Biodiversity
Biodiversity is vital for tourism and a healthy environment is a critical factor for the competitiveness of the tourism sector. The conservation efforts of many destinations depend largely on tourism revenues. Coasts, mountains, rivers, and forests are major attractions for tourists around the world. Biodiversity lies at the heart of nature-based tourism products – such as wildlife watching, scuba diving or tourism in protected areas Tourism connects people with nature, it can foster environmental responsibility and conservation if pursued sustainably.
Over the years, UN Tourism has actively addressed biodiversity issues at various levels and contributed to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)'s works. It has also participated in the CBD's discussions on tourism and biodiversity for various Conferences of the Parties (COPs), Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development. In 2004, the CBD Secretariat published the Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development, followed by the Tourism for Nature and Development: A Good Practice Guide in 2009, Tourism for Nature and Development: A Good Practice Guide to which UN Tourism contributed.
In 2010, in the context of the International Year of Biodiversity and the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the CBD, UN Tourism prepared the publication Biodiversity, Achieving Common Goals Towards Sustainability. In 2016, the CBD's COP13 Cancun Declaration on Mainstreaming the Conservation and Sustainable use of Biodiversity for Well-Being, supported by UN Tourism, recognized tourism as a driving force for change. It acknowledged the tourism sector as one of the major sectors of the global economy contributing to conservation and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity.
UN Tourism actively participates in the UN Environment Management Group (EMG), a coordination body addressing international environmental issues. It has contributed to the 2021 Report Supporting the Global Biodiversity Agenda, a United Nations System Commitment for Action to assist Member States delivering on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, as well as to the Environment Management Group’s Biodiversity Report and the UN Common Approach on Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions, among others.
Published on International Day of Biodiversity, the report "The Integration of Biodiversity in National Tourism Policies", explores the intricate relationship between the tourism sector and biodiversity, which encompasses the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. It assesses how 80 national tourism policies incorporate biodiversity values and aims to deepen the understanding of the references to biodiversity within these policies.
The report comprises four detailed subsections that examine the integration of biodiversity within policy narratives, policy statements, strategic programs, and commitments to monitoring. By providing insights into the breadth and depth of current integration efforts, it serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, stakeholders, and the global community, urging further action towards a sustainable future.
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UN Tourism actively engages in COP events to highlight the vital role of sustainable tourism in addressing climate change. Through discussions, partnerships, and innovative solutions, we advocate for a greener, more resilient future for the global tourism sector.
Its principal role is to monitor the implementation of the programme of work under "Sustainable Development of Tourism", assist the Secretariat in said implementation, and report and make recommendations to the Executive Council as well as other bodies of the Organization as required