The impact of eco-tourism on natural wonders such as Galapagos National Park has directors of island environments working together to come up with solutions.
Unique island ecosystems draw tourists by the millions every year.
Without intending any harm, eco-tourists change the very island environments they visit to experience unspoiled beauty. Push has come to shove. The directors of four of the world's most visited island systems have signed an agreement to set common standards governing eco-tourism to preserve these unparalleled islands. The park officials met at Puerto Ayora in Ecuador's Galapagos National Park in February for a workshop organized by The Nature Conservancy on tourism management in island systems. There, they agreed to work collaboratively toward a common understanding of the best practices in eco-tourism.