Five European Forest Sites were presented with environmental awards at a
ceremony in the Millennium Dome on 20.01.2000.
Wilderness Wood (UK), Kelling Heath Holiday Park (UK), Center Parcs
(UK), Huhmari Holiday Centre (Finland) and the Tapada de Mafra
(Portugal) were able to demonstrate aspects of sound environmental
management of tourism through a competition organised by TOURFOR, a
European Project on forests, tourism and the environment. The Project
Director, Dr. John Tribe of Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
said “Biodiversity management, waste-product schemes, use of local
suppliers and energy savings were amongst the tangible achievements
demonstrated by the winning sites.”
Plans are underway to establish regular awards in this area and
proposals for a European environmental award for tourism in forests were
also announced at the ceremony. The Director of the Foundation for
Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE), Nigel Tansley Thomas, welcomed
the proposals saying “Through the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, FEEE has
raised environmental awareness and standards in Europe’s Beaches. This
award offers the potential to extend these benefits to tourism
destinations in the countryside and forests. Its focus on Environmental
Management Systems represents an important
developmental step. FEEE looks forward to playing a part in securing
support for this award.”
A TOURFOR manual “Environmental Management for Rural Tourism and
Recreation” giving a step by step guide for site managers was also
launched at the event and copies presented to the winning sites by David
Barker of Continuum publishing.
For more information, just reply to this e-mail or look at
http://www.tourfor.com
Xavier Font
TOURFOR Project Officer
Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
Wellesbourne Campus, High Wycombe, HP13 5BB, UK
>From February 2000
Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management
Leeds Metropolitan University
Calverley St, Leeds, LS1 3HE
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