CAF Tourism and biodiversity entered into symbiosis at COP16

04-11-24

The Development Bank of Latin America CAF launched RESET, a program that seeks to restore biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean through sustainable tourism. Experts and leaders discussed how ecotourism can finance conservation and local development projects, presenting global success stories.

During COP16 in Cali, CAF -development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean- presented its innovative RESET program, focused on biodiversity restoration through ecosystem services linked to sustainable tourism.

This program aims not only to conserve, but also to regenerate biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, leveraging tourism as a key tool to finance restoration projects and promote economic development in protected areas.

During the event at CAF's #LaBiodiverisdadNosUne pavilion, the symbiotic relationship between tourism and conservation was highlighted, a topic that has become increasingly relevant in the region. Experts in sustainable tourism and conservation presented their perspectives and global success stories, showing how tourism can be an effective means for the sustainability of ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity.

The CAF pavilion also discussed the opportunities and challenges of ecotourism in Latin America and the Caribbean as a conservation tool, and highlighted its potential to foster sustainable enterprises, environmental education and improved local infrastructure. Success stories and approaches to developing business models that have positive impacts on ecosystems and local communities were presented.

Alicia Montalvo, CAF's Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity Manager, invited to transform tourism into an ally of nature, and stressed that it is crucial that tourism is not seen as an end in itself, but as a tool at the service of biodiversity. “Tourism should not be an end in itself, but a means for ecosystems to be preserved, properly used and improved, ensuring that the quality of the environment benefits the people who live there,” said Montalvo.

The RESET program seeks to promote a sustainable approach to natural resource management through the creation of tourism projects that promote both the conservation and restoration of ecosystems, generating tangible benefits for local communities. RESET will enable tourism, especially ecotourism, to become a source of income that will help finance necessary restoration actions in the region.

Oscar Rueda, Director of CAF Tourism

Marcello Gandolfi, an international expert in sustainable tourism, presented several successful cases worldwide that have already implemented models similar to the one proposed by RESET. One of the most prominent examples was the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where ecotourism initiatives have enabled significant growth in the mountain gorilla population, while reducing poaching and generating millions of dollars in benefits for local communities.

“CAF is an instrument of support, the godfather, the mentor of this responsible and sustainable marriage between tourism and protected areas, ensuring that tourism not only generates income, but also contributes to the protection and conservation of our ecosystems,” said Oscar Rueda, director of Tourism at CAF.

Another success story is the Caiman Refuge in the Pantanal of Brazil, a project led by the private sector, where tourism has contributed to the protection of the jaguar and compensation for ranchers affected by the loss of livestock due to the presence of this predator. These examples demonstrate how tourism can generate positive impacts when managed sustainably and focused on restoring and conserving ecosystems.

The program will open its first call for proposals in March 2025, giving projects throughout the region the opportunity to access funding for initiatives that promote ecosystem restoration through sustainable tourism. RESET will be a key part of CAF's strategy to integrate biodiversity conservation with economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This event not only highlighted the enormous potential of tourism as a driver of conservation and development, but also highlighted the importance of creating regulatory frameworks and specific projects that can be replicated in other territories. The RESET program is emerging as a key initiative for the future of biodiversity in the region, promoting a balance between nature, communities and tourism.

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