1. Ecotourism and geotourism as
as an Instrument of Biodiversity
and Geodiversity Interpretation
WGL Workshop, Prague, 8th November
Case Study:
Katako Kombe
(Maniema
Province)

2. „Take only pictures,
leave only your footprints!“

3. Sustainable tourism
• necessity to optimise effects of tourism on the
environment
• support of responsible tourism as an instrument of
– environmental education
– building-up and promotion of relationships to nature
– keeping the traditional rural life style
– sustainable use of natural resources
– strengthening the cultural identity
– protection of the landscape character

4. Great Britain
Foto: Gilbert – Litt 1939
Simple negative
definition of
sustainable
tourism

5. And what about virgin nature? To penetrate?

6. Tourism in Ecologically Fragile Areas
• Minimise negative effects on local
ecosystems, landscape character and local
community life via stimulation of visitors
flows and environmental marketing
• System of monitoring and management of
the tourism impacts on a valuable natural
territory
• Strategy and project for sustainable
tourism development
• Establishment of the status of a specialised
guide for ecotourism, training system
• System of permanent and mutual
communication of protected areas
administrations with all key stakeholders

7. Tradition or Inscenization?

8. Branding of local products
• products fabricated in some protected areas can obtain a
brand which presents their regional origin, quality and
environmental responsibility
• the brand also express whether the product is fabricated
– by traditional procedure
– from the local resources
– handmade
– with regional motifs etc.

9. Geotourism???
•is based on geological features
•develops geological tourism
products
•creates outstanding tourist
experiences
•includes excellent interpretation
•provides value to local
communities
•conserves geoheritage
•should be sustainable
(prof. Ross Dowling)

10. Ecotourism???
- Responsible tourism in natural
(ecologically valuable) areas
which protects
environment and
impoves welfare
of local population
(TIES, web: http//
ecotourism.org)
- Not to be confused with nature
based tourism!!!
- Respects (doesnt change) local
social structure, supports cultural
identity!!!
- Supports (not replaces) local
ecomomical activities

11. Geopark as geotourism and ecotourism
destination???
geopark philosophy demanding
diffrent approach to tourism
development:
 Not consuming the
landsape heritage itself but its
interpretation
 Experience of own
discovering,imagination
 Active contcat of visitors
with local / indigenous people
 Supporting not replacing
local economic and cultural
activities
• Relating daily life activities to
our natural and cultural identity

12. Situation in Bohemian Paradise Geopark
Tourism in the core area of this geopark has already
overreached its carrying capacity, tourism needs to
change its structure in favour of geotourism and
ecotourism and its distribution in tome nd space.

13. Czech Assistance with establishment of
Rio Coco Geopark and its geo- and ecotourism

14. Ecotourism and Birdwatching
• still underestimated form of sustainable tourism, great
potential especially for ecologically fragile areas
• potencial pioneer segment: foreigner visitors with proper
professional or hobby orientation who already know and
want this tourism product

15. Tourism Guides in Ecologically Fragile Areas
• Authorized guide – by protected area authority
(training and accreditation system)
Benefits?
• Nature and landscape protection
- tourism flows regulation (visitor management)
• Special offer for visitors
- ecotourism as a top tourism product:
interpretation of nature and landscape values
- specialized tours: wild nature observing
• Sustainable enhancement of local
community economy and cultural identity

16. Case study – Kongo (an initial phase)

18. Green Lungs for Green Tourism?
•Is an area of 17 700 km2
large and virgin enough?
•Is the green tourism challenge or threat?

19. From geology and geomorphology of the
Maniema region
• Left side of the river Lualaba (upper Congo river)
flat landscape with clay substrate,on the river bank
outcrops of red granite
• In various streams the diamond is extracted
(mainly for production of metal cutting mashines
• In forests lenticular bearigs of copal (copal resin
for lightening (lamps), in Europe for the high quality
furniture and musical instrument varnish, Kleopatra
had jewelry from that.
• Right side of the river Lualaba is mountaineous
and rich in minerals. Gold, kasiterit and coltan are
mined mainly in rivers by washing.

21. WGL Travel & Expeditions
• 10 days of adventurous travelling in the
heard of the Democratic republic of Kongo –
on the middle river with local indigenous
people on pirogs
• Wild animals watching in their natural
environment
• Walking in the tropical forest and savana
• Sightseeing of local handcraft, fishing,
traditional pirogs production, colonial
structures
• Overnight in forest villges anin wild nature
camps

28. Conclusion
• Possibility of geopark development in
Maniema - potential to support of the local
efforts to develop themselves through their
close relationship to nature
• Basic precondition: deep traditions and local
knowledge and strong respect to the built and
natural environment
• Geopark development as a part of the
Maniema journey to the larger political and
economic independence and environmental
responsibility
• Geopark development in the form of
sustainable use of material and immaterial
heritage of the Maniema region with active
involvement of indigenous population

30. Ministry of the Environment
of the Czech Republic
Environmental Policy
Department
Phone: ++420-2-6712-2150
Mobile: ++420-602 643 054
E-mail: Martina.Paskova@mzp.cz
Thanks for
your attention
Martina
Pásková