Australia’s Great South Coast Penguins to be conserved

A PROPOSAL to allow guided tours to the the penguin colony at London Bridge, between Peterborough and Port Campbell, has alarmed local wildlife conservationists.

They claim the beach is too dangerous and further interference with the birds could harm their sustainability.

Parks Victoria will outline the plan to invited stakeholders at a meeting in Colac on January 12.

The meeting was called to discuss environmental risks associated with the coastal area.

Peterborough wildlife carer Annie Fraser has snubbed the invitation and will boycott the meeting that she descibed as offensive and insulting.

“It is dishonest and unfair that other people of the local area are not given an opportunity to speak up,” the long-time wildlife shelter volunteer said in a letter to Parks Victoria .

“I want no part of your so-called workshop which has obviously been conjured up to appease a few locals at a venue completely unrelated and at a time completely impossible for most persons to attend.

“The fact that this is an area of ‘special protection’ points to the complete disregard of Parks Victoria for anything we may hold dear as Victorians.”

According to the meeting agenda the main aims are to identify environmental hazards, priority risks for management and incorporate the views of stakeholders.

Another local conservationist said the proposed beach tours were not necessary because the evening penguin procession could be seen adequately from a clifftop viewing platform about 50 metres from the colony of fairy penguins at London Bridge.

The idea for guided tours down the steep steps was put forward about five years ago by Bridgewater eco-tours operator Joe Austin.

Mr Austin told The Standard yesterday he had not been invited to the meeting and expected that if Parks Victoria approved the concept it would be put out to public tender.

“This has been dragging on and on,” he said.

“We had a meeting on the beach with Parks Victoria two or three years ago and we met department chiefs in Melbourne in late 2008.”

Mr Austin said his proposal was to have the steps upgraded and have a lockable trapdoor built for access to the beach.

“A qualified guide would accompany a small group of people down to the beach, who would sit quietly on the beach to watch the penguins waddle past back to their burrows at night,” he said.

“Availability would be seasonal, depending on the ocean conditions,” he told The Standard.

“Guided penguin tours would encourage more tourists to stay overnight in the area.”

Mr Austin said it used to be quite common several decades ago for local residents and tourists to climb down to the beach and watch the evening penguin procession.

“The only reason why they stopped it was because of foxes and silly idiots who used to poke sticks down the burrows,” he said.

Mr Austin holds qualifications in eco-tourism and has been running his Seals by the Sea tour business at Cape Bridgewater for 12 years.

Mrs Fraser said the London Bridge beach was dangerous and had unpredictable tides.

“Where is the public consultation,” Mrs Fraser asked yesterday.

“Why is there not a public meeting?”

Ecotourism Awards Granted in Norway

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The 8th Annual Skål International Ecotourism Awards were presented by the President of Skål International, Hulya Aslantas and Director External Communication & Media Karine Coulanges, during the Opening Ceremony of the 70th Skål World Congress held in Budapest, Hungary, on 2nd November 2009 at the Palace of Arts.
Skål, an international association since in 1934 is the largest organisation of travel and tourism professionals in the world. It is the only association which embraces all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, in five Continents, 90 Countries and at over 500 locations, with 20,000 members from hoteliers to travel agents; airline, maritime, waterways, railway and coach transportation companies, tourism media, tourism academies and official tourism promotion bodies, etc.

Skål International is aiming at quality in tourism and values sustainable development in Tourism as the key to the industry’s future success and considers Ecotourism but one area of the various components of sustainable development and responsible tourism.

To encourage the conservation of the environment and help to promote the development of responsible and sustainable tourism, Skål International initiated an awards program in 2002, during “The Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains” as declared by United Nations.

While the purpose of these awards was to highlight best practices in ecotourism around the world, they were also created with the aim of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment, the traveler’s responsibility and the need for active community participation for Ecotourism.

In their eight year the awards have received continued support worldwide and this year 49 entries were received originating from 25 Countries; seven from Asia, 11 from the Americas, 15 from Europe, 10 from Africa and six from Oceania.

The Awards show the true implication of Skål International towards the protection of the environment in conjunction with sustainable tourism. Ecotourism, together with other alternative forms of tourism strengthens the local economies and contributes to sustainable development.

The applications were evaluated by three independent judges and the scores given by each separately, are added up to find the winners. The primary criteria for the evaluation is based on such points like, contribution to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage, community involvement, educational features, business viability and innovation.

Skål International is grateful for the meticulous work conducted by the three judges,

* Eugenio Yunis, from UNWTO
* Jack Sofier, Swedish Education and Consulting, Portugal
* José Koechlin, Inkaterra, Peru
Johnson Diversey whose global mission assumes a green position that supports sustainability in terms of Ecology, Efficiency, reduction in energy consumption, Food and Employee safety, is our main sponsor. The products they create and the methods they use are all aimed at making our world a safer and cleaner place.
This year, Iznik Foundation was a cosponsor of the quartz trophies they have specially designed for Skål International. Combining ecology with the unique art of Iznik (Ancient Nicea); the awards are a sign of preservation of natural sources and traditions and with their special characteristics they are specially chosen to emphasize the value of our global riches.

SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM, AUSTRALIA SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM, AUSTRALIA
BASECAMP MASAI MARA – KENYA, NORWAY BASECAMP MASAI MARA – KENYA, NORWAY
The 8th Annual Skål International Ecotourism Awards The 8th Annual Skål International Ecotourism Awards
FRONTIERS NORTH ADVENTURES, CANADA FRONTIERS NORTH ADVENTURES, CANADA
GOEDGEDACHT TRUST, SOUTH AFRICA GOEDGEDACHT TRUST, SOUTH AFRICA
MIDLANDS MEANDER EDUCATION PROJECT, SOUTH AFRICAMIDLANDS MEANDER EDUCATION PROJECT, SOUTH AFRICA
WE CARE – OPERATION PENGUIN, NORWAY WE CARE – OPERATION PENGUIN, NORWAY

The winners are announced as follows:
1. In the category of Tour Operators and Travel Agents:

FRONTIERS NORTH ADVENTURES, CANADA

2. In the category of Urban Accommodation:

WE CARE – OPERATION PENGUIN, NORWAY

3. In the category of Rural Accommodation:

BASECAMP MASAI MARA – KENYA, NORWAY

4. In the category of General Countryside:

SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM, AUSTRALIA

5. In the category of City and Villages:

GOEDGEDACHT TRUST, SOUTH AFRICA

6. In the category of Educational Programmes – Media:
MIDLANDS MEANDER EDUCATION PROJECT, SOUTH AFRICA

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Australia’s Monarto Zoo to start new Eco-Tourism resort

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Monarto Zoo, east of Adelaide, is seeking private investors to help fund a new eco-tourism resort.

The zoo plans to offer visitors to the new facilities a wildlife experience similar to those provided by large African game parks.

“This presents a huge and exciting opportunity to do something totally new and authentic,” said Zoos SA chief executive Chris West.

“It will combine eco-tourism and have a direct conservation benefit by featuring African animals in a natural setting and providing space and resources to help save native Australian species from extinction.”

The Monarto Zoo recently acquired another 500 hectares of land so it could offer four-wheel drive safari tours in what is now the largest reserve outside Africa.

With the new development it will also offer overnight accommodation as well as a restaurant service.

South Australian Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said there was a growing demand for the safari tourism experience.

“We want to make sure that the development and operation is of the highest quality and fills a market niche that has been previously untapped in Australia,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

Opened in 1983, Monarto features a range of African species including giraffe, rhino, lion, cheetah, hunting dogs, hyena, antelope and zebra.