyo tcnico a comunidades rurales del sur de Mxico por 15 aos. Recientemente estamos promoviendo un programa amplio de apoyo a las comunidades de Oaxaca para que presten varios "servicios ambientales", como son el ecoturismo o el manejo de cuencas.
http://www.mesoamerica.org.mx/sao/index.html
Pamela Conley
Writer
USA
- I have visited Honduras five times and have tried to promote Honduras as a destination through my writing. My husband, Dennis Beall, published the checklist for birds of Honduras. We will return in April. Our destination is the Las Marias on the Rio Platano, Pico Bonito, and Copan.
Kristin Currin
USA-Costa Rica
- I lead small ecotour groups to Costa Rica. In our trips to Costa Rica we try to create a relationship with host communities, working with them, living with them, and seeking to understand the many facets of their lives as they seek to build community and sustainable livelihoods.
http://www.lisle.utoledo.edu
Philippe Falbet
Travel Agent
Lyon, France
- I was a guide for three years in Venezuela, and a naturalist guide for four years in Costa Rica. Now, I work in a French travel agency specializing in individual trips to the Americas. Thanks to my experience, people know where they can make cheap river trips, interesting walks, etc.
Tom Fletcher
President, Ecoturismo Internacional de Nicaragua, S.A.
Nicaragua
- Ecoturismo Internacional is the first dedicated natural history tour operator in Nicaragua. The company is designed around commercial small-group (less than 12) ecotours to a number of Nicaragua's best wildlife preserves, protected areas, and national parks. Our trips are guided by practicing scientists, dedicated to furthering conservation and education.
Joe Franke
Author, Biologist
- I'm the author of Costa Rica's Parks and Preserves: A Visitor's Guide, and an upcoming guide to the protected areas of Panama. I'm a biologist and have been working in wildlife trade issues. I'm involved in a small NGO that assists indigenous communities in the resolution of environmental health problems.
Julia Gaspar
- I am interning at the Center for Global Education in Cuernavaca, Mexico researching ways to expand their eco-travel seminars (currently they work primarily with university groups). I am completing my M.A. in Cambridge, MA in intercultural relations, focusing on international development, and have recently finished my thesis on Mayan cultural preservation.
Jane W. Gibson
Anthropologist, University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS US
- I began looking at tourism-related issues in Central America about five years ago. My most recent project, in collaboration with Sara Alexander, is refining a Tourism Impact Assessment method. We're measuring the impact of ecotourism on household livelihood security in host communities.
James Gollin
Author
US-Honduras
- I am the author of the newest version of "Honduras: Adventures in Nature." By way of introduction, I am also Chair of the Board of Rainforest Action Network and a Director of Angelica Foundation, as well as various other non-profit affiliations.
Beryl Gorbman
US-Panama
- About 10 years ago, I co-owned a company called Mayan Adventure Tours. We took small groups (8 or less) to remote Mayan archaeological sites in Yucatan, Belize, and Guatemala. My partner, Dr. Molly Mignon, is a Ph.D. archaeologist (Mayanist) and I was responsible for all operations.
Greg Grosenick and Reyes Chun
Belize Toledo Ecotourism
- Mr Reyes Chun is the chairman of the Toledo Ecotourism Association, established in 1990 after a series of free public workshops on Eco-tourism held in Punta Gorda Town, Belize. The villagers started the TEA program so the local people could directly plan, control and profit from eco-tourism.
http://www.belizehome.com/toledo/toledomaya
Angel Herrera
Professor, Universidad Nacional
Ulloa, Costa Rica
- I am involved with natural resources management at the marine and coastal level. I was involved in research with Indicators and Certification applied to tourism industry, with Instituto Costarricense de Turismo. Currently I study indicators Los Cabos and La Paz tourism industry, in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Peter Hutchison
Writer/editor
West London
- As the editor of the Mexico and Central America Handbook, my interest in the region is broad and widespread. I have also written for Bradt Publications covering the Amazon and Belize. I lived in La Paz, Bolivia for two years, working as the Editor of the Bolivian Times, an English language newspaper.
