Planeta.com Celebrates World Environment Day

As part of the global celebration of the 2005 World Environment Day, Planeta.com presents the fifth annual Colibri Ecotourism Achievement Award. First presented in 2001, the Colibri is presented to a leading catalyst working toward ecotourism in Mexico.

(PRWEB) May 19, 2005 -- As part of the global celebration of the 2005 World Environment Day, Planeta.com presents the fifth annual Colibri Ecotourism Achievement Award. First presented in 2001, the Colibri is presented to a leading catalyst working toward ecotourism in Mexico.

Colibri means "Hummingbird" in Spanish and the the winner of the annual award receives a trophy, diploma and a $1,000 cash award from Emilio Kifuri, president of Canyon Travel.

The winner of the Colibri Award is selected by Planeta.com founder Ron Mader with consultation from members of the Mexico Ecotourism Network.

"Ecotourism depends on the leadership of individuals who are resourceful and innovative and who are bold enough to bridge the traditional divisions between tourism and the environment," said Mader.

"Mexico is one of the world's mega diverse countries with one of the most successful tourism industries," said Emilio Kifuri. "If ecotourism is ever to overtake the senseless destruction of the world's natural areas, it certainly has to develop at a much faster pace. We feel fortunate to be in a position to demonstrate to the tourism industry that ecotourism can be more profitable than mainstream tourism. It is this potential for profit that has the greatest ability to cause the most profound changes."

Planeta.com will participate in several environmental events in Mexico City during the World Environment Day weekend and will present the award on the waters of the Xochimilco Gardens.

"If we desire to make our cities greener, making tourism greener is a great step forward," said Mader, adding that urban ecotourism is a reality in Mexico City with such pioneering projects as the ciclovia (bike path) and the hiking and biking trails in the Ajusco Mountains.

Planeta.com is no stranger to city-based nature tourism, having hosted the 2004 Conference on Urban Ecotourism. Participants at that event agreed upon the Urban Ecotourism Declaration, a collective response to a common challenge: making urban spaces more livable while protecting biodiversity.

Refrences:

Colibri Award

http://www.planeta.com/colibri.html

Urban Ecotourism Conference

http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/tour/urban.html

Urban Ecotourism Presentation (powerpoint)

http://www.imacmexico.org/ev_en.php?ID=18170_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC

Xochimilco Gardens

http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/df/xochimilco.html

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