Siting And Design Of Hotels And Resorts - WordPress

significant pressure on natural resources and threatenbiodiversity.create marina channels and jetties. Dredging causesdisruption to the nearshore and marine habitat, becauseof the removal of substratum, the creation of anoxicsediment, changes to the biological community andsignificant increases in water turbidity. This can harmnearshore marine environments such as seagrassbeds and coral reefs. In addition, when hotels are builtclose to the shore, developers often include shorelineprotection features, such as seawalls, groynes, molesand bulkheads. Yet, while these structures may protectthe hotel, they can also prevent natural erosion andcoastline changes. In the long run, they can altercoastal processes such as sediment flow, and lead toaccelerated erosion, siltation and flooding.In coastal areas, the removal of dunes, wetlands andother natural habitats to provide land for developmentor to allow for better views or better access to beaches,can threaten nesting, breeding and feeding groundsof birds, fish, and mammals. Filling of wetlands andsalt ponds reduces water circulation and the flow ofnutrients to coastal areas. The removal of coastalvegetation from land and beach areas for constructionalso causes the runoff of mud and sediment, leadingto siltation of beaches and nearshore habitats, suchas seagrass beds and coral reefs, which do not thrivein turbid water conditions. Runoff is worst duringconstruction, but will almost inevitably continue after theconstruction phase.Impacts of materials choices and architectural andlandscape decisionsIn addition to making responsible decisions in termsof where they site their hotels and resorts, developersshould also take biodiversity issues into considerationwhen making choices on the materials they use andthe architectural and landscape design styles they will Oskar HenrikssonWhen hotel and resort developments include marinasand the installation of jetties, excavation activities,such as dredging, are required to create the necessarydepth for boats to bring in construction materials and8

Part I: Risks and Opportunitiesuse. For example, using timber from primary rainforestsleads to land clearing, habitat degradation and speciesloss. In coastal areas, using sand to make concretecan lead to the erosion and sometimes disappearanceof beaches, while the use of coral or coral rock canseriously degrade marine habitats.From risks to opportunities: managing biodiversityimpactsTo specifically address the biodiversity risks associatedwith the development of hotels and resorts, IUCN hasdeveloped the Biodiversity Principles for siting and designof hotels and resorts (page 10). These Principles aim atpromoting the integration of biodiversity considerationsinto decision-making on the planning, siting and designof hotels and resorts. The Principles are supported andillustrated by case studies collected from a variety oftourism destinations worldwide (page 16). Cat VintonArchitectural and landscape design choices can alsoinfluence a hotel’s level of impact on biodiversity.For instance, concrete high rises may require moreenergy for cooling and lighting than more traditionalarchitectural styles. Choices about the fixtures in thehotel, for example types of lighting, may have a negativeimpact on local wildlife areas, such as the nestinggrounds of sea turtles.When designing gardens and hotel grounds, the useof non-native plants and increased modification of thelandscape will require more maintenance and moreuse of water and chemical fertilizers, pesticides andherbicides, posing a threat to biodiversity. The useof native species in gardens and on hotel grounds isalso important to avoid the introduction of potentiallyinvasive alien species. Non-native species introducedaccidentally or deliberately (for example by usingexotic species for gardening) into an ecosystem cancause major damage to ecosystem functions andpopulations of indigenous species through predation orby competition for key resources such as food, water ornesting sites.At the time of planning the siting and design of a hotel orresort development, it is also critical that developers payattention to operational issues that can have a negativeimpact on biodiversity. Decisions made during planningregarding sources of energy, water management,wastewater processing systems, chemical use, wastemanagement and purchasing will all influence howsustainable the development is in the long run and whatkind of impact it will have on biodiversity.9

