2010 Geotourism Challenge

Do you know an organization or a project that uses innovative solutions to protect the environment and strengthen the heritage of local residents in coastal, waterway or island destinations? Ashoka’s Changemakers, National Geographic and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) are looking for them. The 2010 Geotourism Challenge awards $5,000 to the top three entries, and the deadline for the competition is Dec. 1, 2010.

This year’s theme for the Geotourism Challenge—Places on the Edge: Saving Coastal and Freshwater Destinations—places the focus squarely on shoreline destinations around the world. While these places can be breathtakingly beautiful, they’re also fragile and often under intense development pressure that impacts the environment and residents without taking long-term issues into consideration.

The winners will be announced on Feb. 9, 2011. In February 2010, I attended the National Geographic Geotourism Summit shortly after the winners of the 2009 Geotourism Challenge were announced. The three winners and seven runners-up attended the summit, and told inspiring stories about their projects. For a look at the winners, check out this article I wrote about the summit.

Go ahead, help recognize good work by entering an organization you know, or even offer your best idea to help shoreline destinations. Tell us in the comments section if you do!