Servas and Ecotourism Report from the World Summit on Ecotourism, Québec, May 19-22, 2002 by Gary Sealey Purpose: My purpose in attending the World Summit on Ecotourism was to raise the visibility of Servas by participating in a UN forum; and to meet other representatives of like-minded groups; to obtain information which might enrich the dialogue around the kitchen table of Servas hosts and travelers; and to look for opportunities to sustain the flow of information between the Servas network and the UN and associated NGOs. Background Ecotourism is often considered to be a field of tourism characteristic of small numbers of people, usually traveling in groups, arriving at fragile nature sites.  The Quebec hosts of the Summit enlarged this definition: “Ecotourism, with its combination of nature and history, aims to preserve the region’s natural and cultural history.” (statement of Hon. Minister Rosaire Bertrand) Plans for the World Summit on Ecotourism were fixed almost five years ago, long before the shocks to international tourism from terrorism and economic recession.  In July, 1998 ECOSOC (to which Servas is accredited at the UN) proposed to designate the year 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism “as an encouragement for intensified cooperative efforts by Governments and international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, to achieve the aims of Agenda 21 in promoting development and the protection of the Environment.” The UN General Assembly accepted the proposal. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was particularly interested in Ecotourism, for its possible help to protect sensitive ecosystems and reduce loss of animals and plants species; and as well help give local communities a say in tourism development, as well as part of the ensuing revenues.  It wanted to generate awareness, draw attention to successful techniques, and promote exchanges of successful experiences.  It was also intended to finalize a Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism, as input to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in late August.   UNEP presented a draft of this document for discussion. In planning the World Summit on Ecotourism UNEP worked with the World Tourism Organization (WTO-OMT), www.world-tourism.org and the International Ecotourism Society www.ecotourism.org centred at Burlington, USA.  Both of these are industrial associations, grouping businesses, nature camps, university professors, research institutes, consultants and local government and other agencies specializing in tourism operational support (e.g. marketing and research).  Several meetings involving these groups were held around the world, in advance of the Summit.  UNEP forecasts post-Summit meetings, e.g. with the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), the Mountain Commons project, and the Great Apes Survival project (GRASP). About 1100 delegates attended the Summit.  A rather useless registration list is available – rather useless, because it does not give email or other contact information for the delegates, nor identify their provenance from government, business or voluntary sector, etc. People and Institutions The frank orientation of UNEP and the WTO-OMT towards the subject of ecotourism, is expressed by their common slogan, “market-driven, industry-led”.  Both Mr. Frangialli of WTO-OMT and Klaus Toepfer Executive Director of UNEP used this expression in asides to each other at the Summit, as did the main representative of Canada to WTO-OMT, Roger Wheelock. Although I expected some resistance, I spoke to the following key contacts, to urge provision of more access by non-profit, voluntary-sector NGO’s, to both UNEP and the WTO-OMT.  (I had also written earlier about this, to both WTO-OMT and to its Canadian representatives.) Key Contacts Oliver Hillel, Coordinator Tourism Programme United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, Production and Consumption Unit Tour Miraeau 39-43 quai Andreé Citroën – 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France Tel : 33-1  44 37 76 21 Fax (33-1) 44 37 14 74 Email : oliver.hillel@uneip.fr   (« ensure that sustainable use and management of the environment is an integral part of all tourism development«)  http://www.uneptie.org Mr. Hillel acknowledged the difficulty, and the need, of maintaining consultative and participatory relations with NGOs, including the not-for-profit sector, such as Servas International.  