◊ Has your country established mechanisms to assess, monitor and measure the impact of tourism on biodiversity?
No
No, but mechanisms are under development
Yes, mechanisms are in place (please specify below)
X
Yes, existing mechanisms are under review
Further comments on the establishment of mechanisms to assess, monitor and measure the impact of tourism on biodiversity.
The former English Tourist Council published a set of National Sustainable Tourism Indicators in 2001 which included an indicator to measure the number of Biodiversity Plans signed up to by businesses with a direct link to tourism. There is a concern that tourism and local recreational access may damage sensitive sites, particularly those that are home to fragile habitats or endangered wildlife. It is difficult to measure this as tourism is rarely the sole or major contributory factor in individual sites. The indicator is therefore designed to provide a measure of the extent to which tourism contributes to the protection and increase of bio-diversity in England. The UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport are currently preparing a revised set of indicators to be published this year
Tourism is probably the most significant source of direct environmental impact in the Cayman Islands. Diver pressure is also a significant factor, with some limited research into the carrying capacity of reefs undertaken. Coral reefs in the region of George Town anchorage sites were effectively degraded by cruise/cargo ship damage prior to the development of effective marine parks legislation. Water quality monitoring is implemented in the George Town area – specifically for incidence of effluent contamination. Otherwise, reefs are monitored and regulations enforced. Visitor impacts on the Southern Stingray Dasyatis americana population of North Sound are subject to ongoing study.
◊ Has your country provided educational and training programmes to the tourism operators so as to increase their awareness of the impacts of tourism on biodiversity and upgrade the technical capacity at the local level to minimize the impacts? (decision V/25)
a) No
b) No, but programmes are under development
c) Yes, programmes are in place (please describe below)
X
Further comments on educational and training programmes provided to tourism operators.
The Former English Tourist Council published a Destination Management Handbook in 2003 - a handbook for the use of tourism destination managers and their staff which encourages tourism biodiversity action plans. The term destination refers to a significant land area manages for the development of tourism by Local Authorities, National Park Authorities, Public/Private Sector Partnerships, AONB Management Teams or Private Sector businesses. It aims to ensure that visitor activities such as wildlife watching and walking are encouraged but at the same time are sensitive to the requirements of our biodiversity. The Handbook is currently supported by a number of national, regional and local tourism management agencies.
In 2001, in preparation for WSSD in 2002, the UK established the Sustainable Tourism Initiative (STI) which led directly to the establishment of a UK-based charity known as the Travel Foundation. The TF works closely with the UK travel industry and tour operators to provide advice on and raise awareness of sustainable tourism and supporting local businesses especially in destinations popular with UK holiday-makers.
Does your country provide indigenous and local communities with capacity-building and financial resources to support their participation in tourism policy-making, development planning, product development and management? (decision VII/14)
No
No, but relevant programmes are being considered
Yes, some programmes are in place (please provide details below)
X
Yes, comprehensive programmes are in place (please provide details below)
Further comments in the capacity-building and financial resources provided to indigenous and local communities to support their participation in tourism policy-making, development planning, product development and management.
At a regional level Regional Development Agencies (RDA)have strategic responsibility for tourism in the regions as part of their overall duty to promote sustainable economic development, and to develop regional tourism strategies. They are required to consult with their regional stakeholders in this process.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) sponsored a Sustainable Tourism Workshop (26-27 March 2004) which took place after the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) conference in Miami. The workshop aimed to improve regional co-operation among Overseas Territories in the Caribbean region and other non-OT Caribbean countries to develop practical action plans for sustainable tourism. Forty participants attended the workshop including a range of Government, NGO and private sector delegates. FCO also funded a CITES training and enforcement workshop in Anguilla in 2003.
In the UK Overseas Territories, there have been several examples of the development of sustainable tourism infrastructure in the form of interpretative trails and other features, as well as training in small business skills for members of local communities. These have been undertaken by organisations including the Turks & Caicos National Trust, Cayman Islands National Trust, a consortium of organisations in the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla National Trust, Falklands Conservation, St Helena National Trust and the Ascension Island Conservation Centre amongst others, in many cases in co-operation with the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum and its member organisations and with the support of the Overseas Territories Environment Programme.
Has your country integrated the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development in the development or review of national strategies and plans for tourism development, national biodiversity strategies and actions plans, and other related sectoral strategies? (decision VII/14)
No, but the guidelines are under review
X
No, but a plan is under consideration to integrate some principles of the guidelines into relevant strategies
Yes, a few principles of the guidelines are integrated into some sectoral plans and NBSAPs (please specify which principle and sector)
Yes, many principles of the guidelines are integrated into some sectoral plans and NBSAPs (please specify which principle and sector)
Further information on the sectors where the principles of the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development are integrated.
Please elaborate below on the implementation of this article and associated decisions specifically focusing on:
outcomes and impacts of actions taken;
contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention;
contribution to progress towards the 2010 target;
progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
◊ Has your country established programmes to identify and adopt economically and socially sound measures that act as incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of components of biological diversity?
No
No, but relevant programmes are under development
Yes, some programmes are in place (please provide details below)
x
Yes, comprehensive programmes are in place (please provide details below)
Further comments on the programmes to identify and adopt incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Across the UK, there are a number of different schemes providing incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Many of these offer incentives to enhance the biodiversity value of agricultural land and have focused on the protection and restoration of semi-natural habitats and reversing the loss of farmland features of value to wildlife. Additional schemes provide incentives to protect and enhance forestry land, and manage designated sites.
