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Organization type: Government
Profile:
The International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF), USDA Forest Service, was created in 1939 in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. As a scientific institution, IITF is committed to research in tropical forestry and the transfer of technologies. To address aspects of physical, social, and economic issues in managing tropical forests, IITF has more than sixty years of experience in interdisciplinary research. IITF is involved in partnerships for policy and program coordination with many local government agencies, as well as with non-government conservation organizations. A recent and expanding effort provides guidance and financial incentives to local authorities for projects in urban forestry. Research partnerships exist with more than fifty institutions. Internationally, staff consultancies and research have occurred in virtually all of the Caribbean Islands, and in Mexico, Central America, South America, and parts of tropical Asia.
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The International Institute of Tropical Forestry
(IITF) of the USDA Forest Service, received the
prestigious MarCom Creative Awards for 2006.
IITF won six awards for the production of
marketing and tourism promotional materials for
Puerto Rico and Nicaragua. The MarCom
Creative Awards, sponsored by the Association of
Marketing and Communication Professionals, is an
annual international award competition that
recognizes excellence in creativity and
outstanding achievement for writing and design
of marketing and communications programs, print,
visual and audio materials. |
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Areas of Sustainable Tourism (ST) expertise:
- Ecotourism
- Community-based natural resource management
- Sustinable tourism as a tool for economic/social development and conservation of bio/cultural diversity
Particular tourism niches:
- Provide technical assistance for ecotourism training to small communities, local NGOs, and governmental agencies
- Conduct site assessments/evaluations
- Develop interpretive plans, sign plans, and marketing/promotion materials
- Professional nature, cultural, and environmental photography
- Professional graphic design and multimedia presentations
Regions worked:
- Latin America and the Caribbean:
Recent projects:
Nicaragua
- Development of marketing and promotional materials for Nicaragua—“Nicaragua...naturalmente” campaign (1998)
- Development of a sign plan for National Parks, Nicaragua (2004)
- Development of tourism marketing and promotion materials for COMAP Protected Areas (2003-2005)
- Sustainable tourism training short-course for local communities
(2004-present)
- Development of a photographic database for the tourism bureau (2005-present)
- Development of ecotourism maps of Nicaragua (2004-present)
- Bird watching guiding and nature interpretation for local tour operators (2005-present)
- Writing a bird watching guide to protected areas in Nicaragua (2005-present)
Panama
Team leader for development of a 2001-06 mission strategy, for which ecotourism development is a major strategy. Some specific activities include:
- 2003-2005
- 2002
- A Concept Paper, Ideas for USAID Involvement in Ecotourism, Cultural and Adventure Travel in the Panama Canal Watershed.
- A Rapid Appraisal of Nature-based Enterprises: A scope for development.
- Nature Guide Training Program: Training Program Set-up.
- Rapid Assessment of Nature Trails and Recommendations for Improvement, Metropolitan Natural Park.
- An Assessment for the Design of New Visitor Nature Trails in the Emberá Drua Community.
- The San Lorenzo Protected Area: Panama’s Caribbean Treasure. An audio/visual program, with associated script.
- Design Plans for Signs and Interpretation, Metropolitan Natural Park.
- Recommendations for Enhancing Ecotourism in the Emberá Drua Community in the Upper Chagres River.
- 2001
- Nature Guide Training Program, Site Assessment.
- History of the Las Cruces Trail and adjacent Canal Area.
- Castillo San Lorenzo: Concepts Interpretation and Site Planning, a Prelude to Master Planning.
- Seminario de Comunicacion Ambiental Memoria Enero-Julio 2001.
- Developing a Tourism Image for the San Lorenzo Protected Area.
- Kayaking Opportunities on the Lower Chagres River.
- Limits of Acceptable Change for Fort San Lorenzo.
- Ecotourism Seminar for US Peace Corps Volunteers.
- Metropolitan Natural Park, Recommendations for Enhancing Signage and Interpretation.
- Recreation and Scenery Management for the San Lorenzo Protected Area.
- 2000
- A Sign Plan for Soberanía National Park, Republic of Panama.
- Ecotourism and Recreation in the Panama anal Watershed: Preliminary Assessment and Recommendations.
- The San Lorenzo Protected Area, Panama’s Caribbean Treasure, a slide program.
Jamaica
- Technical assistance to Jamaica Protected Area Network (consortium of NGOs managing protected areas and developing sustainable tourism programs). (2003-2005)
- Development of marketing and promotional materials for Jamaica Protected Areas (post cards, posters, photo books, screen savers, photo bank, maps).
- Sustainable tourism training short-courses. (2004)
Recent ST partnerships and collaborations:
- Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)
- Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA)
- PROARCA, USAID regional environmental program
- RARE Center for Tropical Conservation
- Rainforest Alliance
- The Nature Conservancy
- National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
- White Water to Blue Water initiative
- Nicaragua
- Nicaragua Institute of Tourism (Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo, INTUR)
- Many local NGOs
- Nicaraguan Environmental Authority (Ministerio de Ambiente y Los Recursos Naturales, MARENA)
- COMAP Nicaragua, Comanejo de Areas Protegidas
- Cámara Nicaragüense de la Micro, Pequeña, Mediana Industria Turística (CANTUR)
- Local tour operators
- Nicaragua Institute of Tourism (Instituto Nicaraguense de Cultura)
- National Chamber of Tourism (Cámara Nacional de Turismo, CANTUR)
- Panama
- Panama Institute of Tourism (Instituto Panamanian de Turismo, IPAT)
- Local NGOs (Panamerican Conservation Association, Metropolitan Park, others)
- Panamanian Environmental Authority (Autoridad Nacional de Ambiente, ANAM)
- Panama Canal Historical Society
- Jamaica
- Jamaican Tourism Board
- Green Hotel Association
- Jamaican Protected Areas Network (a consortium of local NGOs)
Contact:
Jerry Bauer
Director, International Cooperation
USDA Forest Service
International Institute of Tropical Forestry
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone: (787) 766-5335
www.parksinfo.net
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