El Nido ResortsPart II Biodiversity Principles forSiting and Design of Hotels andResortsThe Biodiversity Principles for siting and design of hotelsand resorts focus on how biodiversity and associatedsocial impacts can be better addressed in hotel andresort development.in print). The study generated evidence of biodiversityimpacts resulting from the siting and design of hotels andidentified examples of positive relationships.The Five PrinciplesThe Principles seek to provide guidance in the planning andconstruction stages of the hotel life cycle. They are targetedat all relevant stakeholders, including planning authorities,tourism development agencies, developers, investors, hotelmanagers and management companies, project managersand consultants, architects and construction firms. It isalso expected that these Principles will be integratedinto relevant policy and planning processes, includingEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures,National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans(NBSAP), national and local management plans, tourismdevelopment plans, and the environmental managementstrategies of hotel corporations and developers.The IUCN Biodiversity Principles for Sitingand Design of Hotels and Resorts are asfollows:The Principles have been developed based on thefindings of an analysis conducted by IUCN of the currentthreats to biodiversity in the Caribbean linked to the sitingand design of hotels and other vacation accommodation(Impacts of hotel siting and design on biodiversity in theinsular Caribbean: A situation analysis, IUCN, 2011, not101Adopt an ecosystem-based approachin tourism development planning2Manage impacts on biodiversity fromhotel development and attempt toachieve an overall positive contribution3Design with nature and adopt naturebased solutions4Respect, involve and support localcommunities5Build collaboration among stakeholders

Principle 1Adopt an ecosystembased approach in tourismdevelopment planningMonitoring and impact indicators at all stages of thehotel life cycle (planning, construction, operation andclosure) are integral to an ecosystem-based approach.Planning authorities employ adequate measures tomonitor hotel construction practices and adherenceto conditions of the development permit process.In addition, hotel construction is likely to generateor encourage other activities with potential impactson biodiversity, such as the temporary settlementof workers at the vicinity of an isolated site or thetransportation of construction materials, as well as thepotential increase in visitation in areas surrounding thenew hotel development during its operation. The EIAprocess takes these potential impacts into account, andit is the shared responsibility of developers and plannersto monitor and manage them.Hotel and resort planners and governmental agenciesconsider the dynamics of ecosystems, their servicesand interconnectivity when developing new hotels andresorts, and take into account the impacts that thedevelopment(s) could have on all components of theecosystems concerned.Tourism planning adopts ecosystem-based approachesin order to maintain the integrity and essential values andservices of ecosystems. An ecosystem-based approachhelps identify and address cumulative and multi-sourceimpacts of hotels and resorts. An ecosystem-basedapproach also calls for inter-sectoral cooperationbetween tourism, finance, land-use planning, academicinstitutions, and natural resource managementdepartments and agencies in decision making.Areas of critical natural habitat should be highlighted inland-use plans and include relevant planning controlsto prevent development in areas of highly vulnerableand irreplaceable biodiversity. Where developments arealready planned near sites of known high irreplaceabilityor vulnerability, the highest level of design and operationalstandards, due diligence, monitoring and enforcementcontrols must be applied, and competent specializedexpertise must be sought to assist at the planning andimplementation stages.Land-use plans always guide hotel planning anddevelopment decisions. Their formulation andimplementation is supported by an ecosystem-basedapproach. These plans integrate existing data andknowledge, such as National Biodiversity Strategy andAction Plans (NBSAP), protected area system plans,endangered species listings and distribution mapsand, where available, management and recovery plans,biodiversity inventories, and watercourse maps andinventories, among others.The following three case studies illustrate Principle 1 inthe next section: Q-Station, Australia Tres Rios, Mexico Chumbe Island, TanzaniaEnvironmental impact assessments (EIAs) of hoteldevelopments are carried out by qualified andindependent individuals and companies, using anexhaustive baseline and before any agreements aremade to permit construction. Where baseline data donot exist, a study of species and habitats is carried outbeforehand to ensure that critical natural habitats orareas that provide local livelihoods are conserved. To11Part II: Biodiversity Principlesthe maximum extent possible, planners and developersuse scientific advice and expertise, especially from localacademic and professional institutions.