He noted that UNEP is more advanced in its consultative arrangements with NGO’s than is WTO-OMT.  He appears to be a “friend”, and would be a useful informant for the future. Jim Sniffen, Communications Officer UNEP New York Office (1 UN Plaza) (I did not get a card from Jim.  Because we knew each other from a past co-project we were able to speak informally.  The North American consultation activity of UNEP has moved to Washington, DC, with the newly-established UNEP Regional Office, there.  However, Jim would be a good contact relative to UN-related activities.  He has considerable experience at UNEP headquarters, in Nairobi.   He told me that UNEP is completely focused on the WSSD at South Africa, and has little time for any other consultation until that event is over.) Benoît Charlebois Canadian Commission for UNESCO 350 rue Albert CP 1047 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V8 613 566 4414 poste 5517 téléc 613 566 4407 Benoît is replacing Gisèle Trubey temporarily; she is Chargée de programmes, Science naturelles.  Benoît was very interested in the popular educational impact of Servas, and we will be meeting again, soon.  He has considerable experience with UNESCO as a development officer in Malawi and in the UNESCO Paris headquarters, etc. Geoffrey Lipman Conseilleur special du Sécretaire général chargé du commerce des services touristiques WTO-OMT Capitán Haya 42 28020 Madrid, Espagne téléphone : 34 91 567 8100 fax 34 91 571 37 33 email : glipman@compuserve.com Mr. Geoffrey Lipman lives in Brussels and travels extensively and frequently to North America (where he is on the board of directors of a Canadian steam excursion train) and around the world.  I spoke to him about the need for Servas and other non-profit, voluntary sector NGOs to have improved access to WTO-OMT, which he instantly understood.  He said that he was the right person on the WTO board, with whom to raise this subject, and he welcomed a future meeting with me or with other delegated officials of Servas International in Switzerland or elsewhere. I suggested to him that a network of NGOs could be established for WTO through a series of preparatory meetings – however, I do have some reservations about the timing of these meetings, to ensure credible and useful outcomes (but I did not discuss this reservation with him.) Honourable Judd Buchanan, President, Canadian Tourism Commission.  Mr. Buchanan is former Minister of Public Works, Canada, and a part-owner of a Canadian mountain skiing resort.  He has close ties to the current, incumbent Liberal government of Canada.  I asked him to consider greater involvement of NGOs in the official delegations, to which he responded, “no”.  When I re-presented my request, he suggested that I have it reviewed by the bureaucrats.  When I stayed with him, he finally told me that Canada was spending about $800 M to get greater productivity and did not want this productivity slowed down.  So, I countered, that the money was taxpayers money, and that the investments were the subject of public policy, and that he as a former minister must be relied to give further consideration.  For which he thanked me, but not enthusiastically. Flow of the Meeting Following the usual greetings from the sponsoring agencies, each day began with experts from around the world, speaking on the themes of the Summit: A.      Ecotourism policies and planning – chiefly government (e.g. national parks and protected areas management) B.      Regulation of ecotourism – chiefly government and industry representatives, regional coordinating bodies such as EUROPARC Federation, certifying bodies such as Tourism Secretariat, Mexico. C.      Product Development and marketing of ecotourism – chiefly tourism marketing and promotional ministries and industry associations, European Commission, Italian Federation of Natural Parks and Reserves, etc. D.      Monitoring Costs and Benefits of ecotourism – mainly aboriginal and advocacy organizations. Of these themes, the one I found most interesting was  “D”.  There was a surprising amount of controversy in these sessions, led by the aboriginal representatives, and supported strongly by Mrs. Alison Johnston, International Support for Sustainable Tourism (“The Meeting of Peoples through Ecotourism: Is the Sacred for Sale?”) sustour@axionet.com   Box 1212 Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0 Canada.  Her intervention, based on the rule of international law, was received in silence by the audience, pleased to have found a champion against business and government development.  