International Day for biological diversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism

A statement by Friends of the Earth International criticizing the UN Convention on biodiversity's promotion of tourism, arguing that mainstream tourism causes severe environmental destruction, human rights abuses, and economic injustice.

• Friends of the Earth International argues that the UN Convention on biodiversity (CBD) overemphasizes the benefits of tourism for wildlife and biodiversity while downplaying its negative impacts.
• Mainstream tourism is linked to significant human rights violations, including the eviction of Indigenous peoples from their lands to build resorts and the privatization of sacred sites.
• The tourism industry causes substantial environmental damage, including the destruction of ecosystems for hotel construction, high water consumption by tourists—up to 16 times that of locals—and massive waste. Cruise liners are noted for dumping up to 3.8 billion litres of sewage into oceans.
• The aviation industry, a key part of tourism, plans for 700% growth by 2050 and intends to use REDD programs to offset emissions, which the document describes as a "false solution."
• Tourism accounts for 10% of global GDP with a projected annual growth of 3-5%, and contributes 5% of global emissions.

APA

admin (2017). International Day for biological diversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/international-day-for-biological-diversity-celebrate-by-protecting-biodiversity-not-promoting-tourism/

Chicago

admin. International Day for biological diversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism. Friends of the Earth International, 2017. https://www.foei.org/international-day-for-biological-diversity-celebrate-by-protecting-biodiversity-not-promoting-tourism/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=admin |title=International Day for biological diversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=21 May 2017 |url=https://www.foei.org/international-day-for-biological-diversity-celebrate-by-protecting-biodiversity-not-promoting-tourism/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{admin2017international, author = {admin}, title = {{International Day for biological diversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://www.foei.org/international-day-for-biological-diversity-celebrate-by-protecting-biodiversity-not-promoting-tourism/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }