Pronatura Veracruz

Context
Pronatura is a non-governmental organization dedicated to preserve the biodiversity in Mexico. In order for Pronatura to fulfil these objectives they have started an Eco-tourism project. Over the past two years Pronatura Veracruz has started a pilot bird watching project called Veracruz River of Raptors program (VRR) which main objective is to set up a bird sanctuary that would get local communities involved in the preservation of these birds. The monitoring for the Veracruz River of Raptors program (VRR) is a study that began in 1991. During this time the first counts are made and ideal sites and periods are scouted for. Another core part of the project was the elaboration of a methodology that assured the reporting data in a standardized way; this allows for the information that is gathered yearly to be measurable and comparable. Since 1992 up to date, Pronatura Veracruz has coordinated the project, keeping its objective, the conservation through long term monitoring and observation of migratory raptor populations and their habitat. The count now is officially done during the fall, from August 20th to November 20th, in the towns of Cardel and Chichicaxtle, both situated in the central part of the state of Veracruz. In order to do this, awareness is fundamental in the local people in the areas where the migration occurs. Consequently, in 1995 the environmental education project is initiated to complement the Veracruz River of Raptors Programs

Principal research questions
• The environment as the key attraction for tourism activities (backdrop/scenery, domestic tourism)?

• The impact of tourism development and the direct tourist activities on the environment?

• The influence of tourism on the environmental protection and positive conservation, where tourism provides the economic value justifying preservation of the environment?

The research agenda offered by MXTRI and NZTRI has three objectives
1) Plan de manejo La Mancha: This program has the intention to steer the needs of local communities and the principal actors into an intergraded heritage centre and tourism white book. In order to identify the links that exist between Tourism and the Environment in Veracruz ( Cardel, Chichicaxtel, San Isidro y Colonia la Mancha).
2) Develop a planned approach to tourism development which addresses visitor management and tourism and the environment issues in an integrate way.

• A tourism model based on a shared –use of community trail system;
• A tourism product, based on the experience of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pronaturas Veracruz “Veracruz River of Raptors program (VRR)” and a international benchmark of bird watching products;
• IT-Trail development software and a Web-rasing program that will enable the local community to develop a virtual cluster.

3) Market Veracruz River of Raptors program (VRR) as a domestic tourist destination based on the sustainable use of the PRONATURA philosophy and the built environment.

• Goal: study of conservation type holidays
• Environmental management in visitor attractions with the local communities involved as partners of the heritage centre