Gabriel Carvalho/SETURPrinciple 2Developers and relevant government agencies shouldemploy a clear sequencing of mitigation actions at theearliest planning stages to manage biodiversity risk fromhotel and resort developments.Manage impacts onbiodiversity from hoteldevelopment and attempt toachieve an overall positivecontributionThe first step is to avoid any harmful impacts to habitatsand ecosystems. In critical habitats in particular,where highly vulnerable and irreplaceable biodiversitycomponents are present, development takes placesonly if there are no negative impacts that would affectthe populations or functioning of ecosystems. Impactson highly irreplaceable and vulnerable biodiversitycannot be restored nor compensated; sites of highirreplaceability and high vulnerability have the highestconservation urgency.Hotel and resort developers make all efforts to avoidnegative impacts on biodiversity and associatedlivelihoods from siting, design and construction. Whenimpacts are unavoidable, efforts are made to avoid theareas of greatest biodiversity value, minimise the extentof development impacts, restore affected ecosystemsand biodiversity to the greatest extent possible, andinvest in additional conservation actions within thevicinity of the development. Hotel and resort developersshould aim to achieve a demonstrable, overall positivecontribution to the conservation of local biodiversity.Where negative impacts are unavoidable, developers, inorder of priority, minimise harmful impacts, rehabilitateand restore areas of disturbance caused by the hoteland its infrastructure and, if possible, invest in additionalconservation actions that contribute to the long-termintegrity and conservation of the ecosystem within whichthe development is located. As a result, developersmust plan for mitigation and other similar investments12

design of hotels and resorts. In addition, governmentsgive preference to developers and investors who havea good track record of achieving a positive impact tobiodiversity from their developments.Consideration of suitable mitigation measures isgiven the utmost attention by developers, under thesupervision of appropriate governmental agencies, andwith support from scientists and other experts. Wheredevelopment is permitted in sensitive areas, strict rulesand guidelines are applied and enforced to minimisenegative impacts. If roads and utilities are not already onsite, land-use plans identify where such infrastructurewill be laid prior to the approval of any construction,to minimise habitat disturbance and disruption toecosystem services. Conservative setback limits thatreflect the damage likely to be caused to the beachand backshore environment during a major storm,and that take into consideration beach and backshorecharacteristics, are defined and enforced along allsandy beaches.In order to achieve a positive impact on biodiversity,biodiversity offsets are designed to compensate for anyresidual impact on biodiversity from the development ofthe hotel or resort.The following three case studies illustrate Principle 2 inthe next section: North Island, Seychelles Isla Palenque, Panama Fairmont Mayakoba, MexicoPrinciple 3Design with nature andadopt nature-based solutionsDevelopers employ comprehensive waste disposalmechanisms. On-site construction practices arecarefully monitored to ensure that pollution and landcontamination is avoided. Debris, sand, cement, plasticbags, wastewater, fertilizers and other hazardouschemicals washed into the sea can cause seriousdamage to coral reefs and other marine life andnegatively affect water quality. Known hazardousmaterials are not used in construction.Where possible, hotels and resorts blend into theirnatural landscape, enhance it, and use nature as asource of inspiration in design and in operations.Hotel and resort developments aim to blend into thelandscape and become integrated into the ecosystem.Building design, height, orientation and density isguided by the natural setting and local architecturalstyle, in order to reduce visual impact and intrusionwhile maximizing natural solutions and optimizingcultural integration and identity, especially at moresensitive sites. The use of non-threatened species andnatural, sustainably sourced and harvested materials ismaximized in construction, and consideration is given todurability and the recyclable nature of all materials usedin construction and furnishings.To minimise erosion and runoff, the period of time spentin construction is as short as possible, and erosioncontrol techniques, such as silt curtains and filter clothmust be employed. Construction is restricted to the dryseason to minimise harmful runoff. Building sites arekept clean and, at the very least, the leeward side ofthe site screened to avoid unwanted debris blowing orrunning off into the sea.Rehabilitation of areas where impacts have occurredis a key responsibility of the developer. Strategiesto provide incentives, including financial incentivesfor good practice, are formulated and introduced bygovernments and tourism management bodies toencourage net positive impacts to biodiversity from theFurthermore, it is at the design stage that many of theimpacts that could occur at the operational stage canbe avoided. Operational facilities such as tertiary-levelwastewater treatment systems, hotel and beachfront13Part II: Biodiversity Principlesto accommodate alternative designs, changes toconstruction schedules, and any offset activities.

