Protecting Biodiversity Through Community Tourism
From the air we breathe to the food we rely on, biodiversity is essential for life on Earth. Moreover, without biodiversity, tourism simply would not exist, and communities around the world would not be able to harness its benefits.
Yet, biodiversity is facing unprecedented threats from human activities, climate change, and habitat destruction. At Planeterra, we remain optimistic and want to take action, doing what we do best: using community tourism to change lives.
How Community Tourism Can Help
Planeterra defines Community Tourism as travel experiences owned, led, and run by communities—non-profits, cooperatives, and social enterprises. At its best, it breaks down barriers to engage underserved communities in meaningful, life-changing ways.
#CommunityTourism is a powerful alternative in the fight to protect and restore biodiversity. It involves local populations in the development and management of tourism projects, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are felt directly by those who live in these biodiverse regions.
Also, by involving the community in tourism, they have the opportunity to share firsthand knowledge about local flora and fauna with travellers, fostering a greater appreciation and understanding of biodiversity. Furthermore, when communities benefit economically from tourism, they are more likely to protect their natural surroundings.
Over the years, we have seen many of our community partners use their tourism enterprises to support the protection, restoration, and management of their environment.
Here are a few examples:
Soa Zara - ??Ranohira, Madagascar
The Association Soa Zara was founded in 2016 by the owners of the ITC Eco Lodge in Ranohira. Their goal is to assist the local population and environment by planting trees and restoring wildlife habitats destroyed by deforestation.
Soa Zara is also one of our tree-growing partners!
Life Monteverde - ??Monteverde, Costa Rica
Life Monteverde, a dedicated association of 12 families, combines agriculture, conservation, and education to sustain life on Earth. Their diverse offerings include training for local coffee farmers and programs for domestic and international students. With educational tours attracting numerous visitors annually, their 42-acre farm thoughtfully integrates coffee production, conservation, and low-impact energy systems.
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Parque de la Papa - ??Pampallacta, Peru
Parque de la Papa unites several communities with more than 7,000 Indigenous members. Their collective efforts preserve an area abundant with around 1,300 varieties of native potatoes, representing ancestral wisdom that has been passed down through generations. Cultivating and managing this agricultural landscape is ingrained in their way of life. For travellers, the park offers a profound insight into traditional planting and harvesting techniques, as well as the artistry of Indigenous weaving practices.
You can learn more about Parque de la Papa in this fireside chat with Jhon Ccoyo??
Libaran Island - ??Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia
Libaran, also known as Borneo's Turtle Island, is a significant nesting site for Green and Hawksbill sea turtles. The "Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research" project was established to protect these turtles. Working closely with the local community, they developed a tour showcasing the island's distinctive culture, environment, and handicrafts, offering guests a unique opportunity to celebrate and experience their culture.
Tenacious Bee Collective - ??Badsar Village, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tenacious Bee is a movement dedicated to reviving, preserving, and promoting beekeeping as a sustainable source of income in rural areas. Over the past five years, they have developed a model that fosters a circular economy, focusing on small-scale beekeeping in their adopted village in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
They're one of the most engaged members of Planeterra's Global Community Tourism Network and one of the recipients of the Global Community Tourism Fund in 2023.
You can learn more about Tenacious Bee in this fireside chat with Kunal Singh??
Learn more about Climate, Biodiversity and Community Tourism
??Read more about our work to support communities here.
??Check out this page to learn more about Planeterra’s Climate and Biodiversity.
??We also have a module on Climate and Biodiversity in our Learning Hub, accessible for members of Planeterra’s Global Community Tourism Network. Do you know of any communities that would benefit from being part of the network? Share this link with them and invite them to apply.