Several African delegates, and one from Sri Lanka, also spoke in support of indigenous peoples’ causes, as did one from India (www.equitabletourism.org) speaking on behalf of Equations a non-profit organisation established for research, training and the promotion of holistic tourism.  Equations works towards transforming the inherently exploitative nature of mass commercial tourism.  It questions the real benefits of tourism to the host communities as well as its socio-cultural and economic impacts. Our activities include documentation, publication, research, seminars and the investigation of alternative tourism policies and structures.   Other defense of controversial causes issued from Rainforest Alliance (www.ra.org ), which also supports sustainable forests and agriculture, etc.  I think Servas could do some good field work and alliance-building with these groups. Servas International Development Activities by Gary Sealey 1.      Designed, wrote and distributed 250 copies of a brief flyer “Welcome to the World of Servas”, on Servas activities, with reference to web-pages, and invitation to consider joining.  Personally placed over 100 of these into individual hands at the Summit.  Distributed 150 at literature racks.  2.      Designed and produced Servas business cards containing reference to servas.org website, and distributed many of these on-site. 3.      Publicly spoke on two occasions, raising questions of governance of multilateral institutions and on developing NGO relations 4.      Privately spoke to agency representatives of WTO-OMT, UNEP, and Canadian Government 5.      Networked with many NGO representatives.  Collected a list of these. 6.      Produced an abstract on ecotourism, and a paper for Servas International on this subject, with consultation from Mexico, Samoa, and Canada.  This paper is part of the official record of the meeting entitled “Secane”. 7.      Referenced and forwarded summary of earlier Servas consultations with Arthur Frommer, undertaken earlier by Servas USA and Servas International. Recommendations 1 Position Servas to be more instrumental in Ecotourism, positively influencing the thousands of actions annually, of Servas travelers and hosts and their friends, by EXCO and peace secretaries to discuss and adopt a Servas code of conduct for travel and tourism, including ecotourism. Sources:  I have included two of these, below. The Quebec Government issued “The ecotourist Code of Conduct”  (see below) Another, inspirational and relevant to Servas   (also, see below)   Several others are on-line at: http://www.yorku.ca/dkproj/string/rohr/codes.htm  One of these, based on research in Central America, and available in French, is http://ecoroute.uqcn.qc.ca/ecot/bdd/code.htm   Another Charter on Sustainable Tourism, developed in Spain in 1995 and simply expressed in English, is  http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2634/code.html The WTO-OTM itself has undertaken preliminary work on such a code at Seoul and Osaka in September, 2001 and concurrently, in France and elsewhere.  Meanwhile, a European Charter for Sustainable tourism has evolved from an initiative by the Europac Federation in 1991.  Although it is business-oriented in its expression (e.g. staff training, rather than public learning) its content is thought-provoking. 2 EXCO to accept Mr. Lipman’s invitation to assist in improving the WTO-OMT focus on NGO’s.  EXCO to designate a skilled management consultant, with experience in UN and related matters, to assist.  Servas could be an honest broker, working with NGO interest groups to help establish such a focus.  Success requires preliminary re-examination of the UN an WTO agendas, and consultation with some informants.  If WTO-OMT would provide a service contract, this could generate some funding for Servas International, after paying reasonable expenses of the consultant.  Care would have to be taken to maintain “neutral ground’ by Servas in the many issues, some of which are quite contentious, surrounding the subject of Ecotourism. 3 Servas International UN representatives to continue to monitor and report from time to time on the global dialogue of indigenous peoples and progressive NGO’s on the subject of environment, economy, human rights and indigenous rights.  At heart, here, is the global debate over globalization versus local autonomy, tradition versus modernization, and capacity building of local communities versus trade in services.  There is much to learn from this dialogue, to inform the kitchen encounters of Servas travelers and hosts. Compendium: Should Servas adopt a traveler’s Ecotourism Code

