ROME, OCTOBER 22 – An Ecotourism Footprint Calculator was today presented at an even taking place in the Italian capital of Rome. This online calculator will allow for protected areas and tour operators to calculate the ecological footprint of their proposed ecotourism packages. Using data and methodology from the Global Footprint Network, this innovative tool allows -through the assessment of specific components in the four categories of meals, accommodations, transports, and activities- for a careful evaluation of whether existent ecotourism packages are indeed deserving of this eco-friendly label.
Alessandro Galli, Mediterranean and MENA Region Director at the Global Footprint Network, spoke with enthusiasm of this project, tailored to the tourism industry: “We always say that we can’t manage what we can’t measure. We are happy to bring our natural resource accounting approach to the tourism industry, with a view to empowering managers of Protected Areas, in particular, to support the conservation of natural ecosystems via sustainably unlocking their economic value”.
In 2007, the Global Footprint Network had already launched a personal Ecological Footprint Calculator, which measures ‘how many Earths would be needed if everyone lived like you’. Over 14 million people worldwide have already made use of this online tool. The methodology employed to make this calculation is simple: the Ecological Footprint Calculator measures the difference between your demands in terms of earthly resources and the existing supply per person, using annual metrics on natural resource demand and availability.
How many planets do we need if everybody lives like you? Find out: http://www.footprintcalculator.org/
