Nature & Kind is committed to promoting ecotourism around the world, through providing a platform for tour operators and accommodation providers who are committed to operating in a sustainable and responsible manner, to increase their awareness and booking potential, thereby increasing their revenues and supporting their commitment to ecotourism.

As part of our efforts to promote ecotourism, we have also set up this directory of worldwide ecotourism organisations, because we want to increase the awareness of the important work they do in promoting ecotourism in their countries. Please take your time to read about these ecotourism organisations and the important work they do. And please do let us know if we have missed anyone.

ALASKA
Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association

The Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association (AWRTA) is a member-led association that represents more than 300 nature-based tourism businesses, individuals, and organizations in Alaska. AWRTA advocates for the sustainability of Alaska's natural and cultural resources, responsible tourism and tourism planning for communities. Member businesses and partners strive to work with communities to protect and enhance the quality of life, to provide good jobs and business opportunities, and to create strong incentives for protecting Alaska's wildlife, wilderness and special places.

ARIZONA
La Ruta de Sonora Ecotourism Association

La Ruta de Sonora Ecotourism Association is organized to promote responsible and ethical tourism for the Arizona-Sonora borderlands region that provides opportunities for local residents to generate new sources of income from business ventures and services. As ecotourism and heritage tourism emerge, La Ruta seeks to underscore the importance of retaining healthy natural resources and local cultures as assets that support these activities. La Ruta believes that by providing incentives and opportunities that encourage preserving and protecting these resources and values, an ethic of community-based conservation and development can prevail.

ARMENIA
Ecotourism Armenia

The Armenian Ecotourism Association (ARMECAS) was created in 1997 to unite the people who regard ecotourism as a means of sustainable development of the country. Members of our organization are people of different professions; most of them are specialists in areas of natural and cultural heritage and the tourism business.

AUSTRALIA
Ecotourism Australia

Ecotourism Australia was formed in 1991 as an incorporated non-profit organisation, and is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry. The Association has a diverse membership that includes key industry sectors and including ecotourism accommodation, tour and attraction operators; tourism planners; protected area managers; academics and students; tourism, environmental, interpretation and training consultants; local and regional tourism associations and travellers.

BENIN

Benin Ecotourism Concern

Benin Ecotourism Concern (ECO-BENIN NGO) was created in 1999 as a working group for nature promotion in Benin through ecotourism to establish and maintain good working relationship between local and international non governmental organisations, regional and international wildlife societies, travel industries, and other relevant bodies. In line with the broadening of sustainable nature promotion issues, the group took a Non Government Organisation status. The Benin Ecotourism Concern focuses on three programmes: Advocacy environmental education, Identification and creation of valuable domestic ecotourism sites, and Natural resource management which includes wildlife, forestry and fisheries issues.

BRAZIL
EcoBrasil
Brazilian Ecotourism Association, a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation, was founded in 1993 by ecotourism professionals and was the first national NGO to focus on ecotourism.

CAMBODIA
Cambodia Community Based Ecotourism Network

The Cambodia Community-Based Ecotourism Network (CCBEN) is the only network of organizations which are involved in community-based ecotourism. CCBEN aims to promote and support this unique style of tourism for the conservation of natural and cultural resources, and for raising the living standards of local communities.

CANADA
BC Wilderness Tourism Association

The Wilderness Tourism Association exists to ensure the ongoing viability of our industry by protecting the wilderness tourism land base. We are an organization of adventure tourism operators working to enhance the wilderness experience through advocacy and education and through involvement with government and public and private enterprise.

The Ontario Ecotourism Society

The Ontario Ecotourism Society is Canada's first province-wide organization for the development and promotion of ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices. We are a not-for-profit network led by a volunteer board of directors, with a supporting membership within Ontario's ecotourism and tourism industries, as well as concerned public and visitors of Ontario.

COSTA RICA
Camara Nacional de Ecoturismo de Costa Rica

The Costa Rica National Chamber of Ecotourism (CANAECO), is a private non-profit organization that includes individuals and businesses related to the ecotourism sector in our country. It collaborates with the promotion and the marketing of the ecotourism sector and affirms that ecotourism is an instrument for the economic development and the conservation of natural and cultural resources of Costa Rica.

ECUADOR
Asociacion Ecuatoriana de Ecoturismo

ASEC was founded in 1991 by a group of businessmen, conservationists and scholars with a clear vision of developing activity in Ecuador and around the world. ASEC's mission is to promote Harmony between tourism, conservation and society. ASEC currently has 67 members, comprising private tour operators, community tourism projects, local and indigenous communities, universities and others.

ESTONIA
Estonian Ecotourism Association
Estonian Ecotourism Association (ESTECAS) is a nongovernmental and non-profit organisation, which connects individuals, organisations and authorities.

FLORIDA
Society for Ethical Ecotourism Southwest Florida
SEESF IS dedicated to establishing and maintaining a professional code of ecotourism ethics in order to encourage an awareness and stewardship of Southwest Florida's natural heritage.

FRANCE
Ecotourisme France
The French Ecotourism Association is a NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism practices in France.