A) Quebec   from http://www.bonjourquebec.com/anglais/idees_vac_a/bonne_conduite.html Guidelines for sound ecotourism The ecotourist code of conduct provides visitors with the do's and don'ts of responsible ecotourism. The code is more than a general ethics guide like Leave no Trace Inc. 2000, which is distributed in U.S. national parks. In addition to limiting the negative impact of human presence on the natural habitat, the ecotourist code of conduct promotes the protection of natural and cultural heritage. The present code is inspired by the ÉcoRoute document from the Union québécoise pour la conservation de la nature. It is aimed at visitors from all backgrounds who will practice ecotourism and visit natural sites. Guidelines for the ecotourist 1. Prepare before you leave ·Choose a business or promoter who cares about minimizing environmental impact. ·Choose a travel agency or promoter who offers an introductory session covering such topics as site and facility use and environmentally-friendly activities. · Find out about your destination's natural habitat and its cultural values. ·       Take steps to fit in with the area you're visiting. 2. Follow the rules ·       Don't enter areas that are off-limits to the public. ·       Obey signs. ·       Inform promoters, authorities or visitors of any breach of rules regarding the natural and cultural habitat. 3. Respect wildlife, flora and their habitat ·       Move around calmly to avoid upsetting the natural environment. ·       Keep at a reasonable distance from animals to avoid disturbing them. ·       Never feed animals. ·       Don't alter the natural habitat. ·       Don't enter areas where animals are in high numbers: nesting and spawning sites, containment or hibernation areas, etc. ·       Leave things where they are. This includes plants, animals, or parts thereof. ·       Never purchase any animal or plant, or product made from animals or plants on the threatened or endangered list; in addition to environmental concerns, it is illegal to purchase these products. ·       Carefully chose your trails and rest areas to avoid environmental degradation. 4. Lessen your impact on the environment ·       Adopt behaviour that reduces pollution, be it chemical, biological, visual (vandalism, graffiti), olfactory or noise pollution. ·       Travel in small low-impact groups. ·       Be aware of how your activities affect the environment. ·       Keep motorized equipment in good working order. ·       Use non-polluting or low-polluting equipment. ·       Choose durable, biodegradable and renewable products. ·       Dispose of waste in designated trash sites. ·       Promote transportation that has little or no impact on the environment. 5. Respect the human environment ·       Appreciate the uniqueness of the people you visit. ·       Respect local customs, local traditions and cultural differences. ·       Be open to learning. ·       Support the local economy by buying local products and services. ·       Respect people's privacy and private property. ·       Adapt to local culture. ·       Be considerate of other visitors. <+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+>=<+><+> B. Charte éthique du voyageur http://www.terra-incognita.fr/cadreb.html CHARTE ETHIQUE Deux mondes se rencontrent à chaque fois qu’une personne se déplace d’un pays à l’autre. Voyageur, touriste, découvreur, nous sommes tout cela tour à tour. Mais, sans l’ombre d’un doute, nous sommes toujours un invité. Les pays que nous visitons avec tant de plaisir sont nos hôtes. Tout le bonheur d’un voyage peut reposer sur cette relation parfois si délicate. Nombreuses sont les façons de voyager, d’appréhender d’autres environnements, mais inévitablement nous laissons des traces sur notre passage. Chaleureuses, généreuses, discrètes, dangereuses et inaltérables parfois. Nous apprenons un peu plus à l’occasion de nouveaux voyages. Chaque région est différente et, pourtant, nous sommes souvent confrontés aux mêmes interrogations, doutes, et à nos propres certitudes. Nous avons souhaité rassembler au sein d’une CHARTE ETHIQUE DU VOYAGEUR® ce qui nous semble le plus représentatif des comportements ou des attitudes à encourager. Apprendre à découvrir d’autres cultures sans pour autant les juger, faire confiance à son bon sens et garder en tête quelques conseils, tout