These guidelines identify some general principles, and highlight some practical considerations for community-based ecotourism. They seek to provide a reference point for field project staff, and to encourage a consistent approach.
The guidelines are not intended to be a detailed ‘how to’ manual, but rather stand as a collection of issues and topics to be considered and addressed. In some countries, such as Brazil, WWF has been involved in the development of specific policies and good practice manuals for ecotourism which relate to local circumstances and go into more detail.
Throughout the text, information on individual WWF ecotourism projects is provided in boxes. Though these are only referenced where their content is relevant to a specific point, the information contained in them complements the guidelines as a whole.
Prevailing conditions and levels of knowledge about ecotourism vary considerably between countries and projects, and this will dictate how the guidelines are interpreted and used at a local level.
Although the guidelines are primarily intended for use within WWF, they may also be of value to partner organizations and other agencies, and demonstrate to a wider audience, WWF’s interest and approach in this field. They are based on experience obtained from WWF projects, and from published literature and case studies. A list of helpful reference sources is also included.
