{"id":23808,"date":"2025-08-01T13:28:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T12:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourism-villages.unwto.org\/?p=23808"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:08:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T12:08:45","slug":"how-tourism-can-conserve-nature-and-strengthen-rural-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourism-villages.unwto.org\/en\/news\/how-tourism-can-conserve-nature-and-strengthen-rural-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"How Tourism Can Conserve Nature and Strengthen Rural Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism Network recently convened another edition of Village Talks, this time focusing on the theme: \u201cTourism for Nature: Conserving Natural Resources through Sustainable Rural Development.\u201d Organized as part of the ongoing series highlighting voices from the ground, the session explored how rural communities are leveraging tourism to protect their natural environments while creating long-term social and economic value. The session gathered a total of 183 participants from 29 countries across the globe. The participants came from p<\/span>ublic institutions, m<\/span>unicipalities and d<\/span>estination management organizations along with members from our Best Tourism Villages network.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keynote speaker Kirsi Hyvaerinen, sustainability strategist, opened the session with insights on how placing nature at the heart of tourism planning can lead to more resilient destinations. She emphasized the importance of community ownership, traditional knowledge, and environmental responsibility in shaping the future of rural tourism. The session featured three Best Tourism Villages, each representing a unique natural landscape and sharing practical experiences in linking tourism with conservation goals:<\/p>\n

Pissouri, Cyprus: Safeguarding the Sea<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Carol Bailey, Village Representative of Pissouri, outlined how the village has adopted measures such as Blue Flag certification, wastewater reuse systems, and land-use regulations to ensure that marine and coastal ecosystems are protected. These sustainability efforts have helped enhance visitor awareness while preserving the integrity of the local environment.<\/p>\n

Mindo, Ecuador: Birding for Biodiversity<\/h3>\n

Fernando Arias, President of GAD Parroquial de Mindo, shared how Mindo has become a hub for birdwatching and cloud forest tourism. The village integrates environmental education, community-guided tours, and conservation partnerships to protect the fragile Andean Choc\u00f3 ecosystem while generating income for forest protection and local livelihoods.<\/p>\n

Dhordo, India: Desert Ecosystems in Balance<\/h3>\n

Hirendrasinh Dabhi, Assistant General Manager at Gujarat Tourism, presented how Dhordo manages tourism in the arid Rann of Kutch region through eco-friendly accommodations, promotion of local crafts, and seasonal tourism practices. These efforts aim to conserve the village\u2019s delicate desert ecosystem while supporting cultural preservation and economic opportunity.<\/p>\n

The session highlighted that successful rural tourism requires strong environmental policies, active community participation, and visitor management that respects ecological limits. When well-managed, tourism can contribute meaningfully to the conservation of forests, wetlands, coastlines, and desert landscapes reinforcing their value not just as natural assets, but as the foundation of rural identity and sustainable development.<\/p>\n

Village Talks continues to serve as a space for Best Tourism Villages to share lessons, innovations, and good practices from the ground, inspiring a more inclusive, balanced, and sustainable rural tourism future.<\/p>\n

Watch the highlights of the event here:<\/p>\n