cela nous apparaît comme le gage d’un beau voyage mais aussi d’un développement durable de notre planète. Le respect est le gage d'une meilleure rencontre L’un des attraits du voyage tient à la diversité des peuples et des cultures rencontrés. Or, chaque culture, religion et mode de vie est soumise à des règles et à des traditions qu’il convient de respecter et de comprendre, plutôt que de juger. Le voyage ne se conçoit pas sans respect et humilité vis-à-vis des personnes, des biens, de la culture et du mode de vie du pays visité. Ce respect se traduit par des attitudes simples, au jour le jour. Chaque pays vit selon un rythme qui lui est propre. Dans certains cas, la hâte et l’impatience ne sont pas les meilleurs moyens de s’attirer la sympathie. • Les tenues trop moulantes, trop dénudées, trop ostentatoires ou trop décontractées sont susceptibles de choquer sous certains cieux. Il en va de même des codes régissant les contacts corporels (caresser la tête d’un enfant, serrer la main d’une femme pour un homme, s’asseoir à côté d’une femme, s’embrasser en public…). • Une bonne photo se fait avec son sujet, pas contre lui. Les photographes ont tout à gagner à prendre le temps d’établir un climat de confiance, à demander l’autorisation de filmer ou de photographier (auprès des parents pour les enfants) et à se conformer aux éventuels refus. • Il est préférable de ne promettre d’envoyer des photos aux personnes photographiées que si on est certain de pouvoir respecter son engagement (y compris dans le cas où une contrepartie ou une rétribution est demandée). • Respecter les vaccinations conseillées permet d’éviter l’introduction de maladies dans le pays visité. Il est important d’utiliser les traitements antipaludéens en respectant les recommandations de l’OMS : surdoser présente le risque d’augmenter la résistance des souches au détriment des populations locales. • Le tourisme sexuel est une atteinte à la dignité humaine condamnée par les lois. Il ne ressemble pas toujours au premier abord à la prostitution. Nombreux sont les exemples de voyageurs qui rentrent de tel ou tel pays émerveillés de la “fantastique liberté sexuelle” (!) de ses habitants, sans même réaliser qu’elle n’est motivée que par la misère ambiante. L'argent, les biens, la nourriture, n'ont pas partout la même valeur La différence de niveau de vie entre le voyageur et la population du pays d’accueil, lorsqu’elle existe, peut être à l’origine d’incompréhensions et de dérives. Être accueilli dans un village ou une famille équivaut dans certains cas à un grand sacrifice pour les populations locales. Ce qui est offert au voyageur, tout comme ce qu’il offre, doit être mesuré en valeur locale. • Dons et cadeaux ne sont pas des gestes innocents. Ils peuvent parfois prendre une connotation condescendante, méprisante ou déplacée (jeter par exemple des pièces ou des bonbons à des enfants afin de s’en débarrasser…). Les cadeaux, dons et pourboires trop importants compte tenu du niveau de vie général du pays visité déstabilisent les équilibres économiques locaux. Les enfants qui reçoivent de l’argent pour des photos ou parce qu’ils mendient ne sont plus scolarisés, gagnent plus d’argent que leur père : ceci peut créer d’importantes distorsions dans les structures familiales (non-respect du père et des anciens). • Certains dons peuvent s’avérer dangereux lorsqu’ils sont distribués au hasard, notamment les médicaments. Les hôpitaux et dispensaires, lorsqu’ils existent, sont souvent plus à même de les gérer. De la même façon, les bonbons et sucreries ont des conséquences longtemps après notre passage (caries dentaires). • Utiliser les hôtels locaux plutôt que les chaînes hôtelières d’État ou étrangères, les transports locaux, les services rémunérés des populations locales (guides, cuisiniers, muletiers, porteurs, ménage…) est souvent le meilleur moyen de les faire bénéficier directement de l’argent du tourisme. • Un appareil photo ou simplement une paire de chaussures peuvent être l’équivalent de plusieurs mois ou d’années de salaire aux standards du pays visité. Les exhiber ou les traiter sans ménagement peut s’avérer choquant ou être mal compris. • Le marchandage fait culturellement partie de la tradition commerciale de certains pays. S’y refuser est souvent mal interprété et peut contribuer à l’augmentation du coût de la vie. En revanche, il ne faut pas oublier que des sommes dérisoires pour le visiteur peuvent être d’une grande importance pour celui qui les reçoit. • En règle générale, les