Protecting Hope

Is sustainable tourism the best way to think about tourism? What other alternatives and perspectives are out there? In this episode, CPAM's Assistant Director, Erin Hicks, invites you to tune in to the conversation she had with Crista Valentino, Interim Director of the Jackson Travel and Tourism Board in the State of Wyoming, in the United States. Together they discuss the idea of regenerative tourism as an alternative to sustainable tourism, as well as the sustainable tourism destination management plan Crista is involved with.

In this episode we talk with Elena Scobioala the local coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service International Programs in the Republic of Moldova. Elena’s background comprises 10 years of work at the Ecological Movement of Moldova NGO. She has also worked in other professional associations, such as managing small and medium scale environmental projects focused on education as well as awareness raising and civic engagement for nature protection. Elena speaks about the natural and cultural heritage of her country, highlighting that Moldova is an "off the beaten path" hidden gem. Elena tells us that her entire career has been focused on working with and caring for people and nature, and this is why she thinks sustainable tourism means love.

It is a difficult balance between protecting natural areas and ensuring that the communities that live close to or in those areas are not affected by this "protection." In this episode, Gloria Mwenge from the Democratic Republic of the Congo discusses the importance of making protected areas available and accessible to locals before foreigners, reminding us that tourists are not only those who come from abroad. Gloria tells us about the challenges and difficulties, as well as the success stories of working as a coordinator at Uwezo Wetu, an NGO focused on Sustainable Tourism and Gender Equity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, explaining how inside chaos she sees hope.

This episode of Protecting Hope is being launched as a part of our collaboration with the USDA Forest Service International Programs for International Day of Forests 2023.  This year IDF is focused on forests and health.  In this episode, we interview Dr. Kathleen Wolf, a research social scientist that focuses on nature-based human health.  Dr. Wolf discusses some of her research and talks about the human health and well-being benefits that we experience when we spend time in nature.  If you need motivation to get outdoors or just want to know why you feel so good after a short hike, tune in and hear about the ways we benefit from time spent in nature.   Episode Resources: Urban Forestry/Urban Greening Research: https://depts.washington.edu/hhwb/   Publication: Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7498

Creating meaningful collaboration, opening ourselves up to new ideas, and seeking authenticity. In this episode Toby Bloom, National Program Manager for Travel, Tourism, and Interpretation at the United States Forest Service, shares key insights from her career and her life mission: reconnecting people to nature. 

Collective goals,  congruence with local desires, and awareness about the importance of non-human actors. In this episode Gabriela Fontoura Founder and Director of Estação Gabiraba, a community based tourism operator in the Brazilian Amazon, tells us about the knowledge and lessons she has gathered from working with 20 indigenous  communities in the Amazon, highlighting how for sustainable tourism and environmental conservation diversity is our strength.  Learn more about Estação Gabiraba: https://estacaogabiraba.com.br/en/