HAWAII
Hawaii Ecotourism Association

Hawaii Ecotourism Association's mission is to protect Hawaii’s unique environment and culture through the promotion of responsible travel and educational programs aimed at the public and visitor industry relating to ecotourism issues. Hawaii Ecotourism Association (HEA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is committed to diversifying Hawaii’s travel industry through advocacy for ecotourism to protect Hawaii’s unique natural environment and cultures. HEA members strive to educate everyone on the benefits of ecotourism for Hawaii.

INDIA
Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Sikkim

The Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) is a group of like-minded people working to accomplish a common mission. ECOSS members are dedicated to community self reliance and have a mandate to achieve the goals of sustainable development in the fields of ecotourism and conservation. We are a registered body recognized by the Government of Sikkim as an independent, non-political, not-for-profit Non Governmental Organization.

INDONESIA
Indonesian Ecotourism Center

Indecon is a non-profit organization focusing its activities in developing and promoting ecotourism in Indonesia. Established in 1995, Indecon have facilitated some various ecotourism stakeholders in ecotourism development in Indonesia. Skillful staff and professional associates have supported Indecon’s works. Several innovations in development process and policy have also been identified during Indecon’s involvement in promoting sustainable tourism in Indonesia.

ISRAEL
Ecotourism Israel
Ecotourism Israel is a private organization that promotes sustainable tourism and ecotourism by supporting eco tour operators – through advertisement, guidance and training, financing, etc.

ITALY
Ecoturismo Italia

Ecoturismo Italia was formed as a result of the increased knowledge and interest in the field of ecotourism. It aims to highlight and improve the environmental and cultural benefits that ecotourism offers to destinations around the world. Ecoturismo Italia is used by planners, students, administrators and of course, ecotourists.

JAPAN
Japan Ecolodge Association

Japan Ecolodge Association (ECOLA) endeavors to disseminate the ecolodge concepts by offering Japan Ecolodge Checklist. We firmly believe that locally operated nature-based lodges of low-impact facility with educational and interpretative programs can lead to help conservation and improve sustainability of surrounding nature while revitalizing local economy.

KENYA
Ecotourism Kenya

Ecotourism Kenya is a civil society organization that was founded in 1996 to promote ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices in Kenya. Founded with enormous industry support, the society was charged with the responsibility of providing the required support for the development of ecotourism and sustainable tourism in the country.

MESOAMERICAN
MesoAmerican Ecotourism Alliance

The Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA) is an alliance of local organizations committed to the development and promotion of sustainable tourism as a means for supporting conservation efforts in Mesoamerica. MEA operates in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Chiapas and Yucatán, Mexico.

LAOS
Ecotourism Laos

The purpose of this website is to provide travelers with free information on tourism services in the Lao PDR in order to help generate income for local communities, support natural and cultural protected areas, and minimize negative impacts on Laos’ culture and environment.

MEXICO
Mexican Association of Adventure Tourism & Ecotourism
A pioneer in its field, established in 1994, is the national organization that groups professional outfitters dedicated to the operation and promotion of ecotourism and adventure travel in Mexico.

MONGOLIA
Mongolian National Eco-Tourism Society

The Mongolian National Eco-Tourism Society (MNETS) was founded as a socially oriented nongovernmental organization on 5th April, 1995 by twenty-three members who wished to develop environmental and socially sustainable tourism in Mongolia. The society currently has 25 members and 183 researchers in the field of tourism, as well as students and people who are supporting the goals of the society.

NEPAL

Discover Nepal

NORWAY
Ecotourism Norway

The Ecotourism Norway project is run by GRIP - Green in Practice, a Norwegian foundation, in cooperation with Innovation Norway, the Norwegian directorates for Cultural Heritage and Nature Management, and a test group of tourism companies and one destination. The Norwegian government is funding the project.

PAKISTAN
Ecotourism Society Pakistan

Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) is an organization working since 1998 in the field of tourism. The basic aim of this organization is to help the Poor's living in northern areas of Pakistan And to promote tourism in pakistan . This organization is founded by Agha Iqrar Haroon. This organization is helping the Poor's of northern areas of Pakistan and promoting tourism since 1997.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Kamchatka Ecotourism Society

The Kamchatka Ecotourism Society was founded to help develop responsible tourism on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The regional non-governmental organization was chartered in April 2006

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation

The Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) is the pioneer "Ecotourism Society" in Sri Lanka, and was established in 1998. It is registered as a non-profit Tourism NGO at the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka and Central Environmental Authority (CEA), comes under the purview of Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka.

SWEDEN
Swedish Ecotourism Society

Swedish Ekoturismföreningen is the main organisation responsible for Nature’s Best and the certifying process. The Society was founded in 1996 and has approximately 400 members, most of whom are small or medium sized enterprises.

THAILAND
Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association

Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association" (TEATA) in December 1997. TEATA was created with a joint effort of tour operators who regularly organized eco-trips. The aim was to maintain a high quality and standard for this type of tour activities, management, staff, programs management, trip itineraries and services, in order to achieve the ecotourism goal. i.e. to conserve nature, culture and environment.