No. 43, Spring/Summer 1998
Ecotourism in Drylands

Selected news of interest

Annotated by Heather Severson

New executive editors named for the Journal of Arid Environments Drs. Chuck F. Hutchinson and Walter G. Whitford are the new executive editors of the Journal of Arid Environments, published by Academic Press. Aimed at researchers, this international journal publishes original scientific and technical research articles and reviews on climate, geomorphology, geology, geography, botany, zoology, anthropology, sociology, and technical development in arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid environments worldwide. Dr. Hutchinson is Professor of Arid Lands Resources and Associate Director of the Office of Arid Lands Studies at The University of Arizona. Currently, Dr. Hutchinson is working at NASA's Office for the Mission to Planet Earth in Washington, D.C. He will return to the University of Arizona in January 1999. Dr. Whitford was Professor of Biology at New Mexico State University for 30 years. He is currently Senior Research Ecologist with the U.S. EPA's Office of Research and Development, working as a collaborating scientist with the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. The editor of the Arid Lands Newsletter is currently working with the editors of JAE to develop ways of creating synergies between the two publications. More information on the Journal of Arid Environments is available on the Web at http://www.academicpress.com/www/journal/0/ae/ae.htm. Asian-region e-mail conference on desertification An Asian-region e-mail conference on desertification has been initiated by the Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI) and the Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE). The conference is a significant initiative towards implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). Approximately 80 NGOs, CBOs, individuals, and institutes are members of the conference, and it is hoped that by the end of this year the number will be up to 300. NGOs in Asia and pacific regions are invited to send brief reports/articles (1-3 pages) about controlling land degradation through innovative and participatory methods, experiences in sustainable land management, drought mitigation, community organization, water harvesting,lobbying and advocacy. The conference language is English. For more information, contact: Dr. Jamil H. Kazmi SCOPE P.O. Box 15913 Karachi-75080 PAKISTAN Tel: +92 (21) 496 5042 or 497 6459 Fax: +92 (21) 496 4001 E-mail: scope@khi.compol.com Call for Papers: 6th Annual Australian National Ecotourism Conference 1998, "Developing Ecotourism into the Millenium" The 6th Annual Australian National Ecotourism Conference will be held in Margaret River, Western Australia from 28-31 October, 1998. The conference will feature three days of presentations, workshops, site visits and tours. Local, national and international speakers will cover global trends in ecotourism development, maximizing the potential for ecotourism, and regional best practice as represented by award-winning ecotourism products and attractions. The conference is hosted by the Ecotourism Association of Australia and the South West Development Commission, Bunbury, Western Australia. These bodies aims to promote ecotourism; develop ethics and standards for ecotourism; promote understanding, appreciation and conservation of the natural and cultural environments visited; and facilitate interaction between the tourist, host communities, the tourism industry, government and conservation groups. For more information, contact: Janet Payton or Mary-Lou Barry South West Development Commission 9th Floor, 61 Victoria Street Bunbury WA 6230 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 (8) 9791 2000 Fax: +61 (8) 9791 2025 E-mail: swdc@bis.net.au Web: http://www.bis.net.au/swdc/ OR Ross Dowling Conference Program Coordinator School of Marketing and Tourism Edith Cowan University Joondalup WA 6027 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 (8) 9400 5891 Fax: +61 (8) 9400 5840 E-mail: r.dowling@cowan.edu.au Web: http://www.cowan.edu.au/

Heather Severson works for the Arid Lands Information Center at the Office of Arid Lands Studies. The editor gratefully acknowledges her assistance in preparing this material for publication.

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