Ecotourism Expert Discusses Trends in the Industry at Colorado State University on Feb. 6

Mexican environmentalist and ecotourism expert Hctor Ceballos-Lascurin will kick off Colorado State University’s "International Viewpoints: Society and Conservation in the 21st Century" spring lecture series from 4-5 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Cherokee Park Ballroom in the university’s Lory Student Center.

Ceballos-Lascur?in is a Mexican environmentalist, architect and ecotourism and cultural tourism expert. In his presentation, "Ecotourism and Ecolodge Development Around the World," he will focus on ecotourism and ecolodge trends and growth across the globe. He will discuss examples of recent developments in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and Australasia in the ecotourism and ecolodge areas, including many architectural designs he created.

In 1983, he coined the term "ecotourism" and its preliminary definition. His modified version of this definition was officially adopted by the World Conservation Union in 1996. He is an expert in the planning and development of sustainable tourism, ecotourism, park management and environmentally-friendly architectural design, with worldwide experience in this field. He has carried out consultant and research work in 74 countries, including physical planning and low-impact architectural projects for ecotourism and sustainable tourism facilities.

He is director general of the Program of International Consultancy on Ecotourism and special adviser on ecotourism to the World Conservation Union, as well as adviser to the World Tourism Organization.

The lecture series is sponsored by the university’s Department of Human Dimensions and Natural Resources, Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Program and Institute for the Built Environment. New Belgium Brewing Company also is a sponsor.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

For more information, call Esther Duke at (970) 491-2197.

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