Arkansas Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Inc.

Northwest RC&D Area

Tourism Projects

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	The Buffalo National River is located in the NW AR RC&D Area, and its scenic beauty continues to make it a nationally famous outdoor attraction. The Buffalo provides many recreational opportunities not only for tourists, but for local residents as well.
Traditional tourism is very important to the economy throughout NW Arkansas. However, in recent years there has been an increasing interest in a different kind of tourism – Ecotourism. Ecotourism is defined as "Purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the cultural and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources financially beneficial to local citizens.
	The Northwest Arkansas RC&D Council formed a partnership, including the Arkansas Parks and Tourism Department, the Newton County Resource Council, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, the Arkansas Forestry Commission, the US Forest Service and others to help educate people about Ecotourism as a rural economic development strategy. With a grant from the US Forest Service, this RC&D Partnership sponsored and coordinated the writing, publishing and on going distribution of a 144-page "Ecotourism Development Manual". The Partnership’s intention is for this manual to serve as a tool, or guidebook, to illustrate the foundational steps for Ecotourism development at the community level. We believe the case studies; guiding principles and step-by-step instructions found in this Manual are applicable and beneficial for developing an Ecotourism program anywhere in the world. Copies of the Ecotourism Development Manual are $12.00 each and may be obtained by contacting the Northwest Arkansas RC&D Council.

© 2007

Assistance is available without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, handicap, marital status or national origin.

Arkansas Association of Resource Conservation
and Development Councils, Inc.
12623 Highway 300, Roland, Arkansas 72135
501-868-8483

Last Date Modified 12/04/2007