In England relevant schemes previously included: the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; Environmentally Sensitive Areas; Organic Farming Scheme; Woodland Grant Scheme; Woodland Improvement Grants and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. The recent review of agri-environment and woodland schemes has introduced new and widespread incentives for positive environmental management of agricultural land, and includes the additional objective of natural resource protection. New agri-environment schemes (focused on environmental stewardship) have been introduced this year.
In Scotland, relevant current schemes include: Environmentally Sensitive Areas; Countryside Premium Scheme; Organic Aid Scheme and the Rural Stewardship Scheme. The Land Management Contract Menu Scheme is under development, with a planned launch in 2005.
In Northern Ireland, relevant current schemes include: the Countryside Management Scheme; Environmentally Sensitive Areas; Least Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowance; Organic Farming Scheme; Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme.
The Countryside Council for Wales has a main grant scheme that supports conservation of landscape, habitats, species, access to the countryside and coast and the understanding and interpretation of the natural environment. Within the last four years the Countryside Council for Wales has established a further grant scheme, the Species Challenge Fund, that is aimed specifically at developing the capacity of voluntary sector conservation organisations and groups to undertake conservation work on priority species. This has enjoyed considerable success in assisting small groups and interested individuals to undertake works, undergo training, recruit volunteers and to network with others groups and organisations. Other relevant current schemes include Tir Gofal, the Organic Farming Scheme, the Woodland Improvement Grant, and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. Following recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, a new entry level agri-environment scheme (Tir Cynnal) is also to be introduced.
◊ Has your country developed the mechanisms or approaches to ensure adequate incorporation of both market and non-market values of biological diversity into relevant plans, policies and programmes and other relevant areas? (decisions III/18 and IV/10)
a) No
b) No, but relevant mechanisms are under development
x
c) Yes, mechanisms are in place (please provide details below)
d) Yes, review of impact of mechanisms available (please provide details below)
Further comments on the mechanism or approaches to incorporate market and non-market values of biodiversity into relevant plans, policies and programmes.
In England, all Central Government policies are produced using an impact assessment methodology which incorporates consideration of impacts on biodiversity. Web-guidance to government policy-makers provides advice on where to find expert advice on valuation of bio-diversity. The UK government subscribes and supports the Canadian run EVRI database that provides data from studies on valuation of biodiversity for possible use in benefits transfer.
Some Government departments have tailored advice regarding biodiversity. Examples of this include the Department of Transport’s webtag guidance (www.webtag.org.uk) and Ministry of Defence’s Sustainability Appraisal Handbook.
Strategic Environmental Assessments are required throughout the UK during the preparation of major plans and programmes. In addition, in Northern Ireland, a new Forest Policy is under development which, following public consultation, should enable forestry to better address non-economic issues such as sustainability and conserving and enhancing biodiversity.
◊ Has your country developed training and capacity-building programmes to implement incentive measures and promote private-sector initiatives? (decision III/18)
a) No
b) No, but relevant programmes are under development
c) Yes, some programmes are in place
x
d) Yes, many programmes are in place
Does your country take into consideration the proposals for the design and implementation of incentive measures as contained in Annex I to decision VI/15 when designing and implementing incentive measures for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity? (decision VI/15)
a) No
b) Yes (please provide details below)
x
Further information on the proposals considered when designing and implementing the incentive measures for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The principles outlined in these proposals are taken into account when designing and implementing incentive measure for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. For example, the Treasury document ‘Tax and the environment: using economic instruments’ outlines factors that need to be taken into account when developing incentive measures and includes many of the proposals detailed in Annex I to decision VI/15.
Has your country made any progress in removing or mitigating policies or practices that generate perverse incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity? (decision VII/18)
a) No
b) No, but identification of such policies and practices is under way
x
c) Yes, relevant policies and practices identified but not entirely removed or mitigated (please provide details below)
d) Yes, relevant policies and practices identified and removed or mitigated (please provide details below)
Further information on perverse incentives identified and/or removed or mitigated.
Please elaborate below on the implementation of this article and associated decisions specifically focusing on:
outcomes and impacts of actions taken;
contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention;
contribution to progress towards the 2010 target;
progress in implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
constraints encountered in implementation.
The agri-environment and forestry schemes available throughout the UK provide important incentives for the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity. Regular evaluations are undertaken to assess the impact of such schemes; for example, assessments of the English schemes can be found at http://defraweb/erdp/docs/css_esas_report/monitoring.htm.
These incentive scheme complement the broader activity that is being undertaken with regard to the biodiversity in the UK. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have all developed Biodiversity Strategies and Wales is in the process of developing an Environmental Strategy. These will guide the direction each country will take in conserving its biodiversity and environment. All countries focus on sustainable development, raising public awareness and integrating biodiversity considerations into all sectors of government and levels of policy making. They advocate a sectoral approach with the environment, economy and people featuring in each sector. Each country will regularly report the progress of these strategies, including, for example, annual stock takes and periodic progress reviews. Further details of the strategies can be found at the following websites:
For England: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/biostrat/
For Scotland: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ERAD/CANH/CF/00014870/page962967264.aspx
For Northern Ireland: http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/pubs/publications/NIBS2002.pdf
In addition, details of the individual habitat and species action plans and local biodiversity action plans can be found at www.ukbap.org.uk.
