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A Copper Canyon Native Tarahumara Community Joins With Canyon Travel To Woo
Growing Eco-Tourism Market
BULVERDE, TX, Jan. 29 -/E-Wire/ --Copper Canyon's Tarahumara Indians of San
Alonso, who own more than 60,000 acres in the Western Sierra Madre
wilderness of Chihuahua, Mexico, are working with Canyon Travel to develop a
model for eco-tourism, with community-owned facilities and private
enterprise. The partnership provides the only outlet in Copper Canyon for
private eco-lodges and naturalist-trained native guides who offer remote,
intimate adventures.
The alliance began with approval from Baja Tarahumara Governor Nicolas
Moreno, who recognized deforestation threats and the need for profitable
eco- tourism to protect Mexico's natural wonders.
"Mexico is one of the world's most bio-diverse countries,'' says Canyon
Travel President Emilio Kifuri. "Given Mexico's variety of fauna and flora,
there is economic potential through eco-tourism that could exceed the
logging and mining industries, and the mass-tourism beach resort business.''
See
www.canyontravel.com/unolodge.htm .
Previously inaccessible areas held by the community of Tarahumara are now
the location of upgraded lodges, "Uno y Dos,'' owned by these Tarahumara
people and operated by Canyon Travel. Originally built in 1999 with
Chihuahua State funding, the structures were meant to develop community
involvement in tourism and be a sustainable alternative to logging. Due to
lack of tourism expertise and operating capital, the efforts had limited
success and needed help.
Enter eco-tourism operator Canyon Travel, for whom working with local
communities was not new.
"Canyon Travel's experience in eco-tourism includes our work with the
indigenous Porochi community near Urique Canyon, where together we built the
small upscale Cerocahui Wilderness Lodge,'' said Kifuri,
"The cooperative project is profitable for both the company and the local
Porochi community, who own the rugged pristine land on which that lodge is
located. The innovative agreement offers employment, as well as income from
the land lease, and provides them with the option to become partners in
lodge ownership.''
Following renovations made to the Uno y Dos lodges, Kifuri forecasts similar
success with the San Alonso collective venture.
In the eco-tourism partnership, Canyon Travel works with Copper Canyon's
native residents, teaching them English and training them as naturalist
guides to provide in-depth experiences for travelers. Naturalist-trained
resident guides can describe and lead guests through various habitats, and
know where to find rare and endemic birds. They carry spotting scopes on
tripods, binoculars and field reference books to share with guests.
Canyon Travel is the only Copper Canyon operator with private eco-lodges,
naturalist-trained native guides, active itineraries, riverboats, mountain
bikes and vans. Canyon Travel also offers less-active adventures like
tranquil river cruises and canyon descents in late-model vans, plus
connections to local cultures.
Honored to be part of Mexico's eco-tourism market, Canyon Travel also helps
the native residents of Copper Canyon through its community service
initiatives. Examples include support for a local children's hospital and
area schools; help with medical missions to transport doctors; and
assistance with conservation projects. In one case, Canyon Travel was
instrumental in airing an environmental alert on more than 50 TV stations,
which helped stop the World Bank's project to clear cut forests in the
region.
Besides Uno y Dos and the Cerocahui lodges, Canyon Travel operates eco-
lodges overlooking the El Fuerte and Batopilas rivers. Canyon Travel has
offices in Creel and El Fuerte, and an affiliate in Texas, and offers
24-hour Mexico to US toll-free access. For information, call Canyon Travel
at 800-843-1060, or visit www.canyontravel.com/unolodge.htm .
CONTACT: Canyon Travel at 1 800-843-1060; Emilio Kifuri,
830-885-2000; Deborah Levoy, 210-534-0157/
Web Site:
www.canyontravel.com/unolodge.htm .
Editors Note: Copper Canyon Travel is one of the first and best supporters
of the TCHF. In addition to being a web sponsor, they annually donate a
trip for two to the Benefit Dinners & raffles held every year.
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