(Press release / 04-10-09) “Bio tourism” is the area of tourism dedicated to wildlife watching (birding, herping, etc.), flora and natural heritage, scientific tourism and ethno-tourism. Venezuela, a Paradise of Biodiversity, hosted the second edition to be held in Margarita Island and Los Llanos. It is subsidized by the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and run by the Institute of Tropical Biodiversity, the Catalan Office of Bio-tourism, The Foundation La Salle de Venezuela - Natural Sciences and UCECN.

On November 5th, 6th and 7th, the II Course in Bio tourism will be held in Margarita Island (Venezuela). Paco Bonilla, a member of IBT (Institute for Tropical Biodiversity) and Instructor Ecodiver of ESA (European Scuba Agency) will give a conference entitled "Underwater Naturalism. A sea of sensations.”

In this lecture he will talk about some aspects of training of underwater guides as interpreters of the natural underwater environment and he will explain ESA Ecodiver and Ecoexplorer programs as means to approach to the understanding of marine ecosystems.

The participants in the course can attend the program ESA Ecoexplorer completely. On 13 and 14 the same activities will be repeated in Morrocoy National Park.

Program

05 NOVEMBER. PLACE: PLANETARIUM

-Carmen Gutiérrez. Vice president (E) FLASA- Margarita. Welcome

-Guillem Chacon. IBT. Course presentation
Title: “The Nacional Bio-tourism Office in Catalonia” (Brief presentation)

-Paco Bonilla. IBT & ESA (European Scuba Agency).
Title: “The Nacional Bio-tourism Office in Catalonia” (Brief presentation)
Synopsis: The training of underwater guides as interpreters of the most unknown nature of our planet. Ecodiver and Ecoexplorer Programs popularize exploration of the sea as an activity that anyone can do.

-Ángel Armas. FLASA.
Title: “Warao Program: A model of endogenous development for the State Delta-Amacuro.”

More information in:
IBT: Instituto de Biodiversidad Tropical y Ambientes Extremos: www.biotropical.org
FLASA: Fundación La Salle: www.fundacionlasalle.org.ve
ESA: European Scuba Agency: http://www.esaweb.net/