Section: Ecotourism Cienaga - Bahoruco , Ecotourism Community Network South West
Cachote Workshop, advancing Enriquillo Community Ecotourism Network
June 13, 2007
Taigüey VI facilitated the workshop of the Network Enriquillo (REDEC) held on 7 and 8 June 2007 in Cachote as part of its technical assistance to the Community Ecotourism Network Enriquillo. Important agreements were achieved, as detailed below. The report of the meeting is one of the web pages (virtual), follow this link .
EXCERPT FROM REPORT ON THE AGREEMENTS REACHED
3 Agreements set out in the workshop
3.1 Agreement on type of virtual networking
On the modalities of work of the network under the forming process and the technical assistance mission
following was agreed:
- During the consultancy work online (network) most of the time to save time and agreed elements of the process
- The Technical Support Team will send the list of the network, between two meetings
classroom activity, the documents for review or approval of the membership, putting in a clearly visible action
required
- The / as Member / as have a period of 7 days to review and send comments or suggestions. Non-response
Consider how approval will lapse after that time.
In the discussion it became necessary to support members / as in the basic knowledge of using the Internet and
as one of the goals of the network, which all members have a basic knowledge of Internet.
3.2 Agreements on membership, categories and criteria for the SKIES
In the first part of the workshop held discussions on issues related to membership, to initiatives
they would be entitled to vote, and what category of members.
The workshop concensuaron and agreed to the following:
In addition to the conditions set out in the statute, which provides members with no vote, who is who required
this in each category of membership:
Membership with voice and vote (category 1)
- Community ecotourism initiatives (network rules define precisely how to identify and
which was defined to be to be sustainable)
- NGOs / associations working directly on the ground with the creation companies / cooperatives ecotourism
Community
- Community Groups actors SKIES service providers (internal regulations define precisely how to
identified)
Membership with voice but no vote (category 2)
- Support Agencies and NGOs do not have / community projects represent direct
- Government institutions involved in ecotourism and promotion
- Private companies (such as tour operators, eco-hotels) that have a sustainable operation and economic agreements or
established operating with community groups in the network
- Clusters ecotourism business
They also discussed the membership of the Heavens and agreed that these are accepted as members of the
REDEC (category 1) should:
- Be they themselves made up of community stakeholders, service providers bone in which ecotourism
community has a direct impact on the business (ownership and choice) or micro business community
- Have local or national authorities, NGOs, larger firms and other members with different category of
Community. This for us to undermine the REDEC membership.
Otherwise would be HEAVEN with REDEC membership category 2
All this will be reflected in the final draft of the statutes and regulations to be presented at the next workshop
that will be the founding meeting of the network.
3.3 Agreements on the institutional structure and operational
It was agreed to and / or affirm
- Approve the traditional scheme of the general assembly, described in the statutes
- That the assembly chose a board of directors, with 7 members of category 1, and some members of category 2 (without
voting) as observers-advisors.
- All members of the board are honorary, and meet at least every two months
- That the membership assembly is either via the board, create commissions to deal with cases objectives
- That the board hired an / director / a executive, who in turn hire the executive staff required.
- What director / executive to be accountable to the board, acted as secretary of the board, which
is delegated the powers of the board members that they deem necessary,
It was agreed that it was necessary to update the statutes to bring up the Director's duties are to appear on
statutes, the President delegated functions to the director.
3.4 Agreements on work areas of the network in the medium term
Were reviewed, amended and reorganized the group's proposal MENCIA and the following areas of work
considered as validated by the workshop
Agenda 1. Internal coordination
- Administration, fundraising for sustainability of the network
- Membership Management
- Monitoring of activities
- Establishment and control of the rules
Program 2. Support and strengthen the region's ecotourism offerings
- Promote and organize training and professionalization of its members and those providing services
ecotourism (guides, accommodations, food services, transportation, etc.).
- Promoting the creation and strengthening of small, medium and micro-enterprise community ecotourism
- Advice and technical assistance to members and ecotourism businesses (among others: development of proposals
- Collection of sources of funding for ecotourism development
- To promote ecotourism infrastructure construction
- Creation of a system of exchange and mutual learning between members of the network initiatives and initiatives
elsewhere in the country and internationally
Program 3. Quality control
- Establishment of quality standards (building codes, infrastructure models, homogenization of
signs, codes of conduct, good business practices, etc ...)
- Establishing systems of quality certification and sustainability (quality label)
- Monitoring compliance with quality standards
- Monitoring of environmental, social, cultural. (Sustainability)
-
Program 4. Marketing and marketing
- Support for the design of individual and combined ecotourism products, routes, tours and ecotours-
(Local and regional)
- Promotion of ecotourism in the region offers Enriquillo
- Marketing of ecotourism offers
- Support members to establish agreements with tour operators, hotels, universities, agencies,
Program 5. External Coordination
- Coordination with other institutions (for the promulgation and enforcement of laws, infrastructure construction
public, etc.)
- Raising awareness on ecotourism, conservation RR.NN, etc using methods such as environmental education actors
key (central government bodies, municipal councils with ecotourism potential, NGOs, associations and
individuals)
- To become a meeting point for dialogue, (lobbying) and public policy
3.5 Overview "where is the network in 5 years"
Exercise was conducted to identify the objectives of the strategic plan. Members were asked to visualize the
network in 5 years.
- All active members with offers sustainable
- The network has offices, paid staff, is sustainable
- Communities have changed and offer tangible
- More and better protected areas (awareness, appreciation)
- Certification seal.
- Agreements with organizations and agencies, national and international
- Promote the expansion of protected areas, municipal reserves
- Impact on related public policy (local and national)
- Image and promotion of the region
- Membership expanded
It is established that the network does not operate but offers service packages (certified and channels but performs
to promote individual and group to operators and can handle full booking system
3.6 Agreements on Rules of Procedure of the network
During the workshop agreed to include in the rules of the following:
a) Two codes of ethics:
- One of the dealings between members of the network, and internal relations
- Some on the relationship between third and community service providers in the network (for example to
not speculate on price, offer realistic prices, Monitor the services provided, etc.).
b) A Code of Conduct (for visitors)
b) A mechanism for measuring the sustainability of bids (questionnaire)
c) The Definition of Heaven, ecotourism, ecotourism, community, business community members acceptable
d) A mechanism for measuring the Quality of Service
e) All matters relating to membership categories, fees, penalties and offenses
f) The rules for administrative and financial management of the network
3.7 Agreements on next steps
It was agreed that:
- The next workshop and the constituent assembly would be held in August. This should approve the statutes and
rules of procedure.
- The support team will lock in the weeks following on
or statutes: (YS)
- Overhaul to include the agreements reached at Cachote,
- Review with CEAJURI,
- To share around the electronic network, collecting tips last
- Submission to the Assembly
or bylaws: (YS)
- Develop draft (following proposed elements in the workshop)
- To share around the electronic network, collecting tips last
- Submission to the Assembly
or Strategic Plan (YK)
- Develop draft (following items proposed at the workshop) and
- Share of the electronic network, gather suggestions
- Discussion at the August meeting
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