http://www.footprintbooks.com
http://www.bradt-travelguides.com
Robert Jackson
Executive Director
Interamerican University Studies Institute
Eugene, Oregon US
- Director de Interamerican University Studies Institute, organizacion sin fines de lucro que promueve el intercambio educativo entre USA y Mexico desde 1986. Tenemos oficinas en Eugene Oregon y Querétaro. Ya hemos logrado contactos valiosos en anteriores ocasiones y no dudo que que asi resulte con este simposio sobre Centroamerica.
Kenneth Johnson
President, Asociación Mexicana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo
Mexico
- La asociación tiene actualmente alrededor de 75 miembros operadores de turismo de aventura y ecoturismo basicamente. Nuestra intención es desarrollar este mercado de manera seria y profesional procurando que cada miembro cumpla con las normas NOM 09 y 011 que tiene como obketivo regular a la industria.
http://www.amtave.org
Mark Kinney
Executive Director, Lisle
- Lisle is a non-profit educational organization, offering experiences of about 3 weeks in length designed to acquaint participants with others around the world, thus creating a deeper sense of partnership and stewardship for the globe. Lisle currently offers programs in Bali, Turkey, India, Costa Rica, and the US.
http://www.lisle.utoledo.edu
Donald Lee
El Salvador
Trade and Travel Consultant
San Salvador, El Salvador
http://www.zonaazul.com.sv/
http://globeclubs.theglobe.com/el_salvador_internet/list.taf
http://globeclubs.theglobe.com/central_american_tra/list.taf
http://proyectosalvadoereno.anexos.com/
Daryl Loth
Tortuguero, Costa Rica-Canada
- I have worked here for the last six-and-a-half years and am very active in my community. I have managed a biological station and a lodge in the area and opened a butterfly garden as a sustainable community development project with grant money from the Canadian International Development Agency.
http://safari.jumptravel.com
Ron Mader
Journalist and webhost, Planeta.com, sponsor of this conference
Author of the Mexico: Adventures in Nature guidebook and the Exploring Ecotourism Resource Guide
Mexico City, MEXICO
- In 1991 I made my first trip to Ecuador where I combined language school
classes with environmental research. With exception of these trips, my personal
knowledge of South America is vicarious. I have been invited to conferences and
congresses, but almost without fail, they have been cancelled. That said, I am a
voracious reader and I publish numerous articles online Planeta.com ranging from academic work
to practical guides.
Web: http://www.planeta.com
Michael Manville
Boquete, Panama-Canada
- I have traveled extensively throughout Latin America. I arrived in Panama with an eager determination to help develop ecotourism, in a country which I consider ideal to benefit from a sustainable approach to tourism. My educational and work background is in marketing and business management.
http://www.cometoboquete.com
http://www.venaboquete.com
Elizabeth Malek-Zadeh
USA
- I used work with Carol Cespedes at Halintours; I helped organize trips to Costa Rica. I've also worked with several different travel agencies to further understand the new trends within the travel industry.
Alejandra Morales
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Guatemala City, Guatemala
- I studied for an ecotourism degree at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala in a program designed by Ph.D. Jack Schuster, who created the first regional Ecotourism Department. Due to my studies, I've become involved with the Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance.
Brendan O'Neill
Masters Student, University of Vermont
USA-Honduras
- I worked in the town of Gualaco, Honduras, one of the main entrances to Sierra de Agalta National Park, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I worked with an NGO, the municipality, and small business owners on a project involving ecotour-guide training, ecotourism planning, trail and park infrastructure, and promotion of ecotourism.
Richard Payne
R. H. Payne & Associates
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX US
- My interests are in the area of social & economic impacts of eco and nature
tourism. I'm also very interested in issues associated with
certification/accreditation of tour companies, tour leaders, and sites. I've
spent a good deal of time in recent years in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.
