Promotion of ecotourism for poverty eradication and environment protection A/RES/67/223 5. Also emphasizes that ecotourism can contribute to sustainable development, in particular environment protection, and improve the well-being of local and indigenous communities; Recognizes that ecotourism creates significant opportunities for the 6. conservation, protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and of natural areas by encouraging local and indigenous communities in host countries and tourists alike to preserve and respect the natural and cultural heritage; Underlines, in this regard, the importance of establishing, at the national 7. level, where necessary, appropriate policies, guidelines and regulations, in accordance with national priorities and legislation, for promoting and supporting ecotourism, within the framework of sustainable tourism, and minimizing its potential negative impact; Invites Governments, international organizations, other relevant 8. institutions and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to highlight and support best practices in relation to the implementation of relevant policies, guidelines and regulations in the ecotourism sector and to implement and disseminate existing guidelines; Encourages governments at all levels to use ecotourism, within the 9. framework of sustainable tourism, as a tool to support poverty alleviation, environment protection and/or biodiversity conservation, and to base the tourism components on clear evidence of market demand and a sound economic base; 10. Encourages Member States to promote investment in ecotourism, in accordance with their national legislation, which may include creating small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting cooperatives and facilitating access to finance through inclusive financial services, including microcredit initiatives for the poor, local and indigenous communities in areas with high ecotourism potential, including rural areas; 11. Underlines the importance of conducting an environmental impact assessment, in accordance with national legislation, for the development of ecotourism opportunities; 12. Stresses that indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge, in all their aspects, are to be fully considered, respected and promoted in ecotourism policy development, within the framework of sustainable tourism, and underlines the importance of promoting the full and early participation and involvement of local and indigenous communities in decisions that affect them and of integrating indigenous and local knowledge, heritage and values in any such ecotourism initiatives, as appropriate; 13. Emphasizes the need for effective measures in the context of ecotourism initiatives to ensure the full empowerment of women, including equal participation of women and men at all levels and in decision-making processes in all areas; 14. Calls upon the United Nations system, in the context of the global campaign for the Millennium Development Goals, to promote ecotourism, within the framework of sustainable tourism, as an instrument that can contribute to achieving those Goals, in particular the Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and of ensuring environmental sustainability, and to support the efforts and policies of developing countries in this field; 15. Encourages the regional and international financial institutions to provide adequate support to programmes and projects related to ecotourism, taking 3/4