Rainforest Alliance

The Initiative for Conservation in the Andean Amazon

The Initiative for Conservation in the Andean Amazon -- funded by the United States Agency for International Development -- aims to promote the long term sustainability of the Amazon River Basin and to protect its great wealth of biodiversity.

Under this initiative, the Rainforest Alliance is working with Conservación y Desarrollo, our partner group based in Ecuador, to provide technical assistance and training to community organizations and local businesses, and to encourage them to adopt environmentally and socially responsible practices. Our training helps these groups to attract the increasing number of eco-conscious travelers and to make tourism an effective tool in supporting conservation and socio-economic development in protected areas, especially in the Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo and Pastaza provinces of Ecuador. As part of the project, the Rainforest Alliance is also working with universities and community groups to provide workshops in best management tourism practices for tourism businesses operating in the Peruvian Amazon, especially in Cusco and Madre de Dios regions.

Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in their sixth year under the stewardship of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), are aimed at recognizing best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Given the growing concern about natural and cultural resources, these Awards are particularly important to the WTTC and provide the Council with the opportunity to promote and partner with industry leaders in responsible tourism and highlight prime examples of best practice.

An independent panel of judges, including some of the world's most authoritative experts of sustainable development and a stringent application process involving on-site verification visits by these experts, has earned the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards growing levels of respect among key audiences -- the industry, governments and the international media.

Each year, winners and finalists are honored at a special ceremony during the Global Travel & Tourism Summit -- one of the highest-profile events in the industry, facilitating dialogue between decision-makers, and thus influencing future action in one of the world's largest industries -- Travel & Tourism. The Rainforest Alliance is a proud supporter of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a global membership council that offers a common understanding of sustainable tourism and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles and criteria. The GSTC is currently active in all UNWTO regions, including Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and brings together governments, UN bodies, research and academic institutions, social and environmental NGOs, certification programs, and others from distinct regions of the world, by providing global sustainable tourism guidelines and international accreditation to help protect the environment and support local communities.

Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas (STCNA)

Launched in Bahía, Brazil in September, 2003, the STCNA encourages dialogue among stakeholders and acts as a clearinghouses for certification information.

Collaborating Tourism Associations

A number of organizations have signed an agreement with the Rainforest Alliance, formally announcing their commitment to the advancement of improving environmental, economic and sociocultural business practices in the tourism industry.
View the list of collaborating tourism associations »