voyageurs doivent se garder d’abuser de la tentation de populations démunies à vendre des objets sacrés, traditionnels, ou faisant partie du patrimoine du pays (sauf s’ils sont réalisés à la seule fin d’être vendus aux touristes). Seul reste l'empreinte de nos pas L’espace naturel et les sites culturels sont souvent les principales richesses touristiques d’un pays et la première motivation des voyageurs qui s’y rendent. Les voyageurs ont une responsabilité vis-à-vis de l’environnement du pays d’accueil. • Les voyageurs se doivent d’éviter de laisser derrière eux leurs déchets, quels qu’ils soient. Tous les moyens (emballages bio-dégradables, etc.) permettant de limiter les déchets nés du tourisme doivent être utilisés. Mieux vaut limiter, dans ses bagages, les emballages qui devront être laissés sur place. • Il est préférable de rapporter avec soi les déchets non-destructibles (sacs plastiques, piles et batteries, etc.) après un voyage dans un pays ne disposant pas d’infrastructure d’élimination des déchets. • Certains déchets (papiers, papier hygiénique, etc) peuvent être facilement brûlés, bien que, dans certaines cultures, le feu ait un rôle sacré, et il peut s’avérer choquant de l’utiliser pour détruire les déchets. Il faut en règle générale se renseigner sur les comportements locaux de gestion des déchets. Dans certaines régions, les boîtes de conserves peuvent être par exemple laissées aux populations locales qui les recyclent en bijoux ou objets utilitaires. • Il est préférable dans certaines régions d’utiliser du gaz ou d’autres moyens de combustion peu consommateurs de bois pour faire sa cuisine. Si aucune solution de cuisine au gaz n’est possible, mieux vaut avoir recours au bois mort trouvé au sol. Le charbon de bois est grand consommateur d’arbres verts et vivants. • Certains écosystèmes fragiles imposent le respect de précautions particulières : ne pas sortir des sentiers ou conduire hors piste, limiter le piétinement, ne pas utiliser de moyens de locomotion à moteur, etc. • L’observation des animaux ne doit pas modifier leur comportement naturel et déranger leur vie quotidienne. Il est préférable de garder une distance que les animaux considèrent comme sûre, et de se garder de faire trop de bruit. • Les équipes locales qui vous guident dans l’observation animale sont parfois prêtes, pour de l’argent ou pour faire plaisir, à ne pas respecter ces règles. Alors que l’observation d’un animal non perturbé est in fine plus intéressante que celle d’un animal stressé par votre proximité. • Nourrir les animaux modifie leur régime alimentaire et peut être dangereux. Les singes deviennent ainsi agressifs et voleurs, par exemple. • Il n’est pas recommandé d’utiliser des magnétophones ou autres appelants pour attirer et observer la faune, sans parler de toucher les animaux, pour leur santé et celle des êtres humains. Éviter de pêcher dans les lacs ou mers où le poisson est rare, ou certaines espèces en voie de disparition. • Il est important de respecter les réglementations en vigueur dans les Réserves ou Parcs naturels. Payer les taxes d’entrées ou de séjour permet la conservation et la préservation des sites. Exiger le reçu de ces taxes permet d’éviter le détournement de ces fonds. • Certains “souvenirs” qui font partie du patrimoine naturel du pays d’accueil ne doivent pas quitter celui-ci. Les graffitis ou autres traces sont des mutilations souvent ineffaçables. • Les accords pour la protection des espèces (CITES) – qui visent à protéger plus de 2 500 espèces d’animaux et 30 000 espèces de plantes menacées – interdisent le commerce de peaux, d’ivoire, d’écailles, de coraux, de coquillages, de même que l’importation d’animaux exotiques vivants. • L’eau potable est parfois une denrée rare qu’il faut utiliser avec parcimonie et éviter de polluer. Les voyageurs doivent préférer autant que possible les lessives sans phosphates, les savons et détergents biodégradables, faire leurs lessives et toilette en aval des habitations et à distance des points d’eau potable. • Il vaut toujours mieux obtenir l’autorisation pour utiliser le puits ou la pompe d’un village et ne pas se laver à proximité, même si les habitants le font.

