The region of Mainland Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) harbors a significant portion of the world's rare and endemic animals, including several species new to science.  As the number of tourists and travel businesses drawn to the region increases, so does concern for the sustainability of natural areas and local communities from a biological, cultural, and economical standpoint.

Tiger in the Forest: Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Asia provided a forum for biologists, tourism industry professionals, conservation practitioners, governmental decision makers, and community stakeholders to explore ways of addressing the needs of unique and fragile ecosystems through the economic and conservation potential of ecotourism.

Support for the symposium was provided by Daniel and Sheryl Tishman, and John Tishman.  Additional funding was provided by Eleanor Briggs.  The symposium was a collaborative effort by the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund.  Partial travel support was provided by U.S. Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), a program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and by SNV Netherlands Development Organization.

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AGENDA

DAY ONE

OPENING REMARKS
Michael J. Novacek, Senior Vice President and Provost of Science, American Museum of Natural History

9:10 MORNING SESSION

Session Moderator: George Amato, Director, Science Resource Center, Wildlife Conservation Society

SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM: MYTH OR IMPERATTIVE?
Nay Htun, Professor and Executive Director, University for Peace

SOUTHEAST ASIA'S BIODIVERSITY — ITS LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND GLOBAL IMPORTANCE
Robert Tizard, Fermata inc.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY OF THE REGION
Tony Whitten, Senior Biodiversity Specialist, East Asia and Pacific, World Bank

AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE ON BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND THE ROLE OF ECOTOURISM IN CONSERVATION
Andrew Bovarnick, Biodiversity Economist & Manager, Freshwater, Coastal and Marine, Global Environment Facility, United Nations Development Programme

Panel Discussion
Andrew Bovarnick, Biodiversity Economist & Manager, Freshwater, Coastal and Marine, Global Environment Facility, United Nations Development Programme
Nay Htun, Professor and Executive Director, University for Peace
Robert Tizard, Fermata inc.
Tony Whitten, Senior Biodiversity Specialist, East Asia and Pacific, World Bank

2:00 AFTERNOON SESSION

Session Moderator: Alicia Stevens, Director, Discovery Tours, AMNH

Panel Discussion
SUSTAINING NATURE-BASED TOURISM: INTEGRATING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
Martha Honey, Director of the Peace and Security Program, Institute for Policy Studies
George Amato, Director, Science Resource Center, Wildlife Conservation Society
Nguyen Thi Dao, Ecoregion Conservation Officer, World Wildlife Fund Indochina Programme (Vietnam)
Geoffrey Lipman, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, World Tourism Organization
Rusty Staff, President, Asia Transpacific Journeys

3:20 SESSION
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF SCIENCE

Session Moderator: Eleanor J. Sterling, Director, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, AMNH

BENEFITING BIODIVERSITY, SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY: USING SCIENCE TO SUPPORT NATURE-BASED TOURISM
Katrina Brandon, Senior research Fellow, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International

ECOTOURISM IN THE TANGKOKO DUASUDARA NATURE RESERVE: LOST OPPORTUNITIES?
Margaret Kinnaird, Conservation Ecologist, Wildlife Conservation Society - Indonesia

EVALUATING THE LINKAGE BETWEEN ECOTOURISM AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND LAO PDR
Arlyne Johnson, Program Co-Director and Associate Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, Lao

THE ROLE OF ECOTOURISM IN TIGER CONSERVATION: A CASE STUDY FROM THE MID- AND WESTERN LOWLANDS OF NEPAL
Shanta Jnawali, Project Director, Bardia Conservation Program, King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal)

Panel Discussion
Katrina Brandon, Senior research Fellow, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International
Shanta Jnawali, Project Director, Bardia Conservation Program, King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal)
Arlyne Johnson, Program Co-Director and Associate Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society, Lao
Margaret Kinnaird, Conservation Ecologist, Wildlife Conservation Society - Indonesia

5:30 POSTER SESSION and RECEPTION
Hall of Northwest Coast Indians, First Floor

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DAY TWO

9:00
INTRODUCTION

LOOKING BEYOND THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ECOTOURISM: CERTIFICATION AS A DEFINING TREND
Fergus Tyler Maclaren, Director of International Programs, The International Ecotourism Society

PROFILES OF TRAVEL TO MAINLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA
Erin Willigan, Columbia University

Panel Discussion
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN SUSTAINABLE NATURE-BASED TOURISM
Moderator: Joshua Ginsberg, Director, Asia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society
Phaytalong Douangsavanh, President, National Tourism Authority (Lao)
Pham Trung Luong, Vice Director, Tourism Research and Development Institute, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (Vietnam)
Sam-Oeunn May, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (Cambodia)
Khin Maung Zaw, Director, Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division, Ministry of Forestry (Myanmar)
Pradech Phayakvichien, Advisor, Tourism Authority of Thailand (Thailand)

11:35 SESSION
STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Session Moderator: Arlyne Johnson, Program Co-Director and Associate Conservation Scientist, WCS Lao

SUKAU RAINFOREST LODGE
Albert Teo, Managing Director, Borneo Eco Tours (Malaysia)

THREE CAMEL LODGE IN MONGOLIA’S GOBI DESERT
Jalsa Urubshurow, Founder, Nomadic Expeditions (Mongolia)

Panel Discussion
Fergus Tyler Maclaren, Director of International Programs, The International Ecotourism Society
Albert Teo, Managing Director, Borneo Eco Tours (Malaysia)
Jalsa Urubshurow, Founder, Nomadic Expeditions (Mongolia)
Erin Willigan, Columbia University

VIETNAM'S CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK IN NEED OF SUSTAINABLE NATURE-BASED TOURISM
Ina Becker, Cat Tien Ecotourism and Environmental Education Advisor (Vietnam)
Tran Van Mui, Director, Cat Tien National Park

ECOTOURISM AS AN OPPORTUNITY IN IMPROVED BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE TONLE SAP BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Neou Bonheur, Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment (Cambodia)

ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MYANMAR
Win Aung, Chairman, Woodland Travels Co., Ltd. (Myanmar)

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND ECOTOURISM IN THE NAM HA NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA, LAO PDR
Phimkeo Thamlasine, Chief, Nam Ha National Protected Area (Lao)

NATURE-BASED TOURISM IN THAILAND WESTERN FOREST COMPLEX: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Dachanee Emphandhu, Assistant Professor, Department of Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University (Thailand)

Panel Discussion
Win Aung, Chairman, Woodland Travels Co., Ltd. (Myanmar)
Ina Becker, Cat Tien Ecotourism and Environmental Education Advisor (Vietnam)
Neou Bonheur, Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment (Cambodia)
Dachanee Emphandhu, Assistant Professor, Department of Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University (Thailand)
Tran Van Mui, Director, Cat Tien National Park
Phimkeo Thamlasine, Chief, Nam Ha National Protected Area (Lao)

NATURE-BASED TOURISM AND CONSERVATION IN MAINLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA: POSSIBILITIES AND PRECAUTIONS
Hannah Messerli, Clinical Associate Professor, Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Administration, New York University
Erin Willigan, Columbia University

CLOSING REMARKS
Eleanor J. Sterling, Director, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, AMNH
Michael J. Novacek, Senior Vice President and Provost of Science, AMNH