Participatory Planning Tools for Ecotourism in Protected Areas of Morocco and Tunisia: A First Experience

Abstract

According to its programme and priorities, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med), with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Tunisia and the High Commission for Water and Forests and the Fight against Desertification of Morocco, implemented between 2011 and 2012, a project for improving decision making and capacities for planning and managing ecotourism activities in and around protected areas in two countries (IUCN Med 2008). The specific objective of the project was the elaboration of a Strategy and Action Plan for ecotourism in natural protected areas in the Maghreb and the development of guidelines for its implementation in two pilot areas: the Talassemtane National Park in Morocco and Jebel Zaghouan National Park in Tunisia. To achieve this aim, the approach of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism was selected. This paper describes the methodology followed by the project, providing, in its final section, an analysis of the main achievements and concerns through its development, focusing on the need of improved participation in territorial planning.