Harry S. Pariser
Author
San Francisco, CA, USA
- I'm an author of a number of travel guides to the Caribbean and Central America, most notably Explore Costa Rica and Explore Belize. My guides are now published by Manatee Press, which maintains some links for Costa Rica.
http://www.savethemanatee.com/CR
Roberto Portugal
Tourism and Technology
Miami, FL USA - Peru
- Estamos construyendo un sistema de portales web dedicados a la industria de los viajes y el turismo, con el propósito de alentar la alianza y el trabajo cooperativo entre empresarios locales, autoridades del gobierno y de la iniciativa privada, en el tema de la comercialización internacional el turismo.
http://www.LetsgoHonduras.com
http://www.dmsCostaRica.com
http://www.VisitCentralAmerica.com
Rob Rachowiecki
Author
Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Tucson, Arizona, US
- I have written numerous travel guide books, including "Costa Rica" and contributions to "Central America on a Shoestring". Currently, I am working on a Lonely Planet book on the US Southwest. I travel to Latin America several times a year both as a researcher/author and as a tour leader.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com
http://www.guidebookwriters.com
Antonio Ralda
Guatemala
- Me dedico a la administración de fincas cafetaleras y ganaderas y dentro de la visión de la empresa que represento ponemos como prioritario el desarrollo de proyectos ecoturisticos para aprovechar la belleza de nuestro ecosistema tropical.
Victoria Schlesinger
Writer/editor
Washington DC, USA
- I'm a travel writer and editor for various online sites (Gonomad.com), and print (the World Wildlife Fund). I'm working on Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya. I'm interested in learning about locally based and owned ecotourism businesses that have been economically viable without the direction of NGOs or other agencies.
Jack Schuster
Director, Ecotourism Department
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Guatemala
- We offer an undergraduate degree in Ecotourism (5 years with a thesis). I am interested in knowing about other university ecotourism programs in Central America and elsewhere.
Michael Simons /USA
- I'm a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Costa Rica. I worked with inner city kids, incorporating environmental awareness projects into an overall program of community development and self-empowerment. I earned my law degree in 1995 focusing my research on international/Latin America trade and how it affects biodiversity, cross-border water, and IPR protection.
Ellen Scott
Writer/editor
Canada
- I am the former editor of Ecotourism at About.com, which no longer exists. My plans are to stay in the ecotourism field as a writer/commentator. My goal has always been to bring ecotourism to the forefront of tourist's minds.
Keith Sproule
Boulder, Colorado US-Belize
- I spent three years as Technical Assistant with the Belize Ministry of Tourism and the Environment. One of the activities included the first Community-based Tourism Gathering, with representatives from 25 different communities. I also worked on legislation requiring tour guides to be licensed and helped draft the first guide training curriculum.
Luis Vivanco
Professor
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT US
- I have been involved in research on the culture and politics of environmentalism and ecotourism in Costa Rica, and also Mexico, examining post-development social movements. I am collaborating with the Rethinking Tourism Project and the Institute of Nature and Society of Oaxaca in the planning of a conference on indigenous people and ecotourism.
http://www.uvm.edu/~lvivanco
Karen Wantland Arce
Licenciada en Ecoturismo
Guatemala-Mexico
- Soy Licenciada en Ecoturismo egresada de la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala en el 2000. El programa de Ecoturismo que estudi abarca clases como Planificación Estratgica, Diversificación del Producto Turistico, Mercadeo, Administración, Manejo Integral de Patrimonios, Integración Comunitaria, Etnologia, Biologia, Patrimonio Cultural, Patrimonio Natural, etc.
Sven Zrner
Trebur, Germany
- I am a student of biology and communication science. I am project director of the "Conservation Project Utila-Iguana". This project was founded in 1994 by Dr. Gunther Khler. Dr. Khler rediscovered the Utila Iguana (scientific name Ctenosaura bakeri), which is endemic to the Honduran island of Utila.
http://www.utila-iguana.de
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