| TIES |
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The International Ecotourism Society, or TIES, is the oldest and largest ecotourism organization in the world. It promotes ecotourism principles and responsible travel in over ninety countries, looking to put sustainable travel and conservation on the tourism industry. With this goal in mind, it offers educational material, conferences, and a variety of resources for tourists and tourism professionals to educate society on the importance of integrating travel and conservation. Founded in 1990, this non-profit, non-governmental organization has worked to provide ecotourism guidelines and standards, expert knowledge, and assistance to further ecotourism development.
Through membership services, training, and conference programs, TIES helps organizations, communities, and individuals learn about and enjoy the benefits of sustainable travel. TIES members include academics, conservation professionals, organizations, governments, tour operators, lodge/hotel owners, and tourists worldwide who form a network dedicated to preserving the world’s natural and cultural heritage. |
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| Green Globe |
Green Globe is a Benchmarking, Certification and Performance Improvement program initiated by The World Travel and Tourism Council in 1994. This program is based on the principles for sustainable development derived from the United Nations Rio Earth Summit. The aim of the program is to provide guidelines for tourism industry members to focus their efforts on sustainability. Green Globe helps not only companies, but also and communities to monitor their environmental performance and identify areas that need improvement.
There are four different Green Globe Standards:
• The Green Globe Company Standard: It provides an environmental management framework for organizations within the travel and tourism industry. The company’s environmental footprint is first benchmarked, obtaining the Benchmarking Bronze Level. It may continue to the Certification Silver Level, and be eligible for the Gold Certified Level after 5 years of continuous certification.
• The Green Globe Community Standard: It provides the community with a structure to benchmark and certify environmental and social performance.
• The Green Globe Building Planning and Design Standard: It provides environmental standards for the construction of a specific building.
• Green Globe Precinct Planning and Design Standard: It provides specific guidelines to help developers increase ecological performance. |
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| WWF (World Wide Fund of Nature) |
The WWF (World Wide Fund of Nature) is a non-profit organization with its Secretariat based in Switzerland, and offices in over 100 countries. As one of the largest non-governmental environmental organizations in the world, it is currently working together with governments, businesses, organizations, and local populations to achieve its goal of environmental conservation. WWF is involved in over 1300 projects worldwide, which tackle issues such as endangered species, pollution and climate change, preservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of natural resources, and the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. The WWF employs a combination of field based projects, policy initiatives, capacity building and education work and all programs follow rigorous conservation standards aimed at stopping the degradation of the planet’s natural spaces. |
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| Conservation International |
| Conservation International is a nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1987 and with headquarters in Washington DC. Working in over 40 countries, mainly developing nations, and establishing key partnerships with businesses, organizations, governments, and indigenous communities. Conservation International hopes to promote conservation throughout the world. Its aim is to safeguard the Earth’s biodiversity by tackling various issues. It is concerned with protecting species in the most biologically diverse areas of the world; conserving landscapes and seascapes to preserve natural resource preservation, and empower local communities to ensure the responsible used of natural resources. |
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| Friends of Nature |
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International Friends of Nature is a non-profit organization which encourages green tourism. The organization began in Austria in 1895, and currently includes 600,000 members with 39 offices and about 35,000 voluntary workers worldwide. In its origins, the organization’s activities were aimed at raising environmental awareness and the conservation of natural resources.
Still in harmony with its original beliefs, International Friends of Nature is still committed to supporting sustainable development and promoting environmentally and socially sound tourism. In cooperation with local groups, the organization conducts various seminars and provides information material on environmental topics, and offers for environmentally sound travel programs for its members. In 1995, the International Friends of Nature also set up the "Institute for Integrative Tourism" (IITF) for sustainability research and education. |
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| Green Cross International |
Green Cross International is an international environmental organization founded in 1993 following the 1992 Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With organizations currently established in 31 different countries, Green Cross International provides programs at national and international levels aimed at promoting a sustainable environment. It promotes norms and guidelines for the government, private sector, and communities to better understand humanity’s relationship with nature.
The organization’s programs focus on preventing and resolving conflicts arising from environmental degradation, providing assistance to all those affected by the environmental consequences of wars, and promoting values through implementation of the Earth Charter and various environmental education initiatives. |
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| Greenpeace |
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Greenpeace is a global environmental organization which campaigns to protect and conserve the environment and promote peace. Its main focus is on addressing climate change and nuclear power, defending the oceans by creating a network of marine reserves and opposing destructive fishing, working for disarmament and peace, and protecting biodiversity. Besides exposing problems such as global warming and over-fishing, Greenpeace campaigns for alternative solutions such as renewable energy, lobbies businesses and politicians, and participates in international conferences.
Greenpeace began in 1971 in Canada, and currently boasts 2.8 million supporters worldwide, and national and regional offices in 42 countries. These offices support a network of volunteer-run local groups that participate in campaigns. As an independent organization, it depends on the donations of supporters and grants from charitable foundations to continue its nonviolent campaigns to protect the environment. |
Trademark of Stichting Greenpeace Council |
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| NatureServe |
NatureServe is a non-profit environmental conservation organization whose mission is to provide scientific information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems. NatureServe also develops information products, data management tools, and conservation services to help meet local, national, and global conservation needs and make informed decisions regarding natural resources management. The organization, established in 1994, represents an international network of biological inventories known as natural heritage programs and conservation data centers.
The information compiled is used by various sectors. Conservation groups use natural heritage data to identify important natural areas and determine conservation priorities. Local governments use the information to aid in land use planning. Developers and businesses depend on this data to comply with environmental laws. NatureServe is also carrying out numerous projects throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean designed to increase understanding of species and ecosystems. |
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| Rainforest Alliance |
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The NGO Rainforest Alliance was founded in 1987 with the goal of working towards biodiversity conservation. The organization works with farmers, workers, business leaders, NGO's, governments, scientists, and local communities in over 60 countries to develop and implement socially and environmentally responsible standards of practice and ensure sustainable livelihoods.
Its sustainable forestry division offers a certification program to encourage environmentally and socially responsible management of forests, tree farms and forest resources. Through its activities, Rainforest Alliance is also increasing the demand for certified products. Its sustainable agriculture division oversees the certification of farms that must comply with social and environmental standards. The sustainable tourism division provides tourism businesses in Latin America with training and tools to minimize their impact on the environment and local communities. The organization also works towards environmental education through an education site, participation in schools, and their Adopt-a-Rainforest program. |
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| Society for Ecological Restoration |
| The Society for Ecological Restoration International is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 for the purposes of promoting ecological restoration for biodiversity conservation and sustainability. It now boasts members in 37 different countries dedicated to contributing to the restoration effort. Although the Society does not engage in any field projects, it encourages research and promotes ecological awareness in a series of ways. It offers conferences where members can exchange ideas and information and participate in workshops, fieldtrips, and other activities. Its journals, such as Restoration Ecology, focuses on research on restoration and ecological principles, and the Society’s restoration networks promote the appropriate use of traditional ecological knowledge to restore the culture of indigenous peoples. The Global Restoration Network offers case studies, databases, scientific papers, and resources numerous topics related to ecology and conservation. |
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