lighting, renewable energy systems and other measuresto limit energy and water consumption are consideredto avoid biodiversity and ecosystem impacts during theoperational phases. In addition, consideration is givento the potential impacts of increased visitation to thesurrounding area during the operation of the hotel.Principle 4To the maximum extent possible, native or naturalizedplant and animal species are used in landscaping andgardening. One of the major threats to biodiversity is theuse of non-native species: when introduced to a site,they can propagate quickly and overwhelm, and in somecases even eliminate, native wild species. The net effectis the destabilization of ecosystems and direct threats tolocal species, with resulting environmental and economicconsequences. Indigenous (native) vegetation is themost cost-effective landscaping approach, because it isadapted to the climatic conditions, uses local knowledgeand is culturally appropriate.Hotel and resort developments contribute positively tolocal community development, respect land rights andland-use rights of local stakeholders and involve them indecision making.Respect, involve andsupport local communitiesThere are many examples of local communities beingmarginalized from their traditional uses, occupationsand enjoyment of land and resources as a result ofhotel and resort development. Beginning at the earliestplanning stages, and continuing through all phases ofthe development, developers assess social impacts onneighbouring communities; this is not only a matter ofgood corporate citizenship but also vital to ensure asocial license to operate.The following three case studies illustrate Principle 3 inthe next section: Bay of Fires, Australia Soneva Fushi, Maldives Maho Bay and Concordia, US Virgin IslandsThe principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)recognizes a community’s inherent and prior right to theland and resources and respects its legitimate authority,requiring that any third party enter into an equal andrespectful relationship with the community. Therefore,communities are informed about and consulted on anyproposed hotel or resort, provided with information onits likely impacts and involved in meaningful participatoryplanning processes from the earliest planning stages andduring the development process. Boutique ImmagineGovernments are transparent in their decision-makingprocess and establish clear procedures and sufficienttime for stakeholder participation. Local stakeholdersare involved in assessing and identifying alternativesand in natural resource management decisions, suchas through multi-stakeholder bodies that include localstakeholder representation.The following two case studies illustrate Principle 4 inthe next section: Misool Ecoresort, Indonesia Campi ya Kanzi, Kenya14

Part II: Biodiversity Principles Adrian ReuterPrinciple 5stakeholders such as tourism professional bodies andconservation organizations effectively represented inrelevant structures.Build collaboration amongstakeholdersExisting bodies dedicated to the promotion of tourismdevelopment are strengthened and encouraged to supportecosystem-based tourism development planning. Thesharing of information, positive examples, data, methodsand skills; the establishment of standards for biodiversityimpacts; training of EIA practitioners and public andprivate sector planners; and the development of strongerlinks with academic institutions and conservation bodiesare some of the mechanisms that are used to supportcooperation towards the integration of biodiversity intohotel and tourism planning and development.Reconciling hotel and resort development andbiodiversity conservation can only be achieved withthe participation of all parties concerned. Tourismdevelopment practitioners and national governmentauthorities develop mechanisms – ad hoc and long-term– to support collaborative efforts that mobilize and fosterthe knowledge and capacities of all stakeholders.Collaborative approaches are encouraged and facilitatedat all levels. Governments, private developers, investorsand co

biodiversity are everywhere inside hotels. Outside, plants and animals make a hotel's public areas and gardens attractive for guests, while beyond the hotel gate, national parks, green spaces, coasts and natural habitats provide guests with opportunities for recreation and enjoyment. The biodiversity footprint of hotels and resorts