++++++++++++++++++ Draft Article, Servas International by Gary Sealey Servas links with new friends at World Summit for Sustainable Development. On May 19-22, Gary Sealey, main representative to the United Nations at New York, networked with many of the 1,100 participants at the World Summit on Ecotourism at Quebec, Canada. The Summit on Ecotourism had been planned as a special contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg,   A Quebec Declaration is being revised now, and will be submitted to that Summit.  (Servas has delegated three representatives to the Johnannesburg Summit.) Servas at Quebec enjoyed a fresh experience with the World Tourism Organization (WTO-OMT).  The WTO-OMT does not yet have a focal point for NGO’s.  It is much more used to hearing the voices of government and of business, than of NGO’s like Servas.  Government experts and business leaders were impressed by the appeal of rights-based civil society groups including indigenous peoples, calling for communities and individuals to participate in tourism policies, plans and projects. Gary Sealey distributed a brief brochure on Servas, a greeting-card, and a statement on ecotourism, from the point of view of Servas.  In this, he was helped by advice from Servas in Samoa, Mexico and Canada.  (You can see some of these materials at the Website under construction:  www.un.servas.org ) United Nations Environment Programme held a brief side-meetings with NGO voluntary sector participants.  UNEP is continuing its practice of establishing national committees, one of the most successful of which is UNED-UK. The World Summit on Ecotourism discussed on-going damage to fragile ecosystems from both the tourism industry and from misguided tourists.  It considered proven and new guidelines and research, to ward off future damage. Food for thought: Do Servas hosts have an opportunity and an obligation to inform Servas travelers on best ways to undertake local visits to fragile natural and cultural destinations?  One way to accomplish this would be to work through a brief code of ecotourism, adapted for Servas.  Several of these already exist, in multiple languages.  With an acceptable draft, Servas could offer advice to national secretaries and peace secretaries, to integrated into interviews of travelers and hosts.  Interested?  Let us know. We would add you to an informal advisory panel of Servas informants.  You will be provided with study background material, invited to examine a draft code for Servas travelers and hosts, and review a final draft.   Please contact peacesecretary@servas.org We congratulate our UN Representative Gary Sealey on the above exemplary action & report and thank him for having represented us at the Summit of Ecotourism! While we are following up all its fine suggestions for action, with Belgian Servas member we are now getting ready for our Servas participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development  (WSSD) which is to take place Aug. 26th to Sept. 4th in Johannesburg/SouthAfrica. Servas member Leida Rijnhout of Belgium has just represented SI at the last preparatory meeting for the WSSD that just ended in Bali. We shall be represented at the WSSD by one Servas member coming from America, one from Europe and one from Africa, who are well qualified and able to travel there.   If any of you are able to be in Johannesburg at that time and would like to be on the SI delegation to the WSSD, do please email me. Just like the Human Rights Commission in Geneva and the meetings our SI Representatives in NY, Geneva and Vienna attend, as well as the above mentioned UN Conferences;   also Servas members' participation in international meaningful camps in different countries/continents and especially now as proposed and facilitated by our SI Representative to the UN Gary White do very much promote the goals of Servas and allow us to better serve humankind.  Gary White does work with volunteers of the Junior Chamber (age 21-39) and expects go get many younger people involved in Servas.   If you have Servas camps experience to share and interest, please contact him at avalanche@myexcel.com    He mentions that " Servas dinners can become a focal point for sharing camp programming, involving interested members, and introducing non-Servas persons to the organization.  I intend to invite Guyanese and Filipinos to Servas dinners, and invite Servas members into their communities.  For Servas members who cannot travel to the camps, they may still experience elements of cross-cultural exchange locally.  We will ask First Lady Vashdee, and Consul General Laconlale to host a dinner or participate in like events."   Your input and comments are welcome anytime! I do look forward very much for your reports. Yours are my best wishes and greetings, Marco Kappenberger